“Sunday Night Football” coordinating producer Rob Hyland, who was Madden’s replay producer when NBC got back NFL rights in 2006, said Madden had a significant role in his development in terms of being a storyteller, not only with football but in producing the Kentucky Derby and prime-time coverage of the Olympics.

Prior to those games, a coin featuring a silhouette of coach Madden on one side (“Heads”) and a six-legged turducken on the reverse side (“Tails”) will be used for the coin toss. Additionally, a patch featuring a silhouette of coach Madden will be included on the jersey of each player at all three games.

Turducken is a Louisiana Cajun butcher shop specialty that became entwined with football and holiday traditions thanks to NFL legend John Madden. Here's the story of how it all happened.