In eulogy of John Madden, Chiefs’ Andy Reid talks football (obviously) and Guy Fieri?
A celebration of life was held Monday night in Oakland for former Raiders coach John Madden, and a Chiefs voice helped honor the Hall of Famer.
Chiefs coach Andy Reid was among the guest speakers at the service for Madden, who died on Dec. 28 at the age of 85. The service was held at the Coliseum, where the Raiders played for much of their time in the NFL.
Reid and Madden first met nearly 30 years ago when Madden was a broadcaster and Reid was an assistant coach for the Green Bay Packers, where Reid worked from 1992-98. A lifelong friendship was born the first day when Reid first talked to Madden on the customized bus that he used to travel to games (Madden avoided flying).
During that decades-long relationship, Reid accumulated a number of humorous stories, and he shared some on Monday night.
“I’m glad I’m not within spitting distance,” Reid quipped as he stepped to the microphone and addressed the gathering of Raiders supporters.
Reid noted that he made an impression on Madden from the beginning, simply for being a former offensive lineman.
Reid recalled how he and Madden would speak every Friday night after they had watched one of their favorite TV shows: “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives,” on the Food Network.
“Coach and I like to eat, which I think is obvious,” Reid said. “And we would grade Guy Fieri on the meals that he was checking out. And we would say, ‘Does Guy likes it or doesn’t like it? Is this a good meal or a bad meal? If it’s a good meal, we’ve got to have that bad boy.’
“And we would proceed, him in Northern California, me in Kansas City, to go get the burrito if the burrito was on, or the hot dog if it was on or if the hamburger if it was on. We had to have one that night. Thank you, Guy Fieri.”
Reid then recounted how former Packers quarterback Brett Favre pulled a smelly prank on Madden.
“I sat outside the door (of the bus),” Reid recalled, “and here comes Coach Madden through this thing like he used to make his guys drive the seven-man sled, gagging all the way out. Cherry-red (in the face), and he looked at me and he goes, ‘This quarterback is unbelievable. I love this guy.’
“Coach loved being one of the guys. He loved the common human. Most of all, he loved his beautiful wife, Virginia, the tough farm girl. He loved his boys. He loved his grandkids.”
Reid wrapped up his eulogy by painting a picture of Madden’s impact on his current location.
“John Madden is in heaven now. It’s a hundred times bigger than the Hall of Fame,” Reid said. “The busts are now alive. He’s constantly talking to the greats of all sports and telling them why football is the greatest sport of all.
“God has asked him to be careful flailing those big arms of his. John, we have a packed house up here. Look over there: (Former NFL commissioner) Pete Rozelle is still hiding from (Raiders founder) Al Davis. The past officials are still hiding behind Pete Rozelle. The ‘Sideline Polar Bear’ has arrived. ...
“We will make heaven even a better place than it already is. (Former CBS broadcaster) Pat Summerall and John Madden are together again. The father, the son and the holy ghost bow to the echo of this holy reunion. Their play by play has brought a peaceful excitement to the heavens. All is well. We love you Coach.”
This story was originally published February 14, 2022 at 10:13 PM.
