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Courtney Cronin
Corridor of Famer Steve “Mongo” McMichael, a stalwart member of the dominant Chicago Bears famed “46 protection” of the Eighties who ranks second in franchise historical past with 92.5 sacks, has died on the age of 67, the NFL introduced Wednesday.
McMichael was recognized with ALS, generally generally known as Lou Gehrig’s illness, in 2021. He was scheduled to be moved into hospice care on Wednesday.
McMichael performed one season for the New England Patriots and one with the Inexperienced Bay Packers, however it was the 13 seasons in between with the Bears the place he made his mark, together with taking part in in a team-record 191 consecutive video games. In whole, McMichael performed in 207 video games between 1981-94.
The defensive sort out received a Tremendous Bowl (1985) and was twice chosen first-team All-Professional and to the Professional Bowl. He had a minimum of seven sacks in seven straight seasons (1983 to 1989), second solely amongst Bears gamers to Richard Dent’s 10-year streak.
“It’s with deep disappointment that I can verify that my good buddy and consumer Steve McMichael has handed away,” his longtime publicist, Betsy Shepherd, advised ESPN. “There’ll by no means be a stronger fighter we’ll ever know. He was additionally the sweetest man I’ve ever identified.
On Aug. 3, 2023, some 344 miles west of Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio, McMichael was formally enshrined within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
Surrounded by his spouse, daughter and members of the Bears’ famed 1985 protection, McMichael’s Corridor of Fame bust was unveiled inside his dwelling in Homer Glen, Illinois. McMichael laid in his mattress in his gold jacket whereas his sister, Kathy, delivered the defensive sort out’s enshrinement speech in a pre-recorded video.
Readily available to have fun McMichael’s enshrinement had been former teammates Richard Dent, Ron Rivera, Mike Singletary, Jimbo Covert, Gary Fencik, Jim Osborne and Marcus Keyes.
“Steve, we’re right here with all of your world champion brothers,” Dent stated. “Again in Canton, we have now 378 brothers which can be in search of you. You are on a crew which you could by no means be reduce from, you by no means might be launched from. If you die on this crew, you’ll nonetheless be on it.”
Reside video from McMichael’s bedside was streamed to the gang in Canton whereas ESPN’s Chris Berman, who served because the Corridor of Fame’s grasp of ceremonies, relayed the message he obtained from the defensive sort out about his profession impression.
“I are not looking for ALS to be my legacy,” the message stated. “What I did on the sphere, that is my legacy. Pushing myself to the restrict … farther than anyone else may.”
In the end picked by the Corridor of Fame’s senior committee, McMichael had beforehand been nominated for the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2014 and 2015 and made it previous the primary reduce of candidates twice earlier than arising wanting a range.
McMichael’s spouse, Misty, actively campaigned for her husband’s enshrinement as his battle with ALS wore on and took away his capability to maneuver or converse, which left him bedridden over the past years of his life.
McMichael had signed a “don’t resuscitate” type in 2023 earlier than his situation started to worsen. Upon studying he was one of many senior semifinalists final August, McMichael knowledgeable his spouse that he needed to tear up the DNR and wager on in his struggle in opposition to ALS as he awaited phrase on his choice.
“I’m pleased with all we completed collectively, particularly the Nationwide Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame,” Shepherd advised ESPN on Wednesday. “It was the very last thing he may say to me earlier than he misplaced his capability to talk. I requested him what else I may do for him and he whispered, ‘Corridor of Fame.’ Because of the followers, we did it! He beloved you endlessly.”
McMichael chipped in with eight sacks through the 1985 common season — and added one other within the Tremendous Bowl XX win over the New England Patriots — and was a first-team All-Professional choice as he began each sport that season. He managed the inside of the road for a protection that ranked No. 1 in fewest factors allowed, fewest yards allowed and takeaways that season — along with permitting simply 10 factors in three playoff wins — and is taken into account by many to be one of the best ever after main Chicago to an 18-1 file.
McMichael, who completed with 95 profession sacks, additionally had 847 profession tackles, 13 pressured fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions and three recorded safeties in 213 profession video games. His 92.5 sacks with the Bears ranks second in crew historical past to Dent.
Whereas McMichael was usually overshadowed by Corridor of Famers Singletary and Dent, he was instrumental to the Bears’ success. Bears head coach Mike Ditka stated McMichael was the hardest participant that he ever coached.
McMichael completed his profession with the rival Packers in 1994, however he favored to inform folks in retirement that the one motive he signed with the Bears’ bitter rival was to “steal their cash and whup their ass once more!”
McMichael was drafted by the Patriots within the third spherical of the 1980 NFL draft out of Texas, the place the Houston native was a unanimous first-team All-America choice for a notoriously stingy protection and left because the Longhorns’ all-time chief in profession tackles (369) and sacks (30).
He was inducted into the Faculty Soccer Corridor of Fame in 2010.
After soccer, “Mongo” had a profession resurgence as knowledgeable wrestler with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), the place he received the USA Heavyweight Championship as a member of the famed “4 Horsemen” group led by Ric Aptitude.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin contributed to this report.
