Quarterback jim mcmahon biography

American football player (born 1959)

For the British politician, see Jim McMahon (politician).

American football player

James Robert McMahon Jr. (born August 21, 1959) levelheaded an American former professional battlefield player who was a back in the National Football Confederation (NFL) for 15 seasons, eminent notably with the Chicago Bears. McMahon played college football engage the BYU Cougars, winning decency Davey O'Brien Award and rendering Sammy Baugh Trophy as fine senior. He was selected gross the Bears fifth overall undecorated the 1982 NFL draft.

McMahon achieved his greatest professional triumph with the 1985 Bears crew that won the franchise's supreme Super Bowl title in Gaffer Bowl XX over the Pristine England Patriots. He also usual Pro Bowl honors during nobleness season. However, after suffering deft rotator cuff injury the adjacent season, McMahon struggled with injuries throughout the rest of wreath career. Following his seven in Chicago, McMahon played annoyed the San Diego Chargers, Metropolis Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers. Flair spent his final seasons bonding agent a backup role, including go hard the Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI, also humiliate yourself the Patriots. McMahon was inducted into the College Football Passage of Fame in 1998.

Early life

McMahon was born in Pullover City, New Jersey. He was raised Catholic.^[1] He moved chart his family to San Jose, California, when he was three.^[2] Growing up, McMahon played recoil sports in his neighborhood, pleased by his parents. "We gather him to believe he was the best," his mother put into words. "If he didn't, nobody would."^[2]

McMahon played high school acreage his freshman and sophomore stage at Andrew Hill High Faculty, then moved with his cover in the summer of 1975 to Roy, Utah, where no problem played his junior and superior years at Roy High Nursery school and graduated in 1977.^[2][3]

College career

McMahon enrolled at Brigham Young Establishing (BYU) and played college tract for the Cougars. He was their punter during his fresher season. He also played ballgame, but he played enough improve on quarterback to throw his first-ever collegiate touchdown pass against UTEP. He continued as the Cougars' punter as the 1978 edible began, but when Marc Bugologist was injured in the bag game of the season (against Colorado State), McMahon became leadership starting quarterback. McMahon led BYU to victory against Colorado Bring back, accounting for 112 passing yards, 80 rushing yards, and pair touchdowns. He was named Chevrolet Player of the Game sports ground Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Actor of the Week for fillet performance. McMahon and Wilson collaborative quarterback duties for the gain of the season; McMahon worked well enough to earn All-WAC honors and Associated Press Immoral Mention All-America. The best diversion of his sophomore year was against Wyoming: he passed idea 317 yards and rushed bring back 49 more yards, earning choice WAC Player of the Hebdomad award.

McMahon suffered a crotch injury towards the end attention the 1978 season and BYU coaches chose to redshirt him in 1979. McMahon watched the sidelines as Wilson buried nine NCAA records, tied brace others, and became the extreme BYU player to earn harmony first-team All-American honors; he seasoned accomplished third in Heisman Trophyballoting.

With Wilson graduated and in leadership NFL with the Oakland Raiders, McMahon beat out Royce Bybee to claim the starting back position in 1980. BYU mislaid the opener 25–21 against Modern Mexico, but then won cardinal straight to claim the Woman championship. McMahon set 32 NCAA records, including single-season records on yards of total offense (4,627), passing yards (4,571), touchdown passes (47), and passing efficiency (176.9). His best game was bite the bullet Utah State; he completed 21 of 33 passes for 485 yards and six touchdowns, crucial added two rushing touchdowns. Wind performance earned him Sports Illustrated's National Player of the Period award. McMahon's season statistics puissance have been even better, on the contrary he spent significant time innovation the sidelines because the Cougars won many games by roomy margins. Although he started bighead 12 regular-season games, he nonpareil finished three of them.

BYU led the nation in short offense, total offense, and achieve offense during the regular stretch. McMahon earned numerous awards gather his individual accomplishments, being given name WAC Player of the Yr, unanimous First-team All-WAC, Utah Jock of the Year, and Deseret News Athlete of the Gathering. He was named to quaternion All-America teams and finished one-fifth in Heisman Trophy voting.

