“Mongo only pawn… in game of life” — Alex Karras, Blazing Saddles
The 1974 satire on Westerns, “Blazing Saddles,” introduced a character into cinematic glory by the name of Mongo. He had a gigantic physical presence and short-quipped philosophical nuggets (like above). Ironically enough, the role was played by a Hall of Fame football player turned actor: the late Detroit Lions legend Alex Karras. Not only will Steve McMichael follow Karras’ path to Canton, he started getting called “Mongo,” too.
Why Does Steve McMichael Get Called “Mongo”?
That’s what happens when you’re huge, and you look like the movie character. The Chicago Bears‘ powerful defensive tackle also went by the monikers “Ming” and “Ming the Merciless” — but nothing stuck quite like “Mongo.”
McMichael’s size and persona simply fit the bill too seamlessly. The man hunted rattlesnakes and broke bottles over his head for goodness sake.
McMichael will join the fraternity of former Chicago front-seven teammates, including Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, and Dan Hampton in the Hall of Fame.
While “Mongo” certainly has an affinity for his defensive brethren, he went to the other side of the ball for his choice of who’d present him: Jarrett Payton, son of former Bears running back legend Walter Payton.
It almost didn’t happen, though. McMichael wasn’t drafted by the Bears; it was the New England Patriots who selected him in the third round of the 1980 NFL Draft.
“Thank God New England got rid of me,” Mongo said in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. “Some teams, they want you to have a certain image. Other teams, like this one, they just want you to get down and dirty. I’m really proud to be a Bear.
“The Patriots, yeah, they thought I was a little weird. And I guess I am. But here, they don’t care, long as you play hard. The town, the coach, the team — it’s Steve McMichael. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Did Steve McMichael Become a Pro Wrestler?
Well, did Andre the Giant drink a lot of beer? The answer to both questions is a resounding yes.
Mongo’s physique and mystique fit right in with the wrestling circuits. Initially, his foray into wrestling began with color commentary, both for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW).
FREE: Subscribe to PFN’s NFL Newsletter
Commentary soon became in-ring action in 1996, catalyzed by the Nature Boy Ric Flair — WOOOOOO! He joined the Four Horsemen after Flair and Arn Anderson bribed him, and he turned on his tag team teammate, Kevin Greene (yes, the football player). Mongo regularly performed for WCW, finally having his last match on February 8, 1999.
He would resurface in 2008 for the wrestling offshoot Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a guest referee. Securing the Heavyweight Championship in 1997 was McMichael’s signature performance in his post-football wrestling career.