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.
