Madden announces retirement

NEW YORK (SI.com) -- Legendary NFL broadcaster John Madden has made his last call.

NBC announced the former coach's plans to retire Thursday morning. Though he spent the last three years working NBC's Sunday night NFL game, he served as an analyst on all four major television networks since retiring as the Oakland Raiders coach in 1979.

"It's time," Madden said. "I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and their five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not."

Known to many for his annual "Madden NFL Football" video game, the 73-year-old Hall of Famer's final game was February's Super Bowl between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals.

After beginning his coaching career as an Oakland linebacker coach in 1967, he was promoted to head coach two years later. At 33, he was the American Football League's youngest coach. He retired after winning the Super Bowl, and joined CBS the next season.

Famously afraid of flying on planes, he traveled to most games by a specially-equipped bus.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

KING: Madden's legend in NFL unmatched

BANKS: Collinsworth right replacement?

PHOTOS: Top retirements of 2009

RUSHIN: A true American football fixture

TAYLOR: A winning coach before television