Selected in the 1980 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, defensive tackle Steve McMichael would only play six games before getting released by New England. In 1982, the Chicago Bears would bring in “Mongo” to back up Alan Page. However, they found the next star to bolster one of the greatest defenses of all time.
With his NFL career 30 years ago, is McMichael married or dating anyone? Here’s everything we know about McMichael’s love life.
Who Is Misty McMichael?
A loud proponent of getting McMichael to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Misty McMichael married Steve in March of 2001 following his divorce from Debra Marshall in 1998. The couple had a daughter, Macy, born in January 2008.
McMichael has been a force in getting Mongo into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, especially after his diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in January 2021. She assists the former Super Bowl Champion in basic daily activities, and his condition is part of the reason she pushed for the prolific and underrated defensive lineman to be honored like many of his teammates.
“In the NFL world, we’ve known he should’ve been in the Hall of Fame a long time ago,” Misty said. “But I wanted the whole world to know. And now, finally, the whole world knows forever and ever.”
“Watch the film,” Misty said of her husband. “The best game you’ll ever see is the ’85 Super Bowl. The best one I ever saw was actually a high school game that he played. I swear to God, he was the quarterback and he threw the ball and ran down the field and caught it and ran it for a touchdown and kicked a field goal. OK, this man played the whole game.
“He’s amazing. In football especially, but in everything he does, he’s amazing. He’s the most awesome football player I’ve ever seen. I’m a little bit biased, but y’all can watch the film.”
Steve McMichael’s wife Misty on field representing for his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/3Se8QESY3y
— Bears History (@ChiBearsHistory) August 2, 2024
McMichael becomes the seventh member of the 1985 Bears to be enshrined in Canton, and it was only fitting that Richard Dent, clad in his gold jacket, got the privilege of breaking the news to Mongo and Misty over video chat.
“I feel elated, I feel vindicated. I feel just very, very happy for him because this is his life’s dream, and he’s worked so hard his whole life for this. And when he could no longer speak for himself, I was honored and privileged to speak for him. And I’m just happy my voice was louder than his, and I can’t believe that!” Misty said to FOX32.
McMichael’s 92.5 sacks in Chicago is only second to Dent’s 124.5 sacks in Bears franchise history.
While not much is known about Misty’s personal life, she was involved in a 2008 re-appeal of a 2003 murder case involving her ex-fiancé. In Houston, Texas, Susan Wright stabbed and killed her husband and was sentenced to 25 years in prison in March 2004.
During the 2008 re-appeal, McMichael testified about how her ex-fiancee, Susan’s husband, Jeff Wright, had abused and been violent with her during their four-year relationship. Wright’s sentence would be reduced to 20 years in 2010.