The heart-warming celebration of McMichael’s career was arranged by the Hall and event broadcast pafrtner ESPN and shown to the fans at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium who had waited out a delay caused by severe storms. McMichael’s longtime friend Jarrett Payton, the son of Hall of Famer WALTER PAYTON, was in Canton to present McMichael for enshrinement.
Earlier in the week, Misty McMichael represented her husband at the Hall of Fame Game, Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner and several other availabilities in Canton. She was most impressed by the actual gallery where the Hall of Fame busts reside.
“That’s my favorite part of the Hall,” she noted. “They say the busts talk to themselves at night. I would love to hear what they have to say.”
She said the same thing to Steve after the Gold Jacket and bust were presented back home.
“Love you, baby,” she said.
McMichael’s career didn’t begin as if his path would lead to Canton. Drafted in the third round by New England in 1980, he lasted only six games with the Patriots. He
landed in Chicago – and became one of the anchors of perhaps the best version of the Monsters of the Midway.
Nicknamed “Mongo” – the audience chanted it several times – McMichael was a constant presence on the defensive line, playing a franchise-record 191 consecutive games for the Bears. He not only clogged the middle against the run game but was a dangerous threat as a pass rusher, and his physical style wore out blockers. As the Bears shut down opponents, McMichael made three straight All-Pro teams (1985-87). During his first 10 Windy City seasons, Chicago allowed the fewest points, yards on the ground and total yards in the NFL, while also making the most sacks.
Indeed, when the Bears established the league mark for sacks in a season of 72, McMichael contributed 10. Only Dent had more sacks for the Bears than McMichael’s 92.5.
Certainly the sweetest moment came when the Bears won the 1985 championship in a rout – against the Patriots – in Super Bowl XX.
Misty McMichael is hopeful the attention and adulation toward Steve will help in the battle against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a fatal nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing muscle weakness and loss of control.
“Steve was diagnosed in 2020, and he’s still here,” she said. “A lot of this week is raising awareness of ALS.”
She mentioned not knowing anything ALS except that it was also called Lou Gehrig’s Disease.
