We need to let the referee's sole thing be to protect the quarterback and get those late hits out of there. They even have a stat on television that says 'knockdowns.' Knockdowns means that you knock him down after he throws the ball. The assumption is, if it's legal, we'll make excuses for them.

John Madden's quote highlights his concern for the safety of quarterbacks in football and the growing tendency to allow late hits on them during the game. He advocates for the referee’s sole focus to be on protecting the quarterback, emphasizing that hits made after the throw—commonly known as knockdowns—should not be condoned. Madden is critical of the idea that if a hit is legal, it somehow becomes justifiable, even when it occurs after the ball has been released. His point is that safety should take precedence over the competitive desire to disrupt the quarterback’s play.

Madden’s criticism is directed at the culture of physicality in football, where hard hits on the quarterback are often celebrated, despite being late and potentially dangerous. He suggests that the emphasis on knockdowns as a statistic feeds into the idea that it's acceptable to target quarterbacks with the goal of knocking them down, rather than focusing on maintaining the integrity of the game and protecting players. The quote also highlights how this mentality can lead to a lack of accountability for actions that could cause injuries or undermine the safety of key players.

The referee's role, according to Madden, should be to prevent these unnecessary hits that could harm the quarterback’s well-being, reinforcing the need for stronger enforcement of rules meant to protect players from avoidable injuries. By focusing on this, Madden believes that the overall quality and safety of the game can be maintained, ensuring that players are not subjected to preventable harm for the sake of statistics or the spectacle of the game.

The origin of this quote stems from Madden’s deep understanding of football as both a coach and commentator. Known for his insightful analysis and strong opinions on the game, Madden frequently emphasized the importance of player safety. This particular statement reflects his ongoing concern about the evolving physical demands of the sport and his desire to maintain a balance between competition and protection for the players, particularly the quarterbacks who are vital to a team’s success.