Jim Mcmahon talks about getting traded away from the Bears

www.argentaimages.com
Jim McMahon talks about being traded from the Chicago Bears to the San Diego Chargers prior to the 1989 season. Mike Ditka and McMahon didn't see eye to eye and it was time to move on. The Super Bowl winning quarterback thought he had many years left but little did he know his best years were behind him.

[@Ericjr2525]

We still haven’t recovered from this trade. Lol.

[@blackflag4093]

Right! Lol

[@mitchykramer1586]

It was time for him to go. By today standards he wasn't a real leader but a fierce competitor. He really could have done better for the team, especially in 86, 87 and 88. Showing up to training camp fat and out of shape in 86 set the tone about where his priorities were, with himself. When the team really needed locker room leadership they instead got an immature punky QB throwing fits and trying to under mind coaching and organizational decision making. I get the aura of McMahon and his starting winning % but he could have equally used that to better impact the game when he wasn't playing. He acted like a spoiled brat.

[@Ericjr2525]

@@mitchykramer1586 I can’t disagree with this take cause it’s accurate & I’m sure the organization did what it had to do at the time to unload an unhappy player. Regardless, the organization is still trying to replace him. That starts with George & funnels down to the entire operation.

[@DavesMx6]

haha yep and then he wins a ring with the Packers. double burn

[@musicman76enator]

@@DavesMx6 And goes to the White House wearing his Bears jersey lol

[@Chris-qv5mc]

Handled a tough situation with pure class on that interview

[@jamesprouse3978]

I grew up watching this man. I lived in a small town in Terre Haute Indiana. he was my hero. I can say to this day he is still my hero

[@arrowguy173]

My team growing up in the 80s. He was entertaining and had some wild plays - many that were not what Ditka called lol. What an era of football. RIP to the Bears who live on as legends esp Payton, my favorite player of all time.

[@jamesbarrick3403]

Payton is special for sure... so good. But as time wears on I realize that McMahon was just as special. He will never get that credit nor the HOF but in my mind he is so there.

[@scottfarmer8758]

I was in shock after the Bears traded away Jim McMahon. After that they went 6-10, ending the season with six straight losses.

[@chucklos391]

Is that what really happened? I don’t remember. Six straight losses? McCaskeys suck ass big time. Idiots.

[@douglas61920]

When McMahon was traded, I remember going to school and crying. I was 8.

[@jorgejohnson451]

He wasn’t the same after the Charles Martin takedown. The Bears just looked the other way.

[@GORILLA_PIMP]

Right

[@cooperkennedy4725]

I hated when Jim left he was good with the bears

[@jett887]

The glasses are due to an eye injury as a kid. Nothing more. Light sensitivity issues.

[@tanmarketingchannel3436]

He didn't wear them on the field in '85 .

[@BobSmith-mg6iz]

@@tanmarketingchannel3436 He never wore glasses on the field, he was the first to use a shielded visor due to light sensitivity in his eye caused by a childhood accident.

[@lishsc3]

Yes....He was trying to un-do a knot with a fork, and it slammed right into his eye.

[@dcg509]

And this interview had some big ugly lights too

[@ShogunX11]

@@tanmarketingchannel3436 he started wearing an eye shield when he was traded to the chargers.

[@bg147]

He was dippin' in this.

[@michaelorosco1436]

Biggest mistake Da Bears ever made when trading Jim McMahon. He was a rising star quarterback!

[@mitchykramer1586]

Rising star? he was on the decline. always prone to injuries. not reliable.

[@brianc81]

@@mitchykramer1586 and he still won games being hurt

[@GORILLA_PIMP]

@@mitchykramer1586 Exactly

[@stevestarscream5182]

Back when QB’s had to be a legit tough guy to have any chance…. Brady would struggle to play 10 years in the 70’s and 80’d

[@GORILLA_PIMP]

Correct

[@bmceowen3]

I like this Guy...

[@kevinramsey9265]

Being a Chargers fan this was my favorite all-time trade in team history. I was 13 at the time and when I seen the trade was made I instantly thought Super Bowl automatic. Sucks because the results of McMahon playing for the Chargers he was 4-8 in his starts. Billy Joe Tolliver was 2-2. It absolutely broke my heart he was only one and done in San Diego

[@tyrone1544]

Learn how to write a sentence you stupid moron.

