NFL
John Madden’s Grandson Hired To Washington Commanders Coaching Staff
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Legendary NFL head coach and broadcaster John Madden will have his legacy live on after his grandson was hired for his first job.
The Washington Commanders hired Jesse Madden as an offensive quality control coach after he spent the last four years as a backup at the University of Michigan, where he won the CFP National Championship in 2024. Madden played quarterback and defensive back, giving him a unique understanding of both sides of the ball.
The #Commanders hired Jesse Madden, the grandson of Pro Football Hall of Famer John Madden, as an offensive quality control coach. Madden played QB and DB at Michigan and was part of the school’s 2024 national championship team.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 18, 2025
Jesse Studied John Madden’s Legendary Raiders’ Teams
Like everyone else, Jesse grew up playing the Madden video game and even took the time to learn some of John Madden’s plays from his legendary Oakland Raiders teams.
“For me, it’s not crazy because it’s all I’ve known my whole life,” Madden told the L.A. Times last season.
It appears that Jesse has taken after his grandfather in more ways than one, especially when it comes to putting in some extra effort. A former walk-on, Madden once told the Bay Area News Group that he learned over 1,600 plays and organized informal workouts during the COVID-19 pandemic, something that impressed the legendary football coach.
“His work ethic is amazing. Even with nothing going on because of COVID, he practiced every day like he was going to play,” his grandfather said.
John Madden got to see his grandson play one game at Michigan before he passed away, a 2021 win over Northern Illinois.
Commanders Also Hired New Assistant Special Teams Coach
Madden was part of a new round of hires by the franchise that included Brian Schneider, who was hired as an assistant special teams coach. Schneider spent 10 years as a special teams coordinator in Seattle (2010-2020) and was in charge of the San Francisco 49ers special teams unit in 2022-23.
Last season, the Commanders finished with a 12-5 overall record, good for second place in the NFC East. With NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels under center, Washington earned its first playoff berth since 2020 and its first postseason victory since 2005.
