The Mad Genius Of Jimmy Mac And The Many Reasons Ditka's Bears Only Won One Super Bowl.
When we think of great quarterbacks, Jim McMahon is most likely not on the top of most people's lists. This despite a winning streak in in the 1980s that was unmatched at the time. In the same manner, most will most likely not have Mike Ditka high up on their list of great head coaches. Although his teams won the NFC Central Division six times in seven years, went to three NFC Championship games and won a Super Bowl. And they also had one of the most feared defenses and perhaps the greatest running back of all time in Walter Payton. The Chicago Bears should have been a dynasty. However, what looked to be a future of greatness quickly turned into missed opportunities.
In the words of Dan Pompei, one time writer with the Chicago Sun Times:
“Jim McMahon took control of Super Bowl XX like no other player has taken control of a Super Bowl, with the possible exception of Joe Namath!”
Strong words and good company no doubt. Which quarterback wouldn’t want to be mentioned in the same breath as Namath? In many ways one time Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon was the 1980s on the field version of Broadway Joe – for all his antics McMahon was happily married to his college girlfriend, with children, and womanising was not one of things he was known for. Like Namath to the Jets back in Super Bowl III though, McMahon’s importance to the Bears was paramount in their Super Bowl XX victory following the 1985 season.
“Mad Mac” threw for 256 yard and completed 12 out of 20 pass attempts. He also scored twice on two short touchdown runs – the first quarterback to score twice in a Super Bowl. Early in the second half, deep in their own territory at the 4-yard line, McMahon fired a pass to wide receiver Willie Gault who hauled in the ball and was barely dragged down by a Patriots defender. If Gault goes all the way to the end-zone on that play, McMahon is almost undoubtedly the MVP.
What McMahon still stands out for though, is not so much what he did, but how he did things and basically how he saw life. What he stood for.Perhaps good insight into that would a comment he made to ESPN in 2006 when he said:
What McMahon still stands out for though, is not so much what he did, but how he did things and basically how he saw life. What he stood for.Perhaps good insight into that would a comment he made to ESPN in 2006 when he said:
“People don’t like hearing (other) people saying what they wished they would have said, but they don’t have the balls to do it! A lot of the things I did just for the hell of it, and that’s what I tried to show my team-mates, that it doesn’t matter what you do off the field during the week, it matters what you do on the field on Sunday. I’m not going to lose sleep over someone thinking I am an idiot!”
Although there is no doubt that McMahon helped build the persona that everyone knew him for, he was sometimes unfairly criticized.
Many pointed out how egotistical he was for example, for his wearing dark sunglasses, even inside on studio sets. This though was the result of an eye injury he sustained as a child. He accidentally stabbed himself in the eye with a kitchen fork while trying to undo a knot on a toy gun holster. Although doctors managed to save the sight in the eye, it would be limited and sensitive to any bright or artificial light. Hence on the studio sets when on television McMahon had to wear the dark glasses or he simply wouldn’t have been able to see.
His team-mates, even those that didn’t agree with or care for his flamboyancy, knew and were glad that he was their leader. And he was perfect for that football team at that particular time.
Many pointed out how egotistical he was for example, for his wearing dark sunglasses, even inside on studio sets. This though was the result of an eye injury he sustained as a child. He accidentally stabbed himself in the eye with a kitchen fork while trying to undo a knot on a toy gun holster. Although doctors managed to save the sight in the eye, it would be limited and sensitive to any bright or artificial light. Hence on the studio sets when on television McMahon had to wear the dark glasses or he simply wouldn’t have been able to see.
His team-mates, even those that didn’t agree with or care for his flamboyancy, knew and were glad that he was their leader. And he was perfect for that football team at that particular time.
A Perfect Fit At The Perfect Time!
During one stretch from 1984 to 1987 (including post-season games) his record was 28-1 as a starter with the Bears, which included a twenty-five game winning streak. For as many statistics you could throw out there, there were double the amount of wild stories.
