clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon says he wishes he would have played baseball

Former Chicago Bears QB Jim McMahon says knowing what he knows now, he would have played baseball instead of football.

Richard Mackson-US PRESSWIRE - Presswire

Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon told Chicago's Fox affiliate WFLD-TV that if he had to do it all over again, he would play baseball. McMahon is suffering from early-stage dementia and suffered multiple concussions during his 14-year NFL career.

McMahon understands and appreciates what his football career has done for him, but still would have chosen the less physically demanding sport:

"That was my first love, was baseball, and had I had a scholarship to play baseball, I probably would have played just baseball. But football paid for everything; it still does. That Super Bowl XX team is still as popular as it ever was. Until they win again, we're gonna still make money."

McMahon is among the more than two thousand retired players suing the NFL for concussion-related dementia and brain trauma. He says he isn't worried about his mind withering away, but he doesn't know if he's getting worse as he struggles with memory loss.