Buzz
McDonald’s, known for its consistent menu worldwide, occasionally ventures into innovative offerings to spice things up. While the McRib became a hit, the McPizza didn’t fare as well.
During the early 1990s, McDonald’s took a bold step by naming a new burger after a global icon—Michael Jordan, bypassing its mascot Ronald or the quirky Mac Tonight character.
To celebrate Michael Jordan, McDonald’s launched The McJordan Special.
In 1990, Jordan, a global multimedia icon with lucrative endorsement deals—earning $10 million to $15 million annually from Air Jordan sneakers, advertisements, and off-court ventures, significantly surpassing his $3 million NBA salary—partnered with McDonald’s to introduce the McJordan. This burger, inspired by Jordan’s preferences, featured a quarter-pound beef patty, barbeque sauce, bacon, cheese, onions, pickles, and mustard. The recipe was reportedly influenced by Jordan’s childhood, where his family experimented with budget-friendly ways to enhance plain burgers.
Tori Moore, a regional marketing manager for McDonald’s, explained to the Chicago Tribune, 'This burger reflects Jordan’s personal taste. It’s uniquely his—no other sandwich can bear his name, and this one can’t be called anything else.'
Moore, undeterred by potential debates over labeling a hamburger as a sandwich, revealed that the 519-calorie McJordan was initially tested in Chicago, Illinois, home to Jordan’s Chicago Bulls. By March 1991, the $1.89 burger was available at around 350 McDonald’s outlets in the Chicago region.
The McJordan Special sold 100 to 150 units per location daily, prompting McDonald’s to extend its menu presence. Initially set to end in April, the promotion continued through May. Later in 1991 and into early 1992, the burger was also offered at 500 locations across North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee—areas significant to Jordan, who grew up and attended college in North Carolina.
While the burger received praise, some feedback was less enthusiastic. Inez Day from Kernersville, North Carolina, told The News and Record in 1991, 'I’d prefer it less messy and soggy.'
Franchisees participating in the McJordan Special occasionally launched promotions. In North Carolina, patrons could slash the burger's cost by one cent for each point Jordan netted during Friday night matches.
Later, McDonald’s repositioned the burger to introduce the McLean Deluxe, a groundbreaking 91% fat-free beef burger. Despite being less greasy and soggy, this healthier alternative didn’t last long.
In 1993, McDonald’s reintroduced the McJordan for a limited period. (Meanwhile, Burger King experimented with a meatloaf sandwich, which garnered mixed feedback for resembling a seasoned patty more than a traditional meatloaf.)
The McJordan Special never achieved the fame of other unique offerings and faded after its 1993 revival. However, Jordan is among the few to have a McDonald’s menu item named after him. In 2020, rapper Travis Scott collaborated with McDonald’s to launch the Travis Scott Meal, featuring his favorite order: a Quarter Pounder with cheese and bacon, medium fries with barbeque sauce, and a Sprite.
It’s uncertain if the Scott meal will be as nostalgically remembered as the McJordan. In 2012, Mort Bank, a former McDonald’s manager from Bismarck, North Dakota, auctioned a jug of McJordan barbeque sauce for $10,000, a price reflecting nostalgia for a long-expired, solidified sugar concoction. Bank remarked it was “probably edible,” noting the buyer hailed from Chicago.
