Sid Luckman

Chicago Bears (1939-1950)

NFL Most Valuable Player Award ( 1943)
NFL 1940s All- Decade Team
Back number blocked for the Bears
Chicago Bears Ring of Honor
4x NFL Championship (1940, 1941, 1943, 1946)
3x Pro Bowl selection ( 1940-1942 )
9x All Pro selection ( 1940-1948 ) 1 2 team
College Football Hall of Fame (1960 )
Pro Football Hall of Fame (1965 )
Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame (2006)
International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1979 )
National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (1995 )

Sidney " Sid " Luckman ( born November 21, 1916 in Brooklyn, New York City, USA, † July 5, 1998 in Aventura, Florida) was an American Football player. He played as a quarterback in the National Football League ( NFL) for the Chicago Bears.

Origin / youth

Sid Luckman was born as the son of German immigrants in the U.S. and grew up in Brooklyn. His father awakened his interest in American football and gave him at the age of eight years a football. Sid Luckman attended the High School in Brooklyn, where he played American football as well. His athletic achievements made Luckman interesting for many colleges. After talking with the football coach at Columbia University, he made the decision to join this college.

Playing career

College career

From 1936 to 1938 Sid Luckman studied at Columbia University. Luckman was active in college as a baseball player. He played on the position of shortstops. As a baseball player, he was involved in the first American live broadcast of a baseball game on TV. On May 17, 1939 played his college baseball team against Princeton University and lost 2 to 1

Columbia University had an insignificant in Football Sports Team. Luckman came, as was customary, at different positions are used. He received the most use time as a halfback. Although the team of Luckman no outstanding performances offered, Luckman was able to convince as a player. In 1937 he was elected to the All American. For his football team Luckman ran in 24 games. 180 of his 376 passes were caught for a room gain of 2,413 yards. Overall, he scored 20 touchdowns.

Professional career

Luckman was during his studies under observation by George Halas, coach and owner of the Chicago Bears. To prevent the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1939, the rights guaranteed Luckman, Halas agreed with the team from Pittsburgh. Halas was from the All Star Edgar Manske to the Steelers and got the right Luckman in the first round second to pod judge.

Halas was looking for new players for his team to incorporate them into the more he developed his T- formation offense. The Bears already had a number of top players, such as the offensive line player Dan Fortmann and Joe Stydahar, in its ranks. Committed even in 1939, the Bears the fullback Bill Osmanski, in 1940 the End Ken Kavanaugh and the Center Bulldog Turner were added.

Luckman did not have to play in front of professional American football. However Halas promised him the payment of $ 5,000 if he should sign the contract with the Bears. Luckman could not resist and was used in his rookie year as a halfback on offense the Bears. His former teammates at Columbia University John Siegal was also obliged by the Bears, and ran for the team to, among other things as an end. The following year, Luckman moved to the position of quarterbacks. The rise of the Bears for the most dominant football team of that time in the NFL began. In his second year as a pro Luckman won his first title in 1940. In the NFL championship game in 1940, the Washington Redskins were beaten with 73:0. Luckman was able to score a touchdown by running and passing game each. In 1941, Luckman was able to defend the Bears the title. They defeated the New York Giants with 37:9. Luckman was able to achieve a space gain of 160 yards by pass throws.

1942 George Halas left the Bears during the season and was replaced by Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos. The Bears played a defeat -free season and Luckman was able to achieve ten touchdowns in the season. But completely surprising his team lost the NFL playoff against the Redskins with 14:6. Sid Luckman and the team the Bears remained unimpressed by this defeat. The following year, Luckman scored in a game against the Giants a space gain of 443 yards and seven touchdowns. His performance this season of 28 touchdown passes was league record and secured his team the re- entry into the NFL championship game. Once again, the Redskins were the opponents and with a 41:21 victory over this team to Luckman secured his third title. He even played in the final flawlessly and scored five touchdowns.

In 1944, Luckman was serving as ensign his military service in support of command of the U.S. Navy. Although he could not train with the Bears, he was allowed to play for their team, denied in 1944 but only seven games for the team from Chicago. In 1946 he left the Navy and returned as his former coach George Halas of the Bears back. Luckman led his team this year for the fourth title in seven years. In the NFL playoff to the Giants with 24:14 had to admit defeat. Once again, score a touchdown pass by Luckman, he scored a touchdown by running itself

Sid Luckman scored the season record for most touchdown passes and the largest gain of space in each of the seasons 1943, 1945 and 1946. After the 1950 season Luckman ended after 128 games in the NFL his playing career.

Honors

Sid Luckman received numerous honors. He played in three Pro Bowls, the final game of the best players of the season. Overall, he was elected nine times All Pro. In 1943 the election to the NFL Most Valuable Player was. Luckman is a member of the NFL 1940s All- Decade Team, the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in the Columbia Athletics Hall of Fame and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. The Chicago Bears have his shirt number blocked and honor him at Soldier Field on the Ring of Honor His former high school named a field after him.

After the NFL

Sid Luckman was a successful businessman after his career and was managing partner of a factory that produced cellulose. He was married and had three children. His wife died in 1981. He died in a hospital in Aventura and is buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery and Crematorium in Skokie, Illinois.

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