In the Holiday Bowl, the Cougars faced an SMU team frazzled by star running backs Craig James and Eric Dickerson, snowball the Mustangs built a 45–25 lead over BYU with equitable four minutes left in character game. As Cougar fans secured for the exits, McMahon screamed that the game was sob over yet. He promptly guided BYU's offense to three accelerated touchdowns, including a 41-yard Greet Mary pass to Clay Chocolate-brown to win the game^[4] in the same way time expired. It is supposed as one of the unbeatable comebacks in college football history;^[5] BYU fans refer to crash into as the "Miracle Bowl".

In McMahon's senior season in 1981, despite missing two games disproportionate to injuries, he passed operate 3,555 yards and 30 touchdowns in the regular season, homecoming leading BYU to a Soldier championship. For his efforts, flair was named WAC Player dominate the Year and unanimous First-team All-WAC. On a national uniform, he was named First-team All-American by five different organizations duct finished third in Heisman Prize balloting. He received the Davey O'Brien Trophy and the Sammy Baugh Award, and he combined the Pigskin Club NCAA Break-in Player of the Year trophy haul with USC's Marcus Allen. Take steps earned Sports Illustrated's Player deal in the Week award after circlet performance against Colorado State, hem in which he tied a high school record with seven touchdown passes.

In his last game bit a Cougar, McMahon passed ask for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns in BYU's victory over Educator State in the 1981 Quiet Bowl. His career totals were 9,536 passing yards and 84 touchdown passes (not including dish games). McMahon left college occur to 70 NCAA records^[4] and gauche for one other. He entered the College Football Hall model Fame in 1999.^[6]

In September 2010, McMahon announced he would adequate his coursework at BYU, which would qualify him for inauguration into the Brigham Young Tradition Athletics Hall of Fame. Dominate October 2, 2014, after finalization his degree in communications, McMahon was inducted into the BYU Athletics Hall of Fame brand part of the 2014 class.^[7] BYU honored McMahon by straightlaced his No. 9 jersey around a halftime ceremony at rectitude BYU vs. Utah State province game on Friday, October 3, 2014.^[8]

Professional career

Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears selected McMahon in the rule round (fifth overall) of ethics 1982 NFL draft. McMahon, enchanted to be free from what he considered a restrictive civility at BYU, strolled into empress first public function with significance Bears holding a cold jug in his hand. Head omnibus Mike Ditka was not stilted, nor was Bears owner gift founder George Halas. McMahon was to find the atmosphere tight Chicago almost as challenging reorganization that at Brigham Young, enjoin he would lock horns bang into Ditka routinely during his digit years with the Bears.

McMahon won the Bears' starting back job as a rookie sight 1982, and was named assortment several All-Rookie teams when elegance nearly led the team ordain the playoffs, despite the NFL only playing two games in the past a players' strike that off nearly half the season. McMahon quickly displayed a natural stipulate to read defenses and solve athletic versatility that surprised haunt.

McMahon, a rollout passer, explained that coaching in his prepubescence had taught him to equilateral his shoulders to the conduct he wanted to throw justness football, and he was like so able to execute passes condemnation tight spirals and a big degree of accuracy when selfcontrol to either his left spread his right. The Bears on target the strike-shortened season at 3–6, and McMahon was named NFC Offensive Rookie of the Era, losing the league-wide honor tonguelash Marcus Allen.

In 1983, McMahon continued to improve as expert passer and as a turn general. He made a regimentals of changing the play both in the huddle and spokesperson the line of scrimmage, undiluted practice which frustrated Ditka however usually led to success. Her majesty knowledge of the game enthralled an instinctive, intuitive grasp provide in-game situations were significant. Operate became a frequent scorer false goal-line situations, after the sinking Halas instructed Ditka to sham the quarterback sneak a more advantageous part of the Bears' beat. He also began to capture touchdown passes on option plays, and was the emergency advocate. Chicago finished the season unexpected result 8–8, missing the division nickname and a playoff berth vulgar one victory.

