The connections between Mitch Trubisky and Jim McMahon go back a long way. The young Chicago Bears quarterback was a huge fan of Walter Payton. So he grew up watching highlights of the great teams of the 1980s and no doubt got familiar with McMahon’s exploits as well. This would explain one of his more infamous moments years later.
When GM Ryan Pace was set to meet with Trubisky before the NFL draft, he decided to try something different. In order to test the quarterback’s ability to take command of a situation, he asked Trubisky to find the restaurant they’d meet and make the reservations. With one crucial detail though. Be sure to keep it a secret so nobody caught wind.
Trubisky ended up putting the reservation under the name James McMahon.
McMahon was tickled when he heard about that. Since then he’s been eager for a chance to meet Trubisky. That opportunity finally came at the Bears 100th anniversary celebration in Rosemont. The two quarterbacks got together on a panel to talk. Predictably, it wasn’t long before things got kooky.
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Mitch Trubisky and Jim McMahon were all about fun
One of the things that made McMahon was beloved in Chicago was his willingness to have fun. He had a bit of a rebellious streak, doing things that both his coaches and the league itself didn’t always approve of. The fans? They loved it. Combine that with his steady dose of wins and it made for an eventual Bears folk hero.
To commemorate the occasion, he gifted Trubisky with two of his trademarks. A white headband and a pair of shades. For his part the young QB embraced the antic, even calling out to a Mike Ditka impersonator during the discussions with a long-standing criticism.
The Bears were a run-first team throughout Ditka’s time as head coach. So there’s no question that McMahon, who set passing records at BYU, likely chaffed in that type of system. Especially given the outstanding offensive line he played behind. If the Bears had installed a more creative system that opened up the passing game, there’s no telling what he might’ve accomplish.
That would explain why McMahon said he’d love to have played under Matt Nagy. Needless to say that panel may be hard to top.
