By Darin Hayes The pairing of Pat Summerall and John Madden in the broadcast booth wasn’t just magic—it was a revolution. For 21 seasons, their contrasting styles created a soundtrack for NFL Sundays that has never been matched.
In a recent episode of the Pigskin Daily History Dispatch, host Darin Hayes spoke with author Rich Podolsky about his book, Madden and Summerall: How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting. Podolsky, a former CBS Sports writer, offered incredible insight into the unlikely formation of the duo and what made their partnership the greatest in sports television history.
An Unlikely Partnership Formed by Fate
Podolsky explained that the partnership rarely happened, and in fact, Madden nearly lost his job at CBS before he even began working with Summerall.
When Madden first joined CBS in 1979, he was reportedly “not very good at all.” He didn’t know how to step in as an analyst, often talking over the play-by-play men. After doing four games with four different crews, some executives wanted him gone.
Madden saved his career not in the booth, but at a pre-Super Bowl luncheon. Tasked with answering a question about returning to coaching, Madden instead walked down the dais, put his hand on Commissioner Pete Rozelle’s shoulder, and delivered a hilarious, five-minute routine about NFL officials. The CBS executives realized they weren’t dealing with “just another ex-coach,” but a charismatic personality who could hold an audience in the palm of his hand.
In 1981, a new head of CBS Sports, Van Gordon Sauter, decided to split up the top team of Summerall and Tom Brookshier. Sauter decided Madden was his guy for the lead analyst role, but his reasoning was unusual: he hadn’t seen any game tape, only Madden’s engaging work on the Miller Lite commercials.
The Perfect Match: Yin and Yang
The final piece was finding Madden a partner. The network eventually paired Madden with Pat Summerall. According to Podolsky, the pairing was genius because they were opposites:
- Pat Summerall was a minimalist. A former player, he transitioned from analyst to play-by-play by studying the great Ray Scott, believing in letting the pictures do the talking. His deep baritone voice was steady and calming.
- John Madden was an animated maximalist. He needed room to develop his personality, his sound effects, and his analysis.
Summerall gave up of himself, allowing Madden to be Madden. The partnership became legendary with the introduction of the telestrator (which Madden dubbed the CBS Chalkboard), transforming Madden into “America’s nutty football professor.”
Their success wasn’t rooted in a deep friendship; Podolsky confirmed they weren’t close off the air. Instead, it was built on tremendous mutual respect. Summerall’s experience—from playing with Bobby Layne in 1952 to his famous kick that helped the Giants reach the “Greatest Game Ever Played” in 1958—earned him Madden’s deference.
As Madden’s son perfectly summarized the duo: it was “like peanut butter and jelly meeting for the first time.” Though they stopped broadcasting together in 2002, their impact remains clear: they set an unbreakable standard for football commentary.
Rich Podolsky’s book, Madden and Summerall: How They Revolutionized NFL Broadcasting, is available on Amazon and in most bookstores.