For example, when head coach, Mike Ditka insisted his team wore “collars” when they travel to away games – McMahon became “father” McMahon and arrived in a priest’s collar. Or later in his career when he was a Philadelphia Eagle, the team’s owner came into the locker room to get changed, McMahon yelled unrepentant, “this locker room is for players only!” – the owner apologized and said he would use the coaches locker room.
Jim McMahon was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1982 in the first round – the highest they had drafted a quarterback since the legendary Sid Luckman back in the 1940s. He was the first player taken by rookie head coach Mike Ditka, and while Halas (who died the following year) and Ditka both privately liked their new quarterback, to the public they all seemed at odds – this was not helped by McMahon arriving in Chicago for the first time after being drafted taking swigs from a can of Budweiser in full view of the world’s journalists.
McMahon though, in the America’s Game series still expresses his disbelief as to why this should have even been an issue:
For example, when head coach, Mike Ditka insisted his team wore “collars” when they travel to away games – McMahon became “father” McMahon and arrived in a priest’s collar. Or later in his career when he was a Philadelphia Eagle, the team’s owner came into the locker room to get changed, McMahon yelled unrepentant, “this locker room is for players only!” – the owner apologized and said he would use the coaches locker room.
Jim McMahon was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1982 in the first round – the highest they had drafted a quarterback since the legendary Sid Luckman back in the 1940s. He was the first player taken by rookie head coach Mike Ditka, and while Halas (who died the following year) and Ditka both privately liked their new quarterback, to the public they all seemed at odds – this was not helped by McMahon arriving in Chicago for the first time after being drafted taking swigs from a can of Budweiser in full view of the world’s journalists.
McMahon though, in the America’s Game series still expresses his disbelief as to why this should have even been an issue:
“I was 22 years old, I had just taken a three and a half hour flight, I was a little thirsty so I had a beer, big deal!”
Beer or no beer, McMahon earned the starting job during his rookie season and was voted the NFC Rookie of the Year as he guided Chicago to a single win shy of making the playoffs in the strike-shortened 1982 season. The following year, after a 3-5 start, the Bears won five of the last eight games to finish 8-8, again missing the post-season by just one victory.
McMahon was showing himself to be a natural leader and his team-mates, on a team that was often divided between offense and defense, gravitated towards him. He essentially held the team together. By 1984 it seemed the Chicago Bears had turned the corner. Their defense was arguably the best in the NFL (a year later there would be no doubt whatsoever about this) and McMahon, along with Walter Payton leading the NFL’s finest rushing game, were shaping the offense to be one of the league’s most dangerous.
Entering the tenth week of 1984 campaign the Bears welcomed the Los Angeles Raiders to Soldier Field. What followed was one of the hardest hitting, brutal contests ever played out on a NFL field. As the players went in at halftime, Raiders defensive lineman Lyle Alzado was heard to say “They are playing like us!”
The Bears would eventually win the contest 17-6. Their defense knocked out two of the Raiders quarterbacks, but also lost McMahon for the rest of the season, who suffered a lacerated kidney. Chicago did build on the 7-3 record McMahon had left for them and won the NFC Central with a 10-6 mark, and after disposing of the Washington Redskins 23-19 in the NFC Divisional playoff went on to face the mighty 49ers in San Francisco in the NFC Championship game. With McMahon on the side-line in street clothes, the Bears didn’t really stand a chance however and went down heavily to the home side 23-0
McMahon was showing himself to be a natural leader and his team-mates, on a team that was often divided between offense and defense, gravitated towards him. He essentially held the team together. By 1984 it seemed the Chicago Bears had turned the corner. Their defense was arguably the best in the NFL (a year later there would be no doubt whatsoever about this) and McMahon, along with Walter Payton leading the NFL’s finest rushing game, were shaping the offense to be one of the league’s most dangerous.
Entering the tenth week of 1984 campaign the Bears welcomed the Los Angeles Raiders to Soldier Field. What followed was one of the hardest hitting, brutal contests ever played out on a NFL field. As the players went in at halftime, Raiders defensive lineman Lyle Alzado was heard to say “They are playing like us!”