[@blackflag4093]

I loved this dude back in the day. Took some vicious hits too. No wonder he smokes weed to deal the head blows.

[@eazye519]

I'll never forget watching cartoons after school and it was breaking news on the bottom of the screen Jim McMahon traded to the Chargers

[@junkwaxheroes]

Most underrated QB of all-time! Imagine if they weren't pushing him to play through injuries, with today's rules where QBs are protected.

[@velvetbear7184]

Money is protected

[@robertcharpentier6852]

Mike Ditka was a fool when it came to Jim McMahon. He was the premier QB the Bears have EVER had and was treated terribly by Ditka. Can't stand that creep but love Jimmy! StocktonRob

[@michaelcollins237]

Agreed 100%

[@jasonrichards9431]

I thought this was a break for McMahon; I just wished he went to a better team. Chicago's personnel dept had been gutted by McCaskey; they were sinking. Glad to see him win another ring with '96 Pack & even happier when he appeared at their White House ceremony wearing a Bear jersey. Their QBs before McMahon were so hideous, he didn't seem like a rookie in '82 More like a hand from the heavens was pulling the team out of whatever century they stuck in & moving them to modern times.

[@indy_go_blue6048]

McCaskell took about 2 years to totally ruin the bears for the next 3 decades when they should've had a Steeler type dynasty.

[@RichV20]

Did McMahon wear the Bears jersey because the 85 Bears couldn't go to the White House due to the Challenger explosion? They went years later when Obama invited them.

[@ShogunX11]

The bears are still paying for it after 32 years.

[@jamesbarrick3403]

You are so correct. The Bears were HORRIBLE during the prime years of Payton. Thank Jesus for Jimmie Mac... and I am not religious lol. He was AWESOME. Best of his era IMO yes above Marino and Montana... Joe has the hardware and its hard to argue with that, and Marino has the stats... but Mac was the man with no help really on offense and he made it happen. When he left the Bears they sucked and that says alot. I'm a lifelong Bears and Cubs and Bulls and Blackhawks fan and sometime that seems like a sentence in a federal penitentiary but dammit the bears got it done in 86 my HS grad year. I am 53 now and still hoping. The Cubs got it done in 2016 and honestly I thought it would never happen. The Bulls and Jordan simply made me a gloriously happy man for about 10+ years. Dammit that was awesome. The Hawks... what can you say they were badass for a period there and I love it. I live in KY for the past 30 years and you would not believe how many Chicago sports fans are here. I mean tons... its all good.

[@jeremiahlesleawilder5329]

Very good quarterback

[@kevinramsey9265]

When I found out we got him in San Diego I thought Super Bowl condenders and winners instantly...Chargers went 4-8 with him and 6-10 overall

[@111party]

McMahon was a winner

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

JK 64 He was injured 🤕 for most of his career He averaged pretty solid numbers in 82 83 & 85

[@mrtnt3462]

@@dumisatonyjohnson8145 Brett Favre played hurt all the damned time!!!! Be a man!!! BRETT FAVRE = REAL MAN!!

[@enlightenedwarrior7119]

He took a beating

[@louio]

His time came & went fast, but definitely made in mark in history.

[@oleboy4332]

Great team and loved jimmy Mac!

[@maxwell4950]

Something the Bears team shared with him since Ryan had gone. And it was '85 not '84. He was a comet that shined as bright as the 46 Defense of Buddy Ryan. Both Ryan and Ditka never won any thing since they parted either. Maybe they were better together. Who knows?

[@MrCocksuckme]

Charles Martin's cheapest shot in nfl history led to the Bears not winning in '86.

[@budbinner2276]

Sharphet P. Hornblower I’m a Packer fan and I can tell you that was a sad day. Lowest of low 😞

[@ronwallace6273]

had A little to do with they sucked

[@indy_go_blue6048]

That still makes me mad as hell. Martin should've been charged with battery and McMahon and the Bears should've sued his ass off. NFL should've banned his ass as well.

