Chicago Bears: 10 Best Quarterbacks of All Time

2. Jim McMahon (1982-1988)

The 1985 Bears' defense rightly gets the attention but Jim McMahon was the steady hand leading the best squad Chicago fans have ever had the pleasure of rooting for. Fourth in Bears' all-time passing yards (11,203) and oversaw the organization's most dominant era, finishing his Chicago career with a spectacular 46-15 record.

He had seven game-winning drives in his 61 starts, including an NFL-leading three in 1987, proving he wasn't just riding the coattails of the defense. McMahon was a Pro Bowler in that magical 1985 season and remains the only QB to win a Super Bowl with the franchise.

His steady play on the field was in stark contrast with his loud, boisterous personality off it. McMahon frequently wore headbands with messages displayed. The defense got the attention but McMahon sticks in the memories of Bears fans to this day.

The style of team that McMahon oversaw required a steady hand. It did not need the flashy play of a guy like Cutler to succeed, and the "Punky QB" delivered in every way required.

After leaving Chicago following the 1988 season, McMahon went on to play for the Chargers, Eagles, Vikings, Cardinals, and Packers before retiring in 1996.

Jim McMahon Chicago Bears Statistics

1. Sid Luckman (1939-1950)

Even though Sid Luckman played in a significantly different era than we know today, his individual accolades and team success make him an easy choice for the top spot on this list. Luckman spent his entire career with the Bears, winning four NFL Championships and making five.

He was a six-time All-Pro, five of which were First-Team All-Pro nominations, leading the league in passing yards, TDs, passer rating, and yards per attempt three times each. Luckman has the most games under center for any QB in team history (128) and is second in passing yards (14,686) and TDs (137).

The NFL Hall of Famer was named league MVP in 1943, passing for 2,194 yards and 28 TDs, throwing for a score on an absurd 13.9% of his 202 passing attempts.

No Bears QB has since reached Luckman's heights. A true pioneer, he was the first QB to ever throw for 400 yards and seven TDs in a single game, accomplishing the feat 56-7 win over the Giants in that famed 1943 season.

Luckman was ahead of his time, and fans have been waiting for a player to achieve similar success for nearly a century. Even with the excitement around Williams, Luckman is a player worth celebrating and remembering as Chicago enters a new era.

Note that NFL statistics did not assign records to QBs during Luckman's era due to frequent substitutions, so his exact record is not known. However, given the Bears' great success, it's obvious Luckman won quite a bit.

Sid Luckman Chicago Bears Statistics

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