1986 dallas cowboys roster
The stars of that team were Payton, McMahon and Dent. Smith: "One of the surprising things about the London trip was how popular the Fridge was with the English fans. He would go on to score a touchdown in the London game - the only touchdown of the game - but teammate Walter Payton once again did not, just as in Super Bowl XX. The Bears were full of personalities, but none bigger than the Fridge. Larger-than-life William "The Refrigerator" Perry was all laughs during a practice session in London. I saw this as like a reward by the league for us winning the Super Bowl, and I think the players saw it that way, too."īefore photobombing was a thing, Bears quarterback Jim McMahon listens in on an interview with Cowboys head coach Tom Landry at the Crystal Palace sports center in London. In 2002, the original arena was torn down to make room for the current version of Wembley Stadium.ĭitka: "Unlike, this was a preseason game, so the preparation wasn't like getting ready for a regular-season game. With the British Union Jack flying high from one of the stadium's towers in the distance, players work out at Wembley Stadium. We had even brought an 'Abbey Road' album with us for reference!" Most Londoners didn't recognize the Bear players, so they were quite aggravated as we temporarily blocked traffic trying to get the shot just right. He recruited Jim McMahon, Van Horne and Butler to participate. True to form, McMahon mimics Paul McCartney's barefoot stroll, while Butler's white trench coat represents John Lennon's white suit.įormer Bears photographer Bill Smith: "On the plane ride over to London, Dan Hampton suggested that it would be cool to shoot a photo of four players crossing the famous Abbey Road across from Apple Records' recording studio. Re-creating the iconic Beatles album cover, Bears, from left, Keith Van Horne, Jim McMahon, Dan Hampton and Kevin Butler cross Abbey Road. Cowboys running back Tony Dorsett, left, and wide receiver Tony Hill take in Buckingham Palace.Ĭowboys cheerleaders offer up their trademark smiles and all-American flair, but this British Royal Horse Guard remains stoic, as is custom with all of the Royal Palace guards.ĭitka: "Dallas brought the cheerleaders, but because they were all soccer fans, our kicker Kevin Butler was a hit." But they never, ever told me where they went! Sure, Walter might have told everyone where the buses were, but he took a limo to the hotel."ĭuring the week leading up to the game, players were able to be tourists and do a little sightseeing. He retired after the 1987 season.ĭitka: "Since it was a preseason game, I remember I was pretty lenient on the curfew, maybe by 10 p.m. Payton rushed for 1,333 yards and eight touchdowns in 1986. Having led his teammates to the end zone so many times during his Hall of Fame career, Bears running back Walter Payton points the way to the buses upon their arrival in London. They have that soccer mentality and really got into how physical it was." The Bears last visited London back in 2011, defeating Tampa Bay 24-18, while the Cowboys beat Jacksonville 31-17 there in 2014.īears coach Mike Ditka: "The fans were terrific. 3, 1986, pitting the Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears against the Dallas Cowboys. Young British NFL fans try to stay dry under a U.S. Stroll down memory lane with then-Bears head coach Mike Ditka and longtime team photographer Bill Smith, who was with the Bears until 2018. Thirty-three years ago, the Bears - having just shuffled themselves to a Super Bowl XX victory - first visited London in the preseason to play the Dallas Cowboys in the inaugural American Bowl - the precursor to the NFL's International Series. On Sunday, the Chicago Bears take on the Oakland Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London to kick off the NFL's 2019 International Series. When the Super Bowl Bears shuffled off to London to meet the Cowboys
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