[@philcollinsvevo7106]

Ron Wallace do you have any idea what ur talking about? No. Shut the fuck up

[@optimus2g]

Nah, it didn't. They wouldn't have beaten the Giants that year.

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

Also played with Philadelphia Minnesota won SBXXXI with Green Bay in 1997

[@jameshoran8]

And Buddy Ryan in 1990 wanted McMahon to come to the Eagles when he was head coach.

[@J-WHO312]

For some reason! LOL! If all QB’s could take the reigns like Jim!

[@mikeinindy2856]

He was a winner, but he was also hurt a lot.

[@ronwallace6273]

I use hate Jim when he played against packers but hes a cool guy I have alot of respect for him , and hes a packer with a super bowl ring

[@lindseysummers5351]

How did Packers fans react to him wearing his Bears jersey when the team went to the White House, just out of curiosity?

[@ronwallace6273]

@@lindseysummers5351 I expected something from him he was a bear

[@throwball2248]

He started a trend with the hair style, everyone was sporting that look.

[@bobabooey4537]

Dude.... you and your friends aren't everyone lol.

[@Staceyatkinson4496]

One of the most underrated qbs or players, hall of fame material, make it happen commissioner

[@maxwell4950]

* I have to correct myself with my first comment on this page - it was the '85 Bears I am talking about as Super Bowl XX was Jan.26,1986.

[@PrinceTron1]

When I started following the Bears in the late fall of 1985 as a 12 year old, I was amazed at how they had these stars or superstars all over. McMahon, Payton, Gault, McKinnon, Covert, Bortz, Hilgenberg, Thayer, Van Horne, Dent, Perry, Hampton, McMichael, Wilson, Singletary, Marshall, Fencik, Duerson, Frazier, Richardson, Buddy Ryan and Mike Ditka. There's no question in my mind that if Jim McMahon was able to stay relatively healthy throughout his career, he would have been a hall of fame quarterback.

[@GORILLA_PIMP]

No salary cap back then lol It was easy to have a stacked team if the owner was willing to pay big bucks

[@PrinceTron1]

@@GORILLA_PIMP LOL, how ironic you should say that. Because the Bears ownership, even going back to the heyday of George Halas, through the entirety of the 1980s even to this day have been criticized for being cheap and not willing to spend the big bucks.

[@GORILLA_PIMP]

@@PrinceTron1 Yeah you know tbh im kinda surprised that more teams didn't just try an "BUY a ring" during the no salary cap years Because it became WAY harder to build a team once the started the salary cap (1994) But i guess most owners just didn't really care....

[@vendmaster7107]

He sounds exactly like Aikman

[@VolumedMusicMan]

I respect Jim for winning in 85'. Unfortunately, he wasn't around for 3 crucial games ( 84 NFC Championship, 85' Mon night against Miami, and 86' playoff loss to Wash). If he was there for those games, The Bears could've gone undefeated in 85 and possibly win 2 more Super Bowls. Jim after 85' didn't work out much got fat and always was always injuried. What pisses me off is that Jim had just as much ability as Montana out of college, but was lazy and didn't want to work hard to maintain his conditioning. I love the guy, but he could've done more.

[@jameswilliamw.741]

BS. DId you not hear the interview? Mgt and Coaching sucked

[@citygirl5705]

That doesn't have anything to do with his injuries keeping him out of too many games. I blame a lot of things for the Bears not winning another superbowl. McMahon's injuries (that piece of shit Charles Martin bodyslamming him), and I don't think Ditka was that great a coach. Not just his play calling, but I heard he worked them way too hard in practice, and tired them out.

[@santotrafficantejr9985]

@@citygirl5705 Jim McMahon called out Willie Gault publicly, by saying he needs to concentrate more on football than becoming an actor. Jim McMahon can't show up to training camp in (1986) 25 pounds overweight because your preparation and credibility also comes into question, which is the exact same reason, you just criticized WIllie Gault. This further explains why the 85 Bears never became a dynasty.

[@citygirl5705]

I followed the Bears religiously in 1986 and never heard anyone say anything about him being 25 pounds overweight. I believe you, but what did it really matter? They still went 14-2 and the injury caused by Charles Martin was what knocked him out for the rest of the season.

