Sid Luckman biography
Sid Luckman, byname of Sidney Luckman, (born November 21, 1916, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.—died July 5, 1998, North Miami Beach, Florida), quarterback in American skilled gridiron soccer who, throughout his 12 seasons (1939–50) within the National Football League (NFL), directed with distinctive success the revolutionary T formation offense of the Chicago Bears. The forward-passing feats of Luckman and of his best adversary, quarterback Sammy Baugh of the Washington Redskins, terminated an extended period in skilled soccer during which offensive methods have been based mostly largely on dashing (operating with the ball) from the single-wing formation.
As a collegian at Columbia University in New York City, Luckman was an vital image for second- and third-generation American Jewish immigrants. Luckman was a part of a outstanding era of Jewish American athletes in basketball and boxing in addition to soccer who used sport as an avenue to assimilation and success.
After graduating from Columbia in 1939, Luckman turned the Bears’ beginning quarterback in his second NFL season, 1940. On December 8 of that yr, he participated within the Bears’ 73–0 victory over Washington in essentially the most one-sided championship sport in NFL historical past. With Luckman as quarterback, the Bears received further championships in 1941, 1943, and 1946. For the 1943 season, he was named Most Valuable Player within the NFL. On November 14 of that yr, he set a league document by passing for seven touchdowns in a single regular-season sport, and on December 26 he established an NFL championship sport document by throwing 5 landing passes because the Bears defeated Washington, 41–21. In common acquire per go try, he ranks second all-time for each a profession (8.42) and a single season (10.86 in 1943).
After his retirement from lively play, Luckman turned a profitable businessman in Chicago and a part-time assistant coach of the Bears. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.