Story by
Hall of Fame: 'Football heaven' as the Bears' Steve McMichael endures the hell of ALS
- Story by
- Hall of Fame: 'Football heaven' as the Bears' Steve McMichael endures the hell of ALS
CANTON— The insidious disease that is ALS has created a certain hell on earth for Steve McMichael .
On Saturday, he got to touch a little bit of "football heaven," as his wife, Misty, put it.
Advertisement
McMichael, the charismatic and powerful defensive tackle of the Chicago Bears ' dominant Monsters of the Midway, was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame . While the ceremony was taking place at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, McMichael watched live from his home in Chicago, surrounded by family and former teammates.
Chicago Bear Steve McMichael and his wife, Misty, unveil his bust at their Chicago home with former teammates during a video unveiling at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Canton, Ohio, at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium.
Misty McMichaels holds up her husband Steve McMichaels' gold jacket after being presented it during the 2024 Gold Jacket Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinee dinner held at the Canton Civic Center Friday, August 2, 2024.
McMichael was diagnosed with the neurodegenerative disorder, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2020. A 6-foot-2, 270-pound wrecking ball known by the nickname "Mongo" in his playing days, McMichael's condition has left him bedridden and unable to speak today.
Advertisement
But his eyes still work, and he could see his bronze bust — after this wife turned his head for him — unveiled at his bedside on Saturday.
"Isn't that beautiful," Misty McMichael said. "That's amazing. That's you, baby, forever."
McMichael is the fourth member of the 1985 Bears defense to be inducted, joining Richard Dent, Dan Hampton and Mike Singletary. That defense led Chicago to a Super Bowl victory.
"Steve, you're here with all your world-champion brothers," Dent said Saturday. "Back in Canton, we have 378 brothers that are looking for you. You're on a team that you can never be cut from, never can be released from. When you die on this team, you'll still be on it. Welcome home, Steve."
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael (76) rushes the quarterback during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 13, 1992, in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won 30-6.
McMichael's sister, Kathy, had worked on a speech with him for the last year and a half. She spoke for her brother Saturday, saying in his words, "I played 15 years in the NFL and loved every minute of every down. I played with the greatest players in the NFL and the greatest defense to this day, baby."
Advertisement
McMichael played in a franchise-record 191 straight games. He did the usual dirty work that interior linemen are charged with. He also had the play-making ability to total 95 career sacks.
Jarrett Payton, the son of the late, great running back Walter Payton, another one of McMichael's Hall of Fame teammates, presented McMichael on Saturday. Payton called McMichael "the special sauce" of the Bears' 46 defense.
"Sometimes you have to wait for your moment," Payton said. "But when it comes, the joy, the happiness, all the hard work you've put into this, I think it all comes to a head, and that's where Steve's at right now. I think for him that's that satisfaction, that all the hard work that he put in is finally here."
Reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com
On X: @jweirREP
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Steve McMichael Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Speech