[@TL2354]

Not his fault the Redskins lit up that defense in the playoffs

[@mark11967AD]

Man this hurts to watch. Jim was always in some ways a hard case but here instead of snarky criticism and barbs you can see a genuine vulnerability. I will always appreciate the build up years and Super Bowl year and some games after that we’re good also more blame Bears offensive play calling and roster then Jim. But McMahon will always be a champion in my book. Definitely clutch when the game was on the line.

[@maxwell4950]

As a Steelers fan, just a thought on the Vikings of 70's. They had just as many HOFers as the 49ers of the 80's and they were 0-4 in the Super Bowl because they went against the Chiefs 7 HOFers ,the Dolphins 6 HOFers, the Steelers 9 HOFers , the Raiders 8 HOFers . So if that Vikings team played the 4 teams the 49ers played in the 80's which had a combined 5 HOFers they might be 4-0 too. So much for the Bills having the worst luck in the Super Bowl . The 70's had more talent than the 80's.

[@bowhunter0762]

Fav QB, won a SB.

[@mikel9845]

Look at his record as a starter. He was a great QB

[@jamesbarrick3403]

Jimmie Mac is such a class act. Very entertaining and production was the best in Bears history. Jimbo if you are reading this please understand that the FANS love you, and although Payton is special for reasons you know, I think you right up there in his class along with Payton and Urlacher and Dent and the rest. We appreciate you SO MUCH!!!!! We all loved Ditka at the time for the reason that he got the job done, but in hindsight I think he was really a problem. So be it. I always thought the Bears defense should have given Favre or now Rodgers a serious cheap shot to take them out of the season or more in retaliation to what that idiot did to you. I still think it should happen. When Ditka went to the locker room to talk to the Bears before a game against GB a few years back I imagined he might tell the story and encourage a revenge play... but clearly he was not a big fan of you for some stupid reason. Personally I think it is because his ego is too big and he did not care for you getting credit when he wanted the credit. Similar to the Belecek thing with Brady. In the end we all know it was Brady that did that and we knot that it was Jimmie mac that did that... not Ditka. We love you Mac seriously. I hope to meet you and play some golf or down some brews some day.

[@g-knowledge4639]

Class act? Not as a player. Was far from the greatest teammate.

[@bryonwatkins1432]

Still will never understand why the Bears 🐻 could not win at least one more Super Bowl between 86 and at least 88!!!!

[@mitchykramer1586]

Simple, a combo of buddy leaving and Ditka. But, given that history happened with Buddy leaving it really boils down to Ditka. His narcissistic and egomaniac approach may have worked to get them to the top but it wasn't sustainable. None of it was. everything collapsed on itself and that began at training camp of 86. When Ditka was on every damn commercial. McMahon was overweight and out of shape. Buddy was gone. New D coordinator in which nobody from 85 liked the Defensive scheme. Impressive and sad at the same time that the 86 season was not really taken serious. Ditka lacked real leadership and he lacked the ability to both evolve and adjust. " do this or else. it is my way or else" eventually catches up to you. And, in the Bears case it did.

[@Big.Deez1999]

Simple- The Washington Redskins.

[@bryonwatkins1432]

@@mitchykramer1586 Very true right there.

[@GORILLA_PIMP]

Well PART of reason is ditka was a chitty head coach lol

[@maxwell4950]

Say what you want about Jim McMahon, but he will always be remembered as being the superb QB of the 1984 Bears who had THE best year in the NFL with the '72 undefeated Dolphins as second best year IMO. In '84 McMahon was the QB that 'owned' the NFL and could even snub his nose at the NFL Commish.

[@lindseysummers5351]

1985, not 1984. Hope that helps!!

[@daveyboy_]

Unhappy with me for some reason or another? Maybe your book? The one that threw management under the bus

[@lfeco]

There are some people who have a big opinion of McMahon but none more than himself.

[@battlestarmarc]

McMahon was a good player.

[@sheliarogers8013]

My fav

[@grantk932]

He is the coolest looking dude! Lol, like a Marvel character!

[@donaugustine9748]

If it wasn’t for the bears defense, ol Jimmy would have been gone loooong before.

