McMahon’s Headbands: He’s a Rebel With a Cause

Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon sported a pair of hand-lettered headbands during Sunday’s Super Bowl, one promoting a cure for juvenile diabetes and the other referring to servicemen missing in action.

Before the Super Bowl began, McMahon wore a headband with the words “JDF Cure” in black letters. JDF stands for Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

After the game began, McMahon switched to a headband reading “POW-MIA,” an apparent reference to U.S. servicemen imprisoned or missing in action from the Vietnam War.

Then, after the Bears had turned the game into a rout, McMahon wore a headband with “Pluto” printed across it.

There has been intense interest in McMahon’s headbands since the Bears played the New York Giants in the National Football Conference semifinals when McMahon wore a headband with the name of a sporting goods company, “Adidas.” The quarterback was fined $5,000 by NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle.

In the Bears’ NFC championship game against the Rams, McMahon and teammate Walter Payton wore headbands bearing the name of the commissioner.

McMahon, who wore gloves because of the cold weather for the NFC championship game two weeks ago, wore the gloves again for the Super Bowl--even though the game was played indoors. Several other members of Chicago’s team, including Payton, also wore gloves. McMahon has said he gets a better grip on the ball with gloves.

Gloves and headbands weren’t the only offbeat uniform additions for the Bears. While his teammates wore the usual white low-cut turf shoes, wide receiver Ken Margerum wore black high-tops. He has said he thinks the shoes make defensive backs misjudge his speed.