Friday Flashback: The QB Battle of '89

By Karl Klockars in Miscellaneous on Aug 21, 2009 7:40PM

As Chicago prepares for another pre-season appearance from the CutlerChrist tomorrow night, the Flashback Desk is taking us back to 1989, when the Bears were in the midst of another QB changeover. Would it be Jim McMahon? Mike Tomczak? Jim Harbaugh? Mike Ditka announced the quarterback free-for-all before the season and it was anyone's guess who would end up helming the team.

McMahon was the oft-injured (and still uninvited to the White House) incumbent, Harbaugh the first-round draft pick from '87, and Tomczak the favorite to take the job. The questions started during the prior season when there wasn't a chosen starter going into the NFC Championship game versus the 49ers, and the decision to start McMahon was made public just 2 days before the playoff. The battle truly began after Joe Montana defeated the team and Ditka was Honolulu-bound to coach in the Pro Bowl. From the Sun-Times on January 25, 1989:

For the first time in seven years, the Bears will begin a training camp without a starting quarterback come July...Ditka said the position will be up for grabs among Jim McMahon , Mike Tomczak and Jim Harbaugh.

"Nobody's going in as the starter right now," Ditka said Tuesday. "We're throwing it open."...He concedes that could make for some ticklish situations. But he also said there is a possibility McMahon might not be around. The Bears have not tried to trade McMahon , but Ditka said they would listen to offers.

"Who's beating down our door to make a trade?" Ditka said. The answer is no one, and that's all right with the Bears . Ditka made it clear the Bears would like McMahon back if McMahon can control his mouth and his attitude.

"The only thing we have to understand is whoever starts, the other guys must be able to back him up and back him up in a positive frame of mind," Ditka said. "If a guy isn't equal to doing that, maybe he shouldn't be there. That would go for Tomczak or Harbaugh, too."

Months of conjecture, prognostication, fan polls (via phone!) and other media wrangling ensued. The decision was essentially made on August 18th - McMahon got shipped out to San Diego and Tomczak got the official nod on the 21st. Just days after that (and some shit-talking from the punky QB), McMahon helmed the Chargers to a preseason 17-14 loss; overall for the year, Tomczak led the Bears to a 6-10 season.

Rather than track down some 1989 Bears game footage, here's some digitized 8-bit Bears in Tecmo Bowl just for shits and grins.

Tomczak card via WebSurfNicaragua.