There are legendary Super Bowl moments that typify eras — and then there’s William “The Fridge” Perry, the huge defensive lineman who was converted to goal-line ball carrier, plunging into the end zone in Super Bowl XX.
As the Chicago Bears routed the New England Patriots 46–10 on Jan. 26, 1986, Perry’s touchdown was just that: more than a touchdown — it became one of the most memorable plays in NFL lore and a signature of the Bears’ 1985-season domination.
The Bears came into the game as one of the premier defensive teams in league history. They were building up a 37–3 lead early in the third quarter on the combined strength of a suffocating defense, turnovers and a balanced offense.
When they reached first and goal at the 1-yard line late in the third quarter, that decision was one which would never be forgotten by football fans. Quarterback Jim McMahon gave the ball to Perry, lining up unexpectedly at a position of fullback amid the Bears' goal-line package. Pounding through the Patriots’ defense, Perry, at roughly 335 pounds, took the handoff, lowered his pads, powered through a defender, plowed over on his way to the end zone.
The crowd at the Louisiana Superdome roared as he crossed the line and punctuated the occasion with a celebratory spike. That touchdown was more than a score — it was a spectacle, and it was the highlight of a game that was already dominated by Chicago’s ruthless defense.
Perry’s run put the score 44–3, and though the outcome was never doubted, that play marked an image of swagger and ascendancy for that Bears team. For Perry, it was the culmination of a season that had already raised him to a cult status.
He had been used in short-yardage offensive situations in the 1985 season, scoring regular-season games but nothing rivaled the drama of a Super Bowl touchdown. It is his only postseason scoring, and one of the most talked-about moments of that championship game.
That touchdown also offered a fanciful footnote to one of the best teams in NFL history — a Super Bowl win with seven Bears sacks and a suffocating defense that allowed the Patriots to post record low yardage totals.
But where Richard Dent snagged the MVP hardware, Perry’s goal-line run piqued fans’ attention in a way no plays ever have. In the decades since Perry has had his own score played, repeated and feted by generations of football fans. It’s a reminder that sometimes the most enduring moments aren’t just about skill or strategy — they’re about the unexpected joy of seeing something truly unforgettable.