On a shelf in Tom Waddle’s home office is a Bears helmet. A chinstrap is attached. The chinstrap is torn, and bloodstained.
He last wore it November 6, 1994, the day Bucs safety Thomas Everett destroyed Waddle on a crossing route. The hit tore Waddle’s knee, injured his hip and split his chin open. Twenty stitches were required to close the gash.
Today that scar is a reminder of who Waddle used to be, and why so many people wore those 87 jerseys. He is famous as a Chicago sports voice as a host of “Waddle and Silvy” on WMVP-1000 radio, and as a national analyst during the NFL season on various ESPN platforms.