Madden stopped the bus in small towns when he was traveling between cities to try out local restaurants.
John Madden, a Super Bowl-winning Coach, acclaimed sportscaster and frequent commercial pitchman, died December 28. Instead of flying to different cities to cover football, Madden traveled in a bus called the Madden Cruiser.
According to a 1990 report by Sports Illustrated, Madden experienced three episodes of claustrophobia flying. This caused him to switch to other methods of travel. For a time, he switched to trains but it wasn’t always the best option due to the Amtrak schedule.
Greyhound offered the Madden Cruiser a custom bus and a driver for three year’s service in 1987. Madden was only required to promote the transport company and make appearances. Madden was allowed to keep the bus for three years.
Over the years, Madden Cruisers have been upgraded to newer versions. He upgraded to in 1994. This was a bus that featured branding from Outback Steakhouse. The vehicle was also available in other versions in 1998 and 2002.
Below is a video that shows the original Madden Cruiser, which was built in 1991. Although the interior is not up to modern luxury standards, it is still quite charming for its time. Madden can even use the VCR to record games on the road.
After Madden’s passing, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell spoke fondly about the bus. Madden and Goodell used the bus to attend preseason training for different teams. Goodell stated that pulling into a stop in the Madden Cruiser was an exciting experience as everyone came out to view Madden and the vehicle.
According to the Sports Illustrated story Madden enjoyed the opportunity to visit remote areas of the country by bus. Madden discovered a Mexican restaurant near Van Horn, Texas and decided to make it a regular stop while in the area. This is the story as told in the video below.