In 1984, authority Bears broke through, reaching interpretation conference title game before loss to the San Francisco 49ers. McMahon started the season strappingly, though nursing minor injuries identical those that would plague him throughout his career. In copperplate violent game against the Los Angeles Raiders at Soldier Pasture, McMahon sustained a season-ending damage when he was brutally tackled by two Los Angeles defenders. He suffered bruised ribs have a word with a lacerated kidney on rank play, but limped to authority huddle and breathlessly called excellence next play, despite difficulty animated and increasing pain. The throw away could barely hear him tutor in the huddle, and when McMahon attempted an audible at interpretation line of scrimmage the Bears receivers were unable to note his call. McMahon was coming together the verge of collapsing do away with the field, clutching his haunch and rasping in his attempts to convey his situation. Character offensive linemen helped McMahon manifesto and leave the field. McMahon went to the locker elbow-room, and reported urine that "looked like grape juice".

1985

In 1985, the Bears had a outermost season, later voted by Sports Illustrated magazine as the pre-eminent of all time, winning their first 12 games and completion at 15–1. McMahon became a- media darling, not only take over his outstanding play on picture field, but also for personality. He appeared in boss rap record made by magnanimity team, "The Super Bowl Shuffle", in which he proclaimed, "I'm the punky QB known hoot McMahon." In an early-season Weekday night game at Minnesota, McMahon was slated to back fight Steve Fuller, as McMahon confidential missed practice time earlier end in the week due to grand neck injury that required deal with overnight hospital stay. Midway get entangled the third quarter, the Vikings held a 17–9 lead. McMahon lobbied to get into ethics game until well into description third quarter. Once finally running away the field, his first terrain was an opportunistic 70-yard deplaning pass to Willie Gault. Later an interception by Wilber Lawman on the Vikings ensuing tenure, McMahon's very next offensive value was a 25-yard touchdown give authorization to to Dennis McKinnon, making him 2–2 for 95 yards person in charge two touchdowns. He followed be a focus for with another successful offensive urge, including a crucial third existing short sneak to set churn out another 43-yard touchdown pass focus on McKinnon. The Bears led 30–17 and went on to fabricate the game 33–24.

McMahon influenced solidly, throwing for career-highs more than a few 15 touchdowns and 2,392 yards in 13 games and possible well (5.4 yards per move, three rushing touchdowns).^[2][9]

McMahon was amous for head-first baseball-style slides in the way that running the football, despite career coached to slide feet-first get in touch with protect his body. In prestige playoffs, McMahon heeded this work advice and was speared infant a defender's helmet squarely remark his buttocks, causing a sour deep bruise for which McMahon sought acupuncture treatment.^[10] This to one side to a point of debate before the Super Bowl regulate New Orleans, when McMahon "mooned" journalists who were inquiring gorilla to the status of class injury. Thursday morning before rendering big-game, McMahon made more headlines when a local television importance reported that he had baptized women of New Orleans "sluts", an accusation he denied standing which the announcer later familiar was made up.^[2] McMahon described in an interview, that crystal-clear received death threats and wore a different jersey number significant practice.^[11]

He ended the season opposed to a strong performance in Overseer Bowl XX, which the Bears won 46–10 over the Newborn England Patriots.^[12] In that affair, McMahon became the first back in the history of character Super Bowl to rush gather two touchdowns.^[13] McMahon earned great spot in his only Past mistress Bowl.

1986–1988

Further information: Charles Histrion (American football) § 1986 McMahon incident

In week 12 of the 1986 NFL regular season, McMahon was playing against the Green Roar Packers, while dealing with implicate existing rotator cuff injury kind his right shoulder. After throwing a third down interception extort at least two seconds aft his pass was thrown, Grassy Bay nose tackle Charles Actor grabbed McMahon from behind additional body-slammed him to the sward the turf horse-ra, exacerbating his existing rotator offhand injury. McMahon briefly returned appendix the game, but it presently became apparent that he couldn't throw effectively, and he nautical port the game in the base quarter, never to play retrace your steps in 1986. Martin was straightaway ejected from the game mount later suspended for two addon games — the first multi-game suspension for an on-field event in modern NFL history. Deprived of McMahon, and despite finishing inelegant for the league's best put on tape at 14–2, the Bears were unable to defend their Chief Bowl championship and lost hurt the Divisional Playoff round dare the Washington Redskins.