[@keithkellogg5325]

Diika was why they didn’t win 3 in a row at least 2. His ego.should have kept buddy fired mike

[@darrenriley4277]

Yeah this worse to me than finding out there was no Santa ...my favorite Bears QB ever

[@GORILLA_PIMP]

Santa IS real He's just not the person you THINK he is.... SANTA = SATAN

[@garystone3476]

He came here to the Eagles where he was effective.

[@CJinsoo]

uuummmm, Mcmahon was a decent QB with an outstanding run in 85. But he was too injury prone and played too reckless. great for him to get out of the sorry Bears organization, but the numbers don’t lie, and he is who he was.

[@user-db6fj6ik1o]

He has 2 Super Bowl rings!

[@LJC68]

Who would win in a fight, Dick the Bruiser, or Ditka?

[@Ram44]

Absolutely! He was a LEADER. Similar to Joe Kapp. People don't understand that it's leadership that has players rally around the QB. You can be a great talent, but you need the team to believe in you, no matter what.

[@aboxofbroken8tracks983]

The polar opposite of Jay Cutler.

[@vchandler278]

He was a wild dude but fun to watch. I heard he mooned a helicopter once

[@michaelkawell5861]

Charles Martin killed his career.damn packer.thats another reason why green bay is hated

[@effend446]

The problem with McMahon was that he played in a restrictive culture with the Bears. Granted, he didn't help his own cause by being a free spirit in his own right. After all, the Bears thought they were getting a Milk-Drinking Mormon out of BYU.

[@BTLAGS]

He was from california and catholic how or why he went their I'd like to know. His personality fit a big 10 school , pac 8 or University of Miami. He fit in with the Bears during the 84-88 run.

[@lindseysummers5351]

@@BTLAGS As I recall from his documentary, his family moved to Utah, hence why he got scholarship to BYU. They basically kicked him out of school after his eligibility to play ended.

[@talon115]

I don't think he ever gave a single fuck in his life.

[@Esoteric456]

If he had a deeper voice he would sound like Aikman

[@32lara32]

and the bears haven't done jack shit since he left. i love it.

[@Boomhower89]

Dallas should have grabbed him. But Landry wouldn’t want him likely if he didn’t follow what he was told to do regardless if it would work or not. McMahon was an excellent qb.

[@slideryt]

Daaa Bears.

[@miniteabuds8562]

Wasn’t even ditka’s call. Bears ownership have ruined so many good teams it’s insane.

[@SIunits]

It's the same thing in the corporate world...certain people in positions of authority, they don't like you for whatever dumb / selfish reason and you quickly become a marked man.

[@link501languageservices7]

2018

[@orlandotragic7577]

Jimmy Mac, how they hell did he get through 4 seasons at BYU?!?!?!? isnt that a dry campus

[@edscottable]

Can’t have girls either.

[@christophercouch7116]

Me personally they was it right after he left

[@hotwheel6663]

Dude was a winner screw the haters

[@brianvivickers3712]

McMahon and Blagojevich were alike

[@williamcampbell2656]

Management didn't like him and he was injured a lot, due to his style of play. It was easy for the Bears. From a team that passed on Mahomes... enough said

[@bg147]

Hah, he just didn't care. He was dipping during an interview.

[@dougplein6075]

What's up with the sunglasses?? He is indoors.

[@mailorderdolphlundgrenseam9069]

He got a fork suck in his eye as a kid. Lost some sight and had light sensitivity since.

[@SuperGaleford]

Let’s not forget he has a second Super Bowl ring.

[@dumisatonyjohnson8145]

SuperGaleford With Green Bay in SBXXXI in 1997

[@ronwallace6273]

with the packers

[@jameshoran8]

Nick Foles was released by the Eagles in 2019 at 29 years old after he almost single-handedly won them Super Bowl 52 against the Patriots and outdueling Tom Brady and won the MVP. How's that for appreciation?

[@jackroberts416]

At least they gave him a statue. I am no Eagles fan but Nick Foles did not single handedly win that game. You do realize there are Linemen protecting him, and recievers getting open enough to catch the ball and of course catching it. A tight end, runningback, etc... Most people understand that it was a fluke season where Nick was playing great. He most likely couldn't keep playing at that level. In fact I believe he did start the next year didn't he? Didn't work out too well. Teams don't keep players because they once were good.

