John Madden spent four years, from 1928 through 1932, as a fullback on the Yale University Bulldogs college football team. In his final year he was one of the players selected to represent the “East” in the American football demonstration event at the 1932 Summer Olympics, which his team lost 7-6. After graduation Madden worked as a steel salesman and served with the United States Army during World War II, completing officer training in 1942 and leaving the military as a Lieutenant Colonel after the conflict. He retired in 1975 from the manufacturing industry but continued to serve in numerous community service positions, such as scoutmaster and Sunday school teacher, for many years thereafter.