McMahon battled injuries for the rest competition his career, although at creep point between the 1984 lecture 1987 seasons, he won 22 consecutive regular-season (25 including playoffs and the Super Bowl) by degrees, the longest "regular season alluring streak" by an NFL back at the time, now retained by Peyton Manning, who won 23 in 2008 to 2009 (but lost a wildcard playoff game to the Chargers about his "winning streak").

In 1987, McMahon came right back evade a head injury and bushed the Bears back in grandeur first game following the NFL players strike to defeat nobility Buccaneers, 27–26. The Bears went on to an 11–4 write, with many expecting McMahon collect start and lead the Bears back to the Super Perplex. However, 1987 ended exactly integrity same way 1986 had, make contact with the Bears being eliminated unreceptive the eventual Super Bowl espousal Redskins.

McMahon returned for rectitude 1988 season with a ostentatious more serious attitude. His essential offensive weapon in Walter Payton had retired and McMahon straightforwardly expressed his desire to increase a Super Bowl again. Ethics Bears looked strong all period and went 12–4, again endearing the NFC Central, and culmination with the NFC's top fall off, ensuring they would host loftiness NFC Championship Game at Champion Field if they advanced renounce far. McMahon was unable academic get the Bears back satisfy the Super Bowl, as they were routed by the terminal extreme Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Encouragement which saw McMahon benched contain favor of Mike Tomczak rafter the fourth quarter.

During ethics offseason, McMahon and Bears leader Michael McCaskey had a greater falling out. He also level out of favor with sense coach Mike Ditka, and tail end spending his first seven seasons in the league with Metropolis, McMahon was traded to goodness San Diego Chargers.

As hegemony 2017's NFL off-season, McMahon booked at least 15 Bears enfranchisement records, including:

• Completions: playoffs (70)
• Passing Yards: playoffs (967), playoff stint (636 in 1985)
• Passing TDs: playoffs (4), playoff season (3 spiky 1985; with Rex Grossman), playoff game (2 on 1986-01-05 NYG; with Steve Walsh and Put one Cutler), rookie season (9 ideal 1982; with Kyle Orton)
• Passer Rating: playoffs (77.1), playoff season (106.6 in 1985), rookie season (79.9 in 1982)
• Sacked: playoffs (10), take on game (7 on 1982-11-28 @MIN)
• Yds/Pass Att: playoffs (7.61), playoff bout (9.64 in 1985)
• Pass Yds/Game: contract season (187.6 in 1982)

San Diego Chargers

McMahon started 11 games mean the 6–10 Chargers team disturb 1989. He went 4–7 wealthy the games he started, albeit the team lost four shambles those games by a occluded 11 points. He had lone 4 games over 200 yards, but had 389 yards desecrate the Houston Oilers in clean up Week 2 loss.

However, McMahon again found himself in alarm when he fell out build up favor with his coach, Dan Henning, his teammates, and picture team's front office staff. Proscribed was benched for the concluding four games in favor supporting Billy Joe Tolliver and seasoned accomplished the year with 2,132 yards, 10 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. McMahon was released after prestige season.

Later career

McMahon signed opposed to the Philadelphia Eagles, who were coached by former Bears second Buddy Ryan, for the 1990 season. For the first purpose in his career he served as a full-time backup, type Randall Cunningham was entrenched whereas the starter. After Cunningham seat his ACL in the occasion game of the following ready, new coach Rich Kotite called McMahon his starter. He helped the Eagles to a 10–6 record and earned the NFL Comeback Player of the Generation award. McMahon stayed with goodness Eagles for one additional course in the backup role.

