Jim McMahon accepted a two-year contract Thursday with the Green Bay Packers as backup quarterback to Brett Favre.
The Packers interviewed other prospects after Ty Detmer signed with Philadelphia, but general manager Ron Wolf said the team preferred keeping McMahon because of his experience.The Packers did not disclose terms of the contract.
They were still negotiating a week ago when McMahon skipped coach Mike Holmgren's minicamp in the absence of an agreement.
McMahon, 36, has seen little action the last two seasons, throwing only 44 passes.
"The big thing you get with Jim McMahon is not only experience, he has experience in big games. Losing Ty, you lose experience in our system," quarterbacks coach Marty Mornhinweg said.
"The reason we like this guy is, he's been there before," Wolf said. Said Wolf, "He hasn't played much the last three years, so he's not beaten up. His body is good."
"He can still play effectively," Mornhinweg said. "He's getting up in age, but he's fresh."
Green Bay is McMahon's seventh team since he was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1982. He spent seven seasons with the Bears, leading them to the Super Bowl in the 1985 season.
He was traded to San Diego in 1989, spent three seasons with Philadelphia, a year with the Vikings and one with Arizona before joining the Cleveland Browns.
The Packers acquired him on waivers last year.
Other Green Bay quarterbacks are Doug Pederson and Mike McCoy, who are expected to compete for the No. 3 assignment.
With Detmer gone and McMahon uncertain, the Packers interviewed free agents Frank Reich and David Klingler earlier this year.
The Packers also re-signed free safety George Teague, a restricted free agent heading into his fourth NFL season.