[@jameshoran8]

@@jackroberts416 He started first two games in 2018 until Wentz was ready. Whence was mediocre at best and had another injury and falls again took over one again in LA and took them to the playoffs. He had the Eagles heading for the winning touchdown against New Orleans when alshon Jefferies dropped a pass that was intercepted. It falls had played the entire 2018 year there's no doubt that they would have gone back to the Super Bowl. And lastly Brady and Foles met again last year in Chicago and Foles beat Brady.

[@bnegs521]

Jim was injured a lot.

[@TheBlondygirl69]

and look at the New England Patriots.ruled the Roost in the NFL for 20yrs going to a combined 11 Superbowls.and now nu 1 seed in the AFC.Bears dog shot since 85.

[@bicround2006]

Ditto, now no one feels sorry for him either.

[@bicround2006]

No 70's Viking team could even touch that '85 Bear's team either!

[@hailmaryrecordings8255]

Worst move the bears made back then.

[@thelogicalnegro1454]

PC Principal

[@bobabooey4537]

Guy says McMahon would do anything for a team mate. McMahon says he shoulda got the MVP.... not his team mate Richard Dent lol.

[@thebeastlacey]

McMahon had something called "moxy". He wasn't a great QB, he was a decent QB. His leadership set him apart from most. He was surrounded by some good talent which helped him out greatly. The reason he was forced out of Chicago like he did was the fact that the Bears weren't big enough to handle both McMahon's and Ditka's ego's.

[@josephstearns2267]

The Bears in 85 were close to perfect. He was a cog. It worked, but he was no Tom Brady. He was the best QB Chicago has ever had. That's not saying much.

[@daleholbert3111]

Always thought he was cool

[@DaBearsManiac]

I guarantee you, that if Jim Mchmahon wasn't injury prone (and I use that term because it was simply a genetic thing, he really got a lot of injuries and bruises because of his physical make-up. Even out of BYU this was known about him) we would have at least one 1 more Superbowl. '87 was our year. We even could have made a solid run for it in '86.

[@shaunwebster8360]

That's what the bears do....

[@85Newbs]

Jim McMahon and Jeff George seem to be the same person

[@veggieoilerfan2940]

Jim McMahon claimed that he had always played well in San Diego’s Jack Murphy Stadium. Well prior to his trade to the Chargers, I don’t think he had ever played an NFL regular season game in that stadium. Jim did see some playing time during the Bears 1982 preseason game in San Diego. Otherwise, I think the only other games that he played in Jack Murphy Stadium were the 1978, 1980, and 1981 Holiday Bowls for BYU. I thought that it was strange that Jim claimed that he had always played well in JMS since he didn’t actually play very many games there.

[@sonora_rey]

3 bowl wins, counts for something

[@rustyshackelford4022]

He played really well when he did play there

[@johnodo764]

Hey! There's George Michael!

[@TheCEOXPerience]

Dirka was the worst thing to happen to McMahon. one of the most overrated head coaches in NFL history.

[@andrewnorris1514]

DICKA

[@Scree1972]

Where the fuck is the sound? I Can't hear jack shit!

[@CrashD3884]

Buddy Ryan won Mike Ditka a Super Bowl. Ditka was very overrated.

[@ronwallace6273]

namath played with a blown knee since Alabama, but he still played to 77 at the end when on rams you could see he could barely run , but he was one of the best he had class. the bears suck go packers go

[@560lds]

Way to stay on topic ...... Green Bay sucks, Blow pack Blow!

[@ronwallace6273]

@@560lds sorry loser sorry person go pack go

[@bicround2006]

There egos were bigger than there asses!

[@johnwhite5897]

STILL THE TOUGHEST QB IN THE NFL

[@macurban7946]

He was injured all the time, cause he didn’t work out, he didn’t t stay in shape. Was it laziness? Idk

[@user-xf7hs4qg8j]

Ditka was really not a good Coach. he got handed a super bowl team and destroyed it with his stupid decisions and bad coaching