It’s been a long time coming for Chicago Bears legend Steve “Mongo” McMichael but he is one step closer to being a Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Steve, along with two others, was selected as a senior finalist for the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. The other two finalists are Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar and New York Jets and Oakland Raiders wide receiver Art Powell.
In 2023, all three of the senior finalists were elected into the Hall of Fame those being New York Jets defensive tackle Joe Klecko, Chicago Bears and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley, and Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Ken Riley.
McMichael, who won Super Bowl 20 with the Bears, is second in all-time sacks for the Bears with 92.5 and only behind Richard Dent. McMichael is also the all-time sack leader at the defensive tackle position and should have been in the Hall of Fame years earlier.
During his time in Chicago, the defensive tackle was a two-time NFL first-team All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler.
After 13 years with the Bears, McMichael decided to end his career in 1994 with the Packers.
In a 2019 interview, McMichael talked about leaving the Bears for the Packers. "For 13 years, I helped the Bears beat the Packers every year. I whooped their ass, right? So the last year, I went up there on my last leg and I wasn't any good anymore. So I stole their money and whooped their ass again." It's safe to say that Mongo is truly a Chicago Bear at heart.
Since January 2021, McMichael has been in an intense battle with ALS. Since his diagnosis, Steve and his wife, Misty, have been surrounded by both former NFL and WWE colleagues.
McMichael would join a long list of former Bears in the Hall of Fame:
George Halas HC/Owner
Bronco Nagurski HB
Red Grange HB
Ed Healey OT/DT
William Lyman OT/DT
George Trafton C/DT
Paddy Driscoll QB/DB/K/HC
Dan Fortmann OG/DT
Sid Luckman QB
George Mcafee HB/DB
Bulldog Turner C/DT
Joe Stydahar OT/DT
Bill Hewitt TE/DE
Bill George LB
George Connor OT/LB
Gale Sayers HB
Dick Butkus LB George Blanda QB/K
\Doug Atkins DE
George Musso OT/G
Mike Ditka TE
Stan Jones OT Walter Payton HB
Jim Finks GM
Mike Singletary LB Dan Hampton DE
Richard Dent DE
Brian Urlacher LB
Jim Covert OT
Ed Sprinkle DE
Jimmy Conzelman QB
Guy Chamberlain DE
Walt Kiesling OG
Bobby Layne QB
Alan Page DT
Orlando Pace OT
Chuck Howley LB
It’s all but certain that Steve McMichael will be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in February. Until then, the fight to get Mongo in continues.
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