Virginia Fields is an American woman famous for being the wife of legendary American football coach and sports commentator John Madden. Fields, who was an educator and entrepreneur in her younger years, achieved fame after she married the man often hailed as one of the most influential figures in American football history in 1959. The pair enjoyed a long and healthy marriage that was blessed with children before the cold hands of death ended it all with the death of Virginia’s husbands. Here is more about Madden’s wife.
Summary of Virginia Fields’ Biography
- Full name: Virginia Fields
- Nationality: American
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Widowed
- Virginia Fields’ Husband: John Madden
- Virginia Fields’ Children: Joseph Madden and Michael Madden
How Old Is Virginia Fields Now?
Virginia Fields’ age is not public knowledge as almost nothing is known about her early years. However, she is believed to be between the ages of 70 and 80 years old. She was born somewhere within the borders of the United States, making her an American by nationality.
Information about the identity of her parents is not available. It is not clear who they were or what they did for a living. It is also not certain if Virginia Fields is an only child or if she has siblings.
She Attended California Polytechnic State University
While information regarding where Virginia Fields had her elementary and high school education is not clear, we know that she attended California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California. It was revealed in a 1983 Sports Illustrated article that she got a degree in education. She would later bag a master’s before working as an educator.
Virginia Fields Met John Madden in College and Got Married in 1959
Virginia Fields and John Madden first met each other in the 1950s when they both attended the California Polytechnic State University. Their paths crossed in a bar in Pismo Beach and they got talking. They would go on to exchange contacts and keep in touch before later starting a relationship.
The couple would later tie the knot on December 26, 1959, at the St Mary of the Assumption Church in Santa Maria, California. Fields’ age at the time of the wedding is not clear, but her husband, Madden, was about 23 years old at the time.
They Welcomed Two Children
Virginia Fields and John Madden’s marriage produced two sons; Joseph “Joe” Madden and Michael “Mike” Madden. The couple raised their children in Pleasanton, a city in Alameda County, California.
Virginia was the more active parent in raising the boys as her husband was always preoccupied with his work. Despite this, her sons took after their father by playing football. Joe Madden played at Brown University, while Mike Madden did so at Harvard University. They, however, were unable to make it as professionals.
How Long Did Virginia Fields Marriage to John Madden Last?
Virginia Fields and John Madden’s marriage lasted for 62 years. They got married on December 26, 1959, and remained married until Madden passed away on December 28, 2021, two days after their 62nd wedding anniversary. Madden, whose name was used in the popular Madden NFL video game series – the best-selling American football video game franchise of all time, was 85 years old at the time he died.
What Did Virginia Fields Do For A Living?
Virginia Fields was a schoolteacher for many years, but it is not clear what level of students she taught. Other than her work as an educator, she was an entrepreneur as she also ran a bar of her own with the help of her boys. The bar, which was located in Dublin, California, was called The Village Saloon.
Virginia ran it for two years before selling. She would go on to get involved in charity work, particularly working with the nonprofit organization called Vascular Cures, which works to help prevent vascular disease. John Madden’s wife had suffered from the disease in the past and underwent surgery to repair a blocked carotid artery, hence her interest in spreading awareness about it.
Virginia Field’s Husband is an NFL Legend
John Madden was an American football coach and sports commentator in the National Football League (NFL). While John had great dreams of making it as a professional player, injuries stopped him from achieving his dream, and so he began to coach. He served as the head coach of the Oakland Raiders from 1969 to 1978, winning seven division titles and the franchise’s first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XI.
During his coaching career, Virginia Fields’ husband held the highest winning percentage among NFL head coaches who coached 100 games. He never had a losing season and so became one of the most respected and influential coaches in the NFL.
After retiring from coaching, John Madden became a color commentator from 1979 to 2008. He made appearances on all four major American television networks and won 16 Sports Emmy Awards.
