LOOK: DeSean Jackson, Stefon Diggs pay tribute to John Madden with custom cleats
The passing of John Madden shook the collective football world, but the Las Vegas Raiders were hit especially hard. Madden helped shape the Raiders into one of the league’s premier franchises, leading them to a victory in Super Bowl XI as their head coach.
While Madden will be remembered for multiple stages of his football life, his time with the Raiders was special. First, he began his NFL coaching career with Oakland in 1967 — hired as their linebackers coach. Then, Madden was promoted to head coach in 1969 — a post he manned for a decade.
Today, the Raiders will look to honor Madden with a victory. Prior to the game, wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Stefon Diggs found their own ways to honor the legend — a pair of custom cleats.
In a touching tribute, Jackson’s cleats feature the Raiders logo, as well as a silhouette of Madden. Additionally, the signature of the football legend can be found on the design.
As for Diggs, his cleats feature Madden’s name in bold, beautiful letters. The wide receiver may not have a connection to Madden’s Raiders, but it simply shows the impact Madden made on the sport of football.
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Moreover, Jackson didn’t begin his season with the Raiders, but he’s helped become an important piece of their offense over the year. He hasn’t been with the franchise for long, but Jackson knows the undeniable impact Madden made on the team — and the sport.
More on DeSean Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders were desperate for help in their receiving corps earlier this season, and DeSean Jackson has helped steady their unit. After not finding what he was looking for in Los Angeles with the Rams, the Raiders have been a better fit for the blazing-fast wide receiver.
In seven games with Las Vegas, Jackson has caught eleven passes for 228 yards and one touchdown. As the Raiders look to make a late push for the playoffs, Jackson will be a big piece for their final run.