Jim McMahon is a former professional quarterback. He played college football at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-time All-American and later a 1998 inductee of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Due to his collegiate success, McMahon was selected by the Bears in the first round of the 1982 NFL Draft as the fifth overall pick. McMahon played in the NFL for 15 seasons. McMahon achieved his greatest professional success with the 1985 Bears team that won the franchise's first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XX. He also received Pro Bowl honors during the season. However, upon suffering a shoulder injury the following season, McMahon struggled with injuries throughout the rest of his career. After his seven years in Chicago, McMahon became a journeyman quarterback for the San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, and Green Bay Packers. He spent his final seasons in a backup role, including on the Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI.

In August 2020, a documentary entitled Mad Mac: The Memory Of Jim McMahon by director CJ Wallis began shooting. The film covers McMahon's life in and out of professional sports.