LUCKMAN, SID

born Nov. 21, 1916, Brooklyn, N.Y., U.S. died July 5, 1998, North Miami Beach, Fla. byname of Sidney Luckman quarterback in U.S. professional football who, during his 12 seasons (193950) in the National Football League (NFL), directed with exceptional success the revolutionary T-formation offense of the Chicago Bears. The forward passing feats of Luckman and of his greatest adversary, quarterback Sammy Baugh of the Washington Redskins, terminated a long era in professional football in which offensive systems were based largely on rushing (running with the ball) from the single-wing formation. A graduate of Columbia University (1939), Luckman became the Bears' starting quarterback in his second NFL season, 1940. On December 8 of that year he participated in the Bears' 730 victory over Washington in the most one-sided championship game in NFL history. With Luckman at quarterback, the Bears won additional championships in 1941, 1943, and 1946. For the 1943 season he was selected as the most valuable player in the NFL. On November 14 of that year he set a league record by passing for seven touchdowns in a single regular season game, and on December 26 he established an NFL championship game record by throwing five touchdown passes as the Bears defeated Washington, 4121. After his retirement from active play, Luckman became a successful businessman in Chicago and a part-time assistant coach of the Bears. He was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 1965.