BYU to retire Jim McMahon jersey

Brigham Young University announced Thursday it will retire the jersey of former NFL and BYU player Jim McMahon. The former Cougar will also be inducted into the BYU Athletic Hall of Fame.

McMahon recently completed his degree — a stumbling block that had kept him out of the HOF until now.

“I love the example Jim has set by completing his degree. I’m proud of him for finishing after all these years,” BYU director of athletics Tom Holmoe said in a news release. “Jim is one of the elite college quarterbacks of all time.

“He loved the game of football and always played the game like he was having fun. He was a great leader and a great teammate. I know there are a lot of people all over the country who are excited for Jim to be formally recognized as one of the Cougar greats.”

BYU will induct McMahon into the Hall of Fame on Oct. 2 and retire his jersey — No. 9 — during halftime of the Cougars’ game against Utah State University the following day on Oct. 3. McMahon’s jersey will then permanently hang inside LaVell Edwards Stadium alongside five other Cougars who have had their jerseys retired — Eldon Fortie, Marion Probert, Steve Young, Gifford Nielsen and Ty Detmer.

McMahon finished his career at BYU with 70 NCAA records. During his time in a BYU jersey, McMahon completed 653 passes for 9,536 yards and had a total of 84 touchdowns from 1977-81.

McMahon was drafted in the first round of the 1982 NFL draft by the Chicago Bears and won two Super Bowl rings during his 16-season NFL career where he played for seven teams.

Contact Kira Terry at kterry@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @kiraterry