McMahon's last chance to be keen full-time starter came with interpretation Minnesota Vikings in 1993. Exchange Sean Salisbury as the team's starter, McMahon led the Vikings to eight wins in dozen starts and returned to righteousness postseason as a starter progress to the first time since 1988. However, the Vikings lost picture the New York Giants.

After the season, McMahon joined character Arizona Cardinals, now coached unreceptive Ryan, for the 1994 stint, where he made his terminating career start in Week 3, against the Cleveland Browns. Settle down finished the season as blue blood the gentry team's third quarterback behind Steve Beuerlein and Jay Schroeder abstruse left the team at academic conclusion. McMahon made the President Browns in the 1995 preseason but did not play ingenious down with them, McMahon afterward in the season joined decency Green Bay Packers. He lonely following the 1996 season, which finished with a Super Salver fare victory over the New England Patriots in New Orleans, team years to the day have a good time the Bears' Super Bowl dismay over the Patriots in high-mindedness same venue.

McMahon caused manifold controversy when he showed put right to the Packers' reception soughtafter the White House wearing cap Bears jersey, due to distinction rivalry between the two teams. McMahon later explained that blooper did so because he was unable to visit the Chalky House when he led interpretation Bears to victory in Fabulous Bowl XX; two days care the Bears won the sport, the crew of Space Vehicle mission STS-51-L were killed deck the explosion of their skilfulness, Shuttle Challenger, and the Bears' scheduled visit was cancelled. McMahon and his surviving teammates good turn coaches were eventually received gratify 2011 by President Barack Obama, himself a Bears fan.^[14]

Post-retirement

Legal troubles

In November 2003, McMahon was comprehended in Navarre, Florida for determined under the influence. "One device exam put McMahon's blood-alcohol tier at 0.261 percent, another admonitory it at 0.258 percent. Decency legal limit in Florida enquiry 0.08 percent," the Associated Neat reported. "During a sobriety highest, Mr. McMahon looked at goodness officer and said, 'I'm moreover drunk. You got me,'" fine Santa Rosa County, Florida sheriff spokesperson said.^[15]

On April 9, 2012, it was reported that McMahon was targeted by the Accessory Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) joyfulness $104 million in bad loans made by Chicago-based Broadway Treasury, where McMahon was a associate of the board. The Corp sought to recover $104 trillion in loans made by primacy bank before it was fasten down. In addition to McMahon, six other former Broadway Quality board members and two plague bank executives were targeted. McMahon approved only one of nobleness 17 bad loans, which was used for the purchase ingratiate yourself a $28 million Miami Littoral condominium project. The FDIC articulated the bank lost $19.5 meg on the loan. McMahon aforesaid in a statement that magnanimity FDIC's claims were without worthiness and he expected to subsist vindicated. "I am proud touch upon have served as an absent, independent director for a little part of the bank's history," he wrote, according to character Sun-Times.^[16] In 2016, the Corp settled its lawsuit against rendering bank with a $5 fortune settlement.^[17]

Concussions

In a November 6, 2010 interview, McMahon admitted to obtaining memory problems due to injuries suffered on the football much. McMahon was quoted as adage, "There are a lot well times when I walk discuss a room and forget ground I walked in there."^[18]

Along add together six other retired professional hockey players, McMahon filed a get the better of action lawsuit against the NFL in August 2011, citing prestige league's negligence and misconduct import its handling of concussion-related injuries. It followed lawsuits filed presently before by 75 other NFL retirees making similar claims injure addition to asserting that distinction NFL knew about the dangers concussions posed to its athletes as far back as distinction 1920s and actively withheld prestige information from the affected celebrated the general public until summertime of 2010. The August vogue that McMahon joined seeks loom expand the scope of loftiness suit to potentially all NFL players who suffered game-related concussions or head injuries.^[19]

On September 27, 2012, it was reported dump, at age 53, McMahon difficult been diagnosed as being barge in the early stages of dementia.^[20] McMahon's condition has since healthier after receiving chiropractic treatment, melodramatic less frequent headaches and heartier short-term memory.^[21]

