While Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael didn’t have the easiest start to his career, he didn’t let that stop him from making his mark on the NFL. Now a Pro Football Hall of Fame member after a 25-year wait, let’s look at what McMichael accomplished on some of the greatest defensive units in NFL history.
Steve McMichael’s Stats and Career Accomplishments
McMichael attended Freer High School in Texas, where he lettered in six sports: baseball, basketball, football, golf, tennis, and track. His play saw him garner scholarships from 75 different institutions. He decided to play for the Texas Longhorns as a defensive tackle.
In his senior season, McMichael was a consensus first-team All-American and defensive MVP in the 1979 Hula Bowl. While at Texas, he was an All-Southwest Conference choice in 1978 and 1979 and was the team MVP in 1979. McMichael was inducted into the Longhorn Hall of Honor in 1999 and the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
The New England Patriots drafted McMichael No. 73 overall in the 1980 NFL Draft. He played six games during his rookie campaign but was cut by New England after the season.
In 1981, McMichael signed with Chicago, mainly as a backup to fellow Hall of Famer Alan Page. However, the Bears didn’t just find a backup; they discovered their ironman.
McMichael played in 191 consecutive games for the Bears, becoming the starting defensive tackle during the 1983 season. As a starter, McMichael — or Mongo — earned two Pro Bowl nods and three consecutive first-team All-Pro honors from 1985 through 1987.
From 1982 until 1991, Chicago allowed the fewest rushing yards, total yards, and points in the NFL. As a Bear, McMichael amassed 92.5 sacks, the second-most in franchise history.
Mongo and the legendary 1980s Bears defense would lead Chicago to six division championships and a win in Super Bowl 20 against the Patriots, getting revenge on the team that drafted him.
After 13 years in Chicago, McMichael spent the 1994 season with the Green Bay Packers before retiring from the NFL. Following his career, he joined World Championship Wrestling as a color commentator in 1995. McMichael joined “The Four Horsemen” in 1996 and remained with the group until 1997 when Ric Flair disbanded it. He established a few other rivalries as a solo name until 1999 when he departed the WCW.
In April 2021, McMichael announced he was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). He was awarded the ALS Courage award by the Les Turner ALS Foundation the following September.
His diagnosis and worsening condition pushed his wife, Misty McMichael, to publically push for the legendary defensive lineman’s induction to the Hall of Fame. Her push paid off as McMichael gets enshrined in Canton.
McMichael’s Path to Enshrinement
McMichael received a litany of support across the NFL and the ALS community for the fight that he has continued to battle on his way into the NFL Hall of Fame. Celebrated not just for his accomplishments on the field, but for what he has done off of it as well.
“Going through this disease is horrible, and so you have to have so much strength to power through,” ALS United Chicago ambassador Suzi Hunter said. “You keep fighting and you keep fighting, and that’s what he did on the field, and that’s what he’s doing in his personal life.”
On behalf of Steve McMichael, his wife, Misty, unboxes his Gold Jacket for the very first time!
She received this @HaggarCo Gold Jacket from @NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and Hall of Fame President Jim Porter.#PFHOF24 pic.twitter.com/KHklSMDyri
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) August 3, 2024
McMichael’s publicist Betsy Shepard said that his enshrinement has literally kept him alive. “This kept him alive. When people say that, it’s true. This kept him alive. He fought so hard to see this happen.”
McMichael had to wait 30 years for his call to the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame president Jim Porter will head to McMichael’s home in the Chicago suburb of Homer Glen to present the former Bear with his gold jacket and bust as part of the Class of 2024’s enshrinement ceremony.