Chicago Bears: 5 Times They Should’ve Drafted Quarterbacks
By Erik Lambert
1985: Randall Cunningham
By the mid-1980s it was apparent the Bears were building something special. All they needed was some consistency at quarterback and they appeared poised to dominate the NFL. They had thought Jim McMahon was their man to do it, but already signs has been showing that he might not be tough enough for the pro level, something that had followed him since college.
He was reckless in his playing style, opening himself up to a number of hits, missing two games in 1983. In 1984 he suffered a lacerated kidney, knocking him out for the season after nine games. Nobody would’ve batted an eye if they chose to consider a quarterback at #22 in the 1st round.
That pick of course became defensive tackle and folk hero William “the Refrigerator” Perry. It could’ve been a promising, young passer out of UNLV named Randall Cunningham. He wasn’t ready to start in the NFL, which would’ve been fine since McMahon ended up leading the Bears to the Super Bowl that year. However, he eventually became a four-time Pro Bowler.
As McMahon began to succumb to the injuries late in the ’80s, the Bears would’ve had him waiting in the wings.