The hunt for a good Chicago Bears quarterback is something that has been ongoing for years. Fans debate on if the team has even had one since Sid Luckman retired back in the 1950s. Some will argue Jay Cutler fits that profile but his 51-51 career record and one playoff appearance make that a tough sell. Most would say the only man who deserves that honor is Jim McMahon.
Why? Winning the Super Bowl helps but also because he seemed to exhibit the poise, leadership, and confidence that almost every other Bears QB has lacked. They haven’t seemed able to find that right mixture since he left.
Until now perhaps.
A lot of people criticized the Bears when they traded for Nick Foles. Why? He’s a career backup who had one amazing run to a championship. There’s nothing special about him. While that may be true to some franchises, it may not be the case in Chicago.
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If anything, he may represent their first taste of McMahon in over 30 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdbrfWq5UlI&ab_channel=ChicagoBears
Jim McMahon and Nick Foles are remarkably similar
It sounds somewhat odd to make this sort of comparison given how far apart the two quarterbacks are in terms of when they played. Still, all one has to do is a little exploring of the backgrounds. People would be shocked to find out how similar the two actually are.
First to make their names at their respective schools
McMahon was really the first quarterback to ever attend Brigham Young University (BYU) and go on to have a successful NFL career. His 1980 season put him on the map, throwing for over 4,500 yards with 47 touchdown passes. Both school records at the time. He remains the highest-drafted QB ever in the program’s history.
Foles paved a similar path of his own. After spending a year at Michigan State, he transferred to Arizona. Ironically just an hour flight away from BYU. There he went on to set school records. His senior year in 2011 was terrific, going for over 4,300 yards and 28 touchdowns. Like McMahon, he was and remains the highest-drafted QB in school history.
Wore #9
Jersey numbers always hold a degree of significance in the NFL. Especially when it comes to quarterbacks. Most would agree that the #12 is probably the most successful with Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers leading that charge. For McMahon and Foles though, that is #9. Both received that digit upon their entry to the NFL and it seems to have brought them some magic in Chicago. McMahon did what he did in the ’80s. Foles already has two 4th quarter comebacks in three games.
Also, don’t forget Robbie Gould wore that number for years. It has a large degree of good fortune attached to it.
Became tagged with injury label
When looking back over the years, McMahon is never mentioned in the same breath as the best quarterbacks of the 1980s. How can that be since the guy won a Super Bowl? The answer is simple. He was never on the field long enough to garner enough attention. In seven seasons with the Bears, he managed to start more than 10 games in a season just twice. His tendency to get injured became a constant source of frustration towards the end of his time in Chicago.
Foles has encountered much the same scrutiny. Despite being a Super Bowl MVP, most analysts don’t take him seriously as a starting quarterback. That’s because he too has only topped 10 starts in a season twice. His career has been marked by numerous injuries including two broken collarbones.
Overwhelming success when paired with a good defense
This is where it gets really exciting from the perspective of Bears fans. One thing this franchise has always been known for is defense. It regularly fields good defensive units. The problem is they’ve struggled to find quarterbacks who understand how to take advantage of that. It wasn’t about the stats but making just enough plays to win.
McMahon is a perfect example. While not the flashiest passer at times, the guy seemed to come through time and again if the defense played well. Ready for a wild stat? In 67 of his starts, his defense gave up 20 points or less. McMahon was 59-8 in those games. Foles? He is currently 18-5 along that same line in his career.
This speaks to both the leadership and the calm under pressure the two quarterbacks possess. Their play won’t be the prettiest all the time. Yet when their team needed a big play or big drive, they delivered more often than not. That is what the Bears got with Jim McMahon, and now they have it again with Foles.