The Bears would eventually win the contest 17-6. Their defense knocked out two of the Raiders quarterbacks, but also lost McMahon for the rest of the season, who suffered a lacerated kidney. Chicago did build on the 7-3 record McMahon had left for them and won the NFC Central with a 10-6 mark, and after disposing of the Washington Redskins 23-19 in the NFC Divisional playoff went on to face the mighty 49ers in San Francisco in the NFC Championship game. With McMahon on the side-line in street clothes, the Bears didn’t really stand a chance however and went down heavily to the home side 23-0
The Brutal Swagger Of The 1985 Bears
The Chicago Bears started the 1985 season 2-0 and have sited since that their crushing defeat at the hands of the 49ers was when, for them, the road to Super Bowl XX began. If it did indeed begin on the muddy field of Candlestick Park in January 1985, then the touch paper was almost certainly lit in the third game of the season against the Minnesota Vikings.
McMahon began the game on the bench due to an injury sustained in the week two 20-7 victory over their eventual Super Bowl XX opponents New England Patriots, that had left him unable to practice in the days leading up to the game. With Chicago trailing 17-9 midway through the third period, McMahon lobbied Ditka to put him in. He could sense his team-mates were beat, deflated and needed a spark. McMahon, constantly trailing his coach on the sideline would urge him:
McMahon began the game on the bench due to an injury sustained in the week two 20-7 victory over their eventual Super Bowl XX opponents New England Patriots, that had left him unable to practice in the days leading up to the game. With Chicago trailing 17-9 midway through the third period, McMahon lobbied Ditka to put him in. He could sense his team-mates were beat, deflated and needed a spark. McMahon, constantly trailing his coach on the sideline would urge him:
“Mike, we are going to lose this! Put me in!”
Ditka eventually relented and Mad Mac trotted on to the field. He threw two touchdown strikes on his first two throws and had thrown a third scoring pass by the time he launched his seventh attempt. Chicago went on to win 33-24. That, without wanting to sound cliché, is the stuff of legends.
From there, aside from the lone defeat to Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, the Bears rolled over anyone in their way, finishing 1985 with a 15-1 league best record and shutting out the Giants (21-0) and the Rams (24-0) in the playoffs as they claimed their place in the twentieth Super Bowl. By the time they had dismantled the Patriots, 46-10, in the Superdome in New Orleans, some were saying this was the 1980s version of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However as the years rolled on following the Super Bowl victory, it became evident that as soon as the Bears reached the pinnacle, did they begin to unravel.
Check out the videos below, featuring several Bears (including their rookie sensation William "The Fridge" Perry). It is just one of the many examples of how "in demand" the Chicago Bears were during this time. The second features head coach, Mike Ditka, telling the media in no uncertain terms who the best team in the NFL was following the Bears dismantling of New England.
From there, aside from the lone defeat to Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins on Monday Night Football, the Bears rolled over anyone in their way, finishing 1985 with a 15-1 league best record and shutting out the Giants (21-0) and the Rams (24-0) in the playoffs as they claimed their place in the twentieth Super Bowl. By the time they had dismantled the Patriots, 46-10, in the Superdome in New Orleans, some were saying this was the 1980s version of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However as the years rolled on following the Super Bowl victory, it became evident that as soon as the Bears reached the pinnacle, did they begin to unravel.
Check out the videos below, featuring several Bears (including their rookie sensation William "The Fridge" Perry). It is just one of the many examples of how "in demand" the Chicago Bears were during this time. The second features head coach, Mike Ditka, telling the media in no uncertain terms who the best team in the NFL was following the Bears dismantling of New England.
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The Dynasty That Wasn't
So what happened? And was it really down to McMahon, his attitude and the injuries that seemed to dominate his later years in Chicago? Although he certainly did not help matters at times, it would be unfair to put the blame squarely at his feet. If anything he and the Bears were stripped of some key elements of the monster that was the 1985 team.
