John Madden, one of the most iconic voices in sports broadcasting and popular culture, is retiring from his job as analyst on "Sunday Night Football."

NBC Sports Chairman Dick Ebersol announced today that Madden had decided to retire.

Packers fans had expected Madden to announce the team's season-opening game against the Bears Sept. 13 at Lambeau Field.

"It's time," Madden said in a statement released by NBC Sports. "I'm 73 years old. My 50th wedding anniversary is this fall. I have two great sons and their families and my five grandchildren are at an age now when they know when I'm home and, more importantly, when I'm not."

Madden, a Hall of Fame coach who has broadcast National Football League games for 30 years, joined NBC in 2006. Before that, Madden provided analysis and commentary for Fox and CBS, where he had a long-running partnership with Pat Summerall. He moved to ABC to do "Monday Night Football" before moving to NBC in 2006.

His last game was Super Bowl XLIII on Feb. 1 in Tampa when the Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the Arizona Cardinals, 27-23.

Madden's name is associated with the popular sports video game produced by EA Sports.

Madden always was complimentary of the Packers. The team inducted him as a Lombardi Titletown Legend in 2004.

"I always said if they ever built a shrine to pro football, it should be Lambeau Field, it should be Green Bay," Madden said at the time. "That's the history, that's the foundation, that's who we are, that's what we are, that's where we came from."