A 1985 Chicago Bears Obsession Comes Full Circle

It was 1985. I was 10 years old, living in Terre Haute, Indiana, and Cabbage Patch Kids were the hottest toys on the planet. Every kid had one, even the boys. Buy my Cabbage Patch Kid was a little different.

I was obsessed with the Chicago Bears during their unforgettable Super Bowl Shuffle season, so naturally, my Cabbage Patch Kid needed to represent my team. My mom had a friend sew a custom Jim McMahon football uniform for my "kid," complete with #9 on the back of the "punky QB."

Now, more than four decades later, I might finally have a reason to find that Cabbage Patch Kid again.

Jim McMahon is Coming Back to Rockford

Former Bears Quarterback and Super Bowl champion Jim McMahon is returning to Rockford for a weekend of golf, entertainment, and philanthropy.

Hard Rock Casino Rockford is hosting a charity golf outing benefiting Folds of Honor at Forest Hills Country Club on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 11 a.m.

Golfers will have a chance to play alongside McMahon, take photos with the Bears legend, and enjoy the day on the premier golf courses in the Stateline.

The weekend will begin on Sunday evening (9/20) with an exclusive pre-party at Hard Rock Live featuring McMahon, along with food, live entertainment, a sports memorabilia auction, and opportunities to meet the legendary QB.

Will McMahon Meet His Most Unlikely Fan?

Now comes the fun part. That Cabbage Patch Kid is supposedly still packed away in a plastic storage bin in my parents' garage.

I'm going to have to start digging. Because if I can find that little Bears Cabbage Patch Kid wearing his custom Jim McMahon jersey, there's only one thing I want to do: bring him to Hard Rock to see if #9 will take a picture with him.

It would be an incredibly strange and perfect reunion after more than 40 years in the making. So now the garage treasure hunt is officially on.

Do you have any childhood toys or memorabilia still being stored at your parents' house?