McMahon, the book by Bob Verdi was released in 1986 prior to the start of the season. In it McMahon let his opinion be known about many people, including team-mates and coaches on his own team.
“I remember closing the book and looking at him and saying ‘well it’s been nice playing with ya!’” kicker Kevin Butler told ESPN twenty years later. One of the people McMahon took aim at was president of the Chicago Bears, Mike McCaskey. McMahon would state in a television interview two decades after the release of the book:
McMahon, the book by Bob Verdi was released in 1986 prior to the start of the season. In it McMahon let his opinion be known about many people, including team-mates and coaches on his own team.
“I remember closing the book and looking at him and saying ‘well it’s been nice playing with ya!’” kicker Kevin Butler told ESPN twenty years later. One of the people McMahon took aim at was president of the Chicago Bears, Mike McCaskey. McMahon would state in a television interview two decades after the release of the book:
“I didn’t like Mike McCaskey. I still don’t (like him). I don’t know anybody that does. I just said what had to be said!”
McCaskey, it has to be said is a colourful character – and many have shared McMahon’s opinion of him. Perhaps more damning to McCaskey was the fact that, if true (and most say it most certainly is), McCaskey was specifically named as the one person who Halas did not want to take over the Chicago Bears when he died. Make of that what you will.
McMahon also stated in his infamous book that wide receiver Willie Gault should “concentrate more on football than he did on wanting to become an actor!” Gault did drop a lot of passes – possibly because he was a track guy before a receiver. Gault was also the main drive behind the infamous Super Bowl Shuffle and did have aspirations of a second career in Hollywood. Perhaps to appreciate the "brashness" of the infamous pop song, recorded and released in the middle of the season, you can check it out at the end of this article.
However when McMahon shuffled in to the 1986 training camp slightly overweight some players thought McMahon himself was not giving it his all and maybe should take some of his own advice. Wide receiver, Dennis McKinnon would offer:
McMahon also stated in his infamous book that wide receiver Willie Gault should “concentrate more on football than he did on wanting to become an actor!” Gault did drop a lot of passes – possibly because he was a track guy before a receiver. Gault was also the main drive behind the infamous Super Bowl Shuffle and did have aspirations of a second career in Hollywood. Perhaps to appreciate the "brashness" of the infamous pop song, recorded and released in the middle of the season, you can check it out at the end of this article.
However when McMahon shuffled in to the 1986 training camp slightly overweight some players thought McMahon himself was not giving it his all and maybe should take some of his own advice. Wide receiver, Dennis McKinnon would offer:
“Jim was in so many commercials that players thought it was taking away from his preparation for the game on Sundays!”
McMahon played in only six games for the Bears in 1986, with the killer blow coming in Week 12 in a home game against the Green Bay Packers, when Charles Martin slammed McMahon to the turf several seconds after the play was over. Martin was thrown out of the game for the late hit, but McMahon was out for the rest of the year.
Doug Flutie was signed by the Bears in light of McMahon’s injury, a move which only served to divide the team even further. Flutie himself said years later that he felt McMahon “made things difficult for him.”
McMahon would offer in 2006:
McMahon would offer in 2006:
“No-one really wanted him there but Mike (Ditka). He just needed someone else for his circus. It wasn’t like we were mortal enemies, I was more backing my friends, Steve Fuller and Mike Tomczak. I figured they deserved a shot before the new kid that comes in!”
Mike Tomczak stated that the blame can’t be solely put on McMahon’s shoulders as much as it can’t be put on Flutie’s. He would state twenty years later:
“We had a certain identity and chemistry in the locker room. When you bring an outsider in, he isn’t going to penetrate that circle!”
Chicago had limped to a 14-2 record by the end of the 1986 regular season and won the NFC Central for the third straight year. The Washington Redskins came to Soldier Field for the Divisional playoff. In what was a tight game midway through the third quarter, with the Bears leading 14-13, Walter Payton fumbled the ball. The Redskins recovered and then drove down the field to take the lead. The Bears eventually lost 27-13, and their reign as champions was over.
