Jim McMahon Reveals Why He Wore Bears Jersey to White House After Winning Super Bowl With Packers

There is a trend on social media where old pictures resurface and cause controversy when an explanation may have already been given long ago. That is the case with a picture of former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon.

The polarizing player won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers during the 1996 season and went to the White House to celebrate wearing a Bears jersey. This was an odd sight and it was easy to guess that McMahon was just trying to be controversial. He once again cleared up the actual reason why he donned his old uniform.

I want to explain these pictures that have been shared lately from my trip to the White House when I was with the @packers and I wore my @chicagobears jersey. In 86 our trip was cancelled due to the space shuttle Challenger disaster. I cleared it with my teammates at the time. pic.twitter.com/dmgim30S7X
— Jim McMahon (@JimMcMahon) April 14, 2020

McMahon's first Super Bowl came with a 1985 Bears team that dominated the entire league en route to a 46-10 blowout win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX. But his team was not able to get its White House visit after the Challenger explosion in January 1986.

Jim McMahon wore his Bears jersey to the Packers Presidential visit. The 85 Bears were scheduled to go to the White House on 1/28/86. The Shuttle Challenger disaster canceled the visit. He wore his jersey in honor of the team that never made the trip. pic.twitter.com/75v32trU5l
— Dan Hyland (@WindyCityCritic) September 25, 2019

The quarterback said he cleared the move with his Packers teammates and it is hard to imagine any of them caring too much when hearing the reasoning behind his decision. The consolation from the situation was President Barack Obama hosting McMahon and the '85 Bears for an official visit in 2011.