McMahon's "Rozelle" Headband

A unique item we have in the shop is a Jim McMahon game worn headband. This is not your average headband. This headband was altered by the Chicago Bears quarterback in January of 1986, McMahon used a black sharpie the spell out the name "Rozelle". Pete Rozelle was the NFL commissioner from 1960 until 1989. But McMahon was not sporting the commissioner's name across his forehead because he was a fan of him. It was an act of defiance and spite. In the week prior, McMahon wore a headband with an Adidas logo on it during a playoff shutout win against the New York Giants. The NFL, and commissioner Rozelle, fined McMahon for violating a league policy for wearing the headband with the Adidas corporate logo. McMahon states in an interview for the ESPN 30 For 30 - The 85' Bears,"the only reason it was a big deal was because Adidas was not paying the NFL at the time." Rozelle stated in a phone call to McMahon that it gave Adidas free advertising. The next match up was against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship and McMahon decided to make a new logo for his headband and make a statement of corporate defiance. The quarterback received no fines for this headband but did get a thanks from Rozelle for the free advertisement. The Bears beat the Rams and went on to defeat the New England Patriots in Superbowl XX. The head band is a unique part of the 1985 champion Chicago Bears and a true representation of the controversial ways of Jim McMahon.