Check out the short video below. It features Bears' head coach Mike Ditka on the Johnny Carson show in 1986 - a good example of the "celebrity trap" that Ditka himself was falling into. The video below that features some of Mike Ditka's "rants" to the press during his time with the Bears - a good example of just how alike the personality of the Bears really was of its coach!
Check out the short video below. It features Bears' head coach Mike Ditka on the Johnny Carson show in 1986 - a good example of the "celebrity trap" that Ditka himself was falling into. The video below that features some of Mike Ditka's "rants" to the press during his time with the Bears - a good example of just how alike the personality of the Bears really was of its coach!
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Fixing A Team That Wasn't Broken!
McMahon remained on the bench as 1987 campaign began, returning following the strike to lead Chicago to one of his master come-from-behind victories 27-26 over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bears again won their division on the back of their 11-4 record, and with legendary running back, Walter Payton having stated he would retire following the season, they prepared to face off once again with the Redskins.
On a bright but freezing January day in Chicago, the Bears jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Behind an inspired performance from Doug Williams though, the Redskins tied the contest. With the Bears leading 17-14 late in the third period, cornerback Darrell Green punctured the Bears 1987 Super Bowl dreams with a 52-yard punt return, giving the Redskins a 21-17 victory.
1988 was said to herald a different Jim McMahon. With Payton now gone, it was more than ever on McMahon to lead the team to the promised-land once again. A 12-4 record led to a fifth straight NFC Central title and this time, after slipping past the Philadelphia Eagles in the infamous Fog Bowl 20-12, they welcomed the San Francisco 49ers to Soldier Field in freezing temperatures to play for the right to go to Super Bowl XXIII.
The Bears were installed as favourites, they had beaten the 49ers 10-9 on Monday Night Football earlier in the season and were seen by many as the best team in the NFC. It was finally their time once again. However Joe Montana proceeded to have what 49ers’ head coach Bill Walsh described as “his finest game ever as a pro” as the Bears went down 28-3.
So what happened?
Despite winning more regular season games from 1984 to 1988 than any other team, why did the Bears only win that one Super Bowl? There were several key factors in the Bears fall from grace following Super Bowl XX, without even mentioning the huge amount of in-fighting between players that was by all accounts pretty rife behind closed doors at Halas Hall in the mid to late 1980s.
Following the 1987 season, which had seen running back Neal Anderson take more of Payton’s carries, Payton retired. He had stated early on that 1987 would be his last year. As the years went on it became apparent that Payton had retired too soon – and not only that, but he was “forced” out of the door. The main drive behind this move appears to have been Mike McCaskey. While Ditka did want to get Anderson into the line-up more, he was not willing to just dump his star running back. McCaskey it is said wanted Payton to call it a day following the 1986 season – some site the fumble he had in the 1986 playoff loss to the Redskins - a fumble which was a key turning point in the game. While there is no evidence of ultimatums, it seemed the pressure for Walter to hang up his cleats was immense.
He had co-existed in the backfield with Anderson, with the younger runner playing the full back role. As the 1987 season progressed Payton’s load increased somewhat, and he showed he still had what it took – very much in a similar way to how Jerome Bettis was utilised by the Pittsburgh Steelers in his last seasons in the NFL. Would having Walter Payton to fall back on in the 1988 NFC Championship game have made a difference? Maybe. He certainly had more left in the tank.
On a bright but freezing January day in Chicago, the Bears jumped out to a 14-0 lead. Behind an inspired performance from Doug Williams though, the Redskins tied the contest. With the Bears leading 17-14 late in the third period, cornerback Darrell Green punctured the Bears 1987 Super Bowl dreams with a 52-yard punt return, giving the Redskins a 21-17 victory.
1988 was said to herald a different Jim McMahon. With Payton now gone, it was more than ever on McMahon to lead the team to the promised-land once again. A 12-4 record led to a fifth straight NFC Central title and this time, after slipping past the Philadelphia Eagles in the infamous Fog Bowl 20-12, they welcomed the San Francisco 49ers to Soldier Field in freezing temperatures to play for the right to go to Super Bowl XXIII.
