An
outstanding college tailback at Columbia University from
1936 to 1938
and selected All-America in 1937 and 1938, Sid Luckman blossomed
as “The
Master of the T-Formation” with the
National Football League’s Chicago
Bears.
In nine seasons as quarterback of the
Bears, 1939 to 1947, his “Monsters of
the Midway” won four NFL Championships
(in 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946)
and five Western Conference titles. Enroute, Luckman set
numerous offensive
records and was named All-Pro five
times—from 1941 to 1944, and in 1947.
He also played full-time defensive backfield
throughout his career.
Luckman was the NFL’s Most Valuable
Player in 1943, the year he threw
a single-game-record 7 touchdowns
against the New York Giants and 28
touchdowns during the Bears’ 10-game
regular season. The seven-touchdown
spectacular led to a 56–7 rout over the
Giants on Sid Luckman Day at New
York’s Polo Grounds. Later that season,
he tossed five touchdowns in a 41–21
NFL title game romp over the Washington
Redskins.
Luckman’s mastery of the new T-formation
system helped open up and
popularize professional football. In his
nine pro seasons, Luckman completed
904 of 1,747 passes, for 14,683 yards (8.42
yards per pass), and 139 touchdowns.
Luckman is a member of the College
Football Hall of Fame and was elected to the NFL’s
Pro Football Hall
of Fame in 1965.
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