If you mention the name Charles Martin to a Chicago Bears fan of a certain age, don't be surprised if they still get a little red in the face. Honestly, it’s one of those moments in sports history that feels less like a football play and more like a crime scene caught on tape.
We’re talking about November 23, 1986. A freezing day at Soldier Field. The Green Bay Packers were having a miserable season, and the Bears were the defending Super Bowl champs, looking every bit like they were going to repeat. Then, in the second quarter, Packers defensive end Charles Martin did something that basically redirected the course of two franchises.
It wasn't just a late hit. It was a calculated, wrestling-style body slam on Bears quarterback Jim McMahon that happened a full two seconds—some say more—after the ball was gone. It didn’t just hurt McMahon; it effectively ended the Bears' era of dominance.
The "Hit List" Towel
People usually remember the slam, but the weirdness actually started before the kickoff. During warm-ups, Martin was spotted wearing a white towel hanging from his waist. Nothing unusual there, right? Except this towel had numbers written on it in big, bold Sharpie.
Specifically, numbers 9, 34, 83, 63, and 29.
If you knew the '86 Bears, you knew exactly who those were: Jim McMahon, Walter Payton, Willie Gault, Jay Hilgenberg, and Dennis Gentry. It was a literal hit list. Martin wasn’t just playing a game; he was hunting.
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Fast forward to the second quarter. McMahon throws a pass that gets intercepted by Green Bay’s Mark Lee. The play is moving downfield, away from the quarterback. McMahon is just standing there, watching the play, hands on his hips.
Martin sneaks up behind him, wraps his arms around the QB’s waist, lifts him high into the air, and drives him shoulder-first into the rock-hard AstroTurf.
Why the Jim McMahon Slam Was Different
In the 80s, football was "tough." We all know the tropes. But this was different. Referee Jerry Markbreit, who was the official on the call, later described it as the most violent act he had ever seen on a football field.
"I took a hold of Martin's arm and said, 'Ninety-four, you're out of the game. I'm ejecting you.' He pulled away and said, 'I'm not going anywhere with you.' I looked at him and said, 'If you don't come with me, I'm going to let the Bears kill you.'" — Jerry Markbreit
McMahon’s shoulder was shredded. He had a torn rotator cuff and was done for the season. The Bears, despite finishing 14-2, couldn't survive the playoffs without their "Punisher" under center.
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Martin, on the other hand, became the first player in the "modern" NFL era to receive a multi-game suspension for an on-field incident. He was banned for two games. By today's standards? He’d probably be gone for a season and fined half his salary.
A Career Defined by One Moment
It’s easy to forget that Charles Martin wasn’t just a "thug" with a towel. He was a legitimate athlete. He was a Division II All-American at Livingston (now the University of West Alabama) and had a stint in the USFL with the Birmingham Stallions.
He was strong. He was fast for his size. But his reputation for being "Too Mean"—a nickname he had since high school—always seemed to get in the way.
After the Packers eventually cut him in 1987 following a bar fight, he bounced around:
- Houston Oilers: He played under Jerry Glanville, another coach who loved "aggressive" play.
- Atlanta Falcons: His final stop in 1988 before his career fizzled out.
The tragedy of Charles Martin is that his life off the field was just as turbulent. He struggled with alcohol and legal issues. He died at the young age of 45 in 2005 due to kidney failure. At his funeral, the McMahon hit was actually mentioned in the eulogy. That’s how much it defined him.
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The Lasting Legacy of Charles Martin in American Football
If there is a "silver lining" to the 1986 incident, it’s that the NFL had to grow up. Before that hit, ejections for non-fighting acts were almost unheard of. Martin’s suspension set the precedent that the league—not just the refs—could step in and punish players for "extracurricular" violence.
It also led to the "one-step" rule. Today, if a defender takes more than one step toward a quarterback after the ball is released, a flag is flying. You can thank (or blame) Charles Martin for that.
The hit essentially broke the Bears' dynasty. They never won another Super Bowl with that core. McMahon was never the same player physically. The "Monsters of the Midway" became a "what if" story because of a guy with a Sharpie and a towel.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Historians
If you're looking into the history of NFL rivalries, here is how you should view the Charles Martin era:
- Study the 1986 "Hit List" Towel: It is the ultimate example of premeditated aggression in sports. It changed how coaches and officials look at "intimidation" tactics.
- Compare the "Dirty Play" Standards: Look at Martin's hit vs. modern hits (like those that get players suspended today). It helps you realize how much the NFL's "Department of Player Safety" has evolved.
- Understand the Rivalry: This hit is arguably the reason the Bears-Packers rivalry stayed so bitter through the 90s and 2000s. It wasn't just about winning; it was about a perceived lack of respect for the game.
The story of Charles Martin in American football isn't a happy one. It's a cautionary tale about what happens when "toughness" crosses the line into something much darker.