The Bears were installed as favourites, they had beaten the 49ers 10-9 on Monday Night Football earlier in the season and were seen by many as the best team in the NFC. It was finally their time once again. However Joe Montana proceeded to have what 49ers’ head coach Bill Walsh described as “his finest game ever as a pro” as the Bears went down 28-3.
So what happened?
Despite winning more regular season games from 1984 to 1988 than any other team, why did the Bears only win that one Super Bowl? There were several key factors in the Bears fall from grace following Super Bowl XX, without even mentioning the huge amount of in-fighting between players that was by all accounts pretty rife behind closed doors at Halas Hall in the mid to late 1980s.
Following the 1987 season, which had seen running back Neal Anderson take more of Payton’s carries, Payton retired. He had stated early on that 1987 would be his last year. As the years went on it became apparent that Payton had retired too soon – and not only that, but he was “forced” out of the door. The main drive behind this move appears to have been Mike McCaskey. While Ditka did want to get Anderson into the line-up more, he was not willing to just dump his star running back. McCaskey it is said wanted Payton to call it a day following the 1986 season – some site the fumble he had in the 1986 playoff loss to the Redskins - a fumble which was a key turning point in the game. While there is no evidence of ultimatums, it seemed the pressure for Walter to hang up his cleats was immense.
He had co-existed in the backfield with Anderson, with the younger runner playing the full back role. As the 1987 season progressed Payton’s load increased somewhat, and he showed he still had what it took – very much in a similar way to how Jerome Bettis was utilised by the Pittsburgh Steelers in his last seasons in the NFL. Would having Walter Payton to fall back on in the 1988 NFC Championship game have made a difference? Maybe. He certainly had more left in the tank.
Following the 1987 season, the Bears also allowed Wilber Marshall to sign with the Washington Redskins. Although middle linebacker Mike Singletary was extremely important to the Bears defense, Marshall was the key to it. He was the wild card who could change games with his play alone. Once Buddy Ryan was gone, there was not as much call for his wild “skills” as defensive co-ordinator Vince Tobin favored a more zone type defense. Cornerback Leslie Frazier had his career end during Super Bowl XX on a trick special teams play. The weak link on the Bears defense was always sited as being their secondary and losing Frazier was more costly than people realized it would be.
Of course, losing Buddy Ryan didn’t help either. Whether Ditka and Ryan could have existed on the same side-line for another season is open to debate, but it would have been interesting to see what wrinkles and advancements he would have made to his beloved 46 Defense had he chosen to stay with the Bears and been able to work with what was essentially the same group of players. His presence there probably would have justified the aforementioned Wilber Marshall remaining in Chicago.
One thing to note here though and credit where credit is due, Mike Ditka would have already fulfilled his duty to George Halas following the 1984 season as Ryan’s contract had expired. Ditka would have been well within his rights not to re-sign Ryan and bring someone else in. He declined to do this however, recognizing Ryan’s immense contribution to the Bears and resigned the brash coach.
Then of course there was Michael McCaskey himself and how he operated, and ultimately the trading of Jim McMahon to the San Diego Chargers, which happened shortly before the 1989 season began. McMahon expressed relief at having been traded at the time, but his home remained in Chicago, and his one season with the Chargers was described by the signal caller as “the worst year of my professional career!”
The video below features a short interview with McMahon where he speaks bluntly about his trading to the San Diego Chargers - a trade that surely has to rank as one of the more ill-thought out decisions in the "modern" era.
Of course, losing Buddy Ryan didn’t help either. Whether Ditka and Ryan could have existed on the same side-line for another season is open to debate, but it would have been interesting to see what wrinkles and advancements he would have made to his beloved 46 Defense had he chosen to stay with the Bears and been able to work with what was essentially the same group of players. His presence there probably would have justified the aforementioned Wilber Marshall remaining in Chicago.