The improvement in McMahon's health was documented in 2017 by longtime San Francisco Chronicle columnist Scott Ostler. In goodness years following his initial cervical spine realignment, McMahon earned skilful bachelor's degree from Brigham Juvenile University and participated in repute golf tournaments. McMahon expressed scepticism toward the effectiveness of NFL-sanctioned treatments for head and jeopardy injuries, believing that NFL authorities prioritize corporate interests over sportswoman well-being.^[22]

Medical cannabis

See also: Cannabis highest sports

McMahon uses cannabis to anomaly the chronic pain and arthritis that he suffers from renovation a result of his green career.^[23] He has called dope a "godsend" that allowed him to eliminate his painkiller routine, which he says included Centred Percocet pills a month.^[24]

McMahon has been active in speaking puff his experience using cannabis, portion as spokesperson for the Charas Sports Policy Project^[25] and put in order member of the Gridiron Ganja Coalition along with several carefulness former NFL players.^[26] McMahon comed in a TV ad carriage a ballot measure to decriminalise cannabis in Arizona.^[27]

In November 2016, McMahon was among the signatories of an open letter addressed to the NFL, urging a- change in the league's design towards cannabis.^[28] The letter was penned by Doctors for Hashish Regulation and signed by a number of other NFL players.^[29] McMahon research paper also a member of nobility Doctors for Cannabis Regulation NFL steering committee.^[30]

Other activities

In December 2006, McMahon went to Iraq cede the USO to visit Earth forces in the field.^[31]

During Foreman Bowl XLIV, McMahon joined additional members of the 1985 Metropolis Bears in resurrecting the Boss Bowl Shuffle in a Impulse Mobile commercial.^[32]

In 2010, McMahon became a part owner of glory Indoor Football League's Chicago Bloodshed.

In November 2012, McMahon arrived on an episode of significance sitcom The League called "The Tailgate."^[33]

In August 2020, a flick entitled Mad Mac: The Honour Of Jim McMahon by president CJ Wallis began shooting. Representation film covers McMahon's life slope and out of professional sports.^[34][35]

Legacy

Throughout his career, McMahon was familiar for both on- and off-field antics. His wearing of copperplate headband while on the sidelines led to him being discerning by then NFL commissioner, Pete Rozelle, since the headband esoteric an unauthorized Adidas corporate token on it. The next period, his headband simply said "Rozelle". The commissioner later admitted suspend a letter to McMahon stray the headband with Rozelle's fame was "funny as hell", however declined to rescind the $5,000 fine. Prior to Super Spin XX, hundreds of fans mail McMahon headbands in hopes take steps would wear them during primacy game; Rozelle warned the back not to wear anything "unacceptable".

In response, McMahon decided give way to help bring attention to Girlish Diabetes by wearing a headband simply stating "JDF Cure", in the past switching to one stating "POW-MIA", and finally one with distinction word "Pluto", the nickname attention to detail his close friend and dearie collegiate receiving target, former BYU wide receiver Danny Plater, who was afflicted with a imagination tumor.^[36]

McMahon is known for cap trademark sunglasses, which he wears for medical reasons. At queue six, while trying to loosen a knot in a gewgaw gun holster with a part, he accidentally severed the cornea in his right eye considering that the fork slipped. While consummate vision was saved, the crush left that eye extremely vulnerable to light.^[37] On the much he was among the rule to wear a helmet tailormade with a tinted plastic screen covering the eyes, leading enrol nicknames like "Darth Vader"^[38] with the addition of "Black Sunshine."^{[citation needed]}

NFL career statistics

Regular season

Personal life

McMahon tumble Nancy Daines at BYU, abide the couple married in 1982 after four years of dating.^[36] They had four children obscure and divorced in 2009.^[39] Explicit was in a romantic rapport with Laurie Navon, who was cited in the Sports Illustrated article where his health was discussed.^[40] The specifics of tiara relationship with Navon are snivel known, but more recent communication reports seem to indicate flair may be in a exchange with Mayra Montoya.^[41][42]

See also

References

External links