One thing to note here though and credit where credit is due, Mike Ditka would have already fulfilled his duty to George Halas following the 1984 season as Ryan’s contract had expired. Ditka would have been well within his rights not to re-sign Ryan and bring someone else in. He declined to do this however, recognizing Ryan’s immense contribution to the Bears and resigned the brash coach.
Then of course there was Michael McCaskey himself and how he operated, and ultimately the trading of Jim McMahon to the San Diego Chargers, which happened shortly before the 1989 season began. McMahon expressed relief at having been traded at the time, but his home remained in Chicago, and his one season with the Chargers was described by the signal caller as “the worst year of my professional career!”
The video below features a short interview with McMahon where he speaks bluntly about his trading to the San Diego Chargers - a trade that surely has to rank as one of the more ill-thought out decisions in the "modern" era.
Mad Mac incidentally would spend three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, seeing considerable playing time with the team, before signing with Minnesota in 1993 where he took the Vikings to the playoffs. He then teamed up with his old Eagles coach, Buddy Ryan, who was now in charge of the Arizona Cardinals in 1994. By this team he was a physical wreck and after spending training camp with the Cleveland Browns in 1995, he signed with the Green Bay Packers to mentor their young quarterback, Brett Favre, retiring following 1996 season.
McMahon was certainly good for Brett Favre over those “coming-of-age” seasons for the legendary quarterback. When Favre led the Packers to victory in Super Bowl XXXI 35-21 over the New England Patriots – almost eleven years to the day, in the same stadium, the Louisiana Superdome that McMahon had led the Bears over the Patriots – head coach, Mike Holmgren offered McMahon the chance to take some snaps at the end of the contest to run the clock out. He politely declined, showing for all his brashness that he was a classy guy. This was “Brett’s time.”
So where does Jim McMahon belong in NFL history?
Hall Of Fame quarterback, Steve Young, a team-mate of McMahon’s at Brigham Young University stated:
McMahon was certainly good for Brett Favre over those “coming-of-age” seasons for the legendary quarterback. When Favre led the Packers to victory in Super Bowl XXXI 35-21 over the New England Patriots – almost eleven years to the day, in the same stadium, the Louisiana Superdome that McMahon had led the Bears over the Patriots – head coach, Mike Holmgren offered McMahon the chance to take some snaps at the end of the contest to run the clock out. He politely declined, showing for all his brashness that he was a classy guy. This was “Brett’s time.”
So where does Jim McMahon belong in NFL history?
Hall Of Fame quarterback, Steve Young, a team-mate of McMahon’s at Brigham Young University stated:
“I learned to play by watching Jim. I watched him drop (back to pass), I watched him throw. I am so grateful to Jim that he probably doesn’t realize it.”
When we consider the plateau upon which Young (rightfully) sits in NFL history, we should perhaps take another look at what McMahon did achieve while at the peak of his physical fitness.
Journalist, Andrea Kramer spent considerable time covering McMahon during his time with the Chicago Bears. She would offer that:
“I think that Jim McMahon was the quintessential player, whose mind is so adept at the game of football and his body failed him. He knew the game so well. He could read defences so well!”
It could be argued that McMahon does deserve more serious consideration for the Hall Of Fame. His leadership on the Chicago Bears teams was obvious, and the great Joe Namath only one won Super Bowl and was often injured throughout the later years of his career. McMahon also led playoff teams with the Eagles and Vikings, proving that he could get the job done wherever he was.
One thing is certain, there is unlikely to be another one like Mad Mac. Jim McMahon, who was so much more than just a “punky QB.”
Check out the videos below - an interview with Jim McMahon on Letterman (1986) and on Tom Dreeson (1988) - there are also two US commercials that show how in demand and "outrageous" McMahon was perceived to be.
[Marcus Lowth January 2018]
One thing is certain, there is unlikely to be another one like Mad Mac. Jim McMahon, who was so much more than just a “punky QB.”
Check out the videos below - an interview with Jim McMahon on Letterman (1986) and on Tom Dreeson (1988) - there are also two US commercials that show how in demand and "outrageous" McMahon was perceived to be.
[Marcus Lowth January 2018]
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