Steve McMichael Honored with Hall of Fame Induction at Home

In a touching ceremony held at his home in Homer Glen, Illinois, former Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael received his gold jacket and Hall of Fame bust on Saturday. Due to his ongoing battle with ALS, McMichael couldn’t make it to the induction ceremony in Canton, Ohio, but that didn’t stop the Hall of Fame from ensuring he was honored in style.

A delegation from the Pro Football Hall of Fame flew in to celebrate this special moment with McMichael. Among those who traveled were former Bears teammates Jimbo Covert, Richard Dent, and Mike Singletary, along with McMichael’s wife Misty and their daughter Macy.

It’s been a long journey for McMichael, who played for the Bears from 1981 to 1993. Singletary expressed his excitement for McMichael, sharing, «It’s been a long haul. It’s been tough. He’s been through a lot… I’m just very thankful that this is coming to him.»

The Hall of Fame was represented by director of Hall of Famer relations Michelle Norris and curator of collections Jason Aikens during this emotional home ceremony.

McMichael’s former teammates from the Bears’ Super Bowl XX championship, including Gary Fencik, Mike Hartenstine, and Ron Rivera, were also present at the celebration. Many of them expressed their gratitude to the Hall of Fame for organizing this unique event for their beloved teammate.

As the ceremony unfolded, the most poignant moment came when McMichael’s teammates gathered around him to unveil his Hall of Fame bust, an emotional sight that highlighted both the joy of the occasion and the sadness of his condition.

During this heartfelt moment, Dent welcomed McMichael to the Hall of Fame, saying, «Steve, you’re here with all your world champion brothers. Welcome home, Steve … Much love, brother.» These words resonated deeply in the room as tears were shed for both the celebration and the sadness of McMichael’s battle with ALS.

Jarrett Payton, the son of Bears legend Walter Payton, served as McMichael’s official presenter in Canton and spoke highly of his father’s teammate, saying, «Steve McMichael was a force of nature, but the only thing bigger than his personality was his heart.»

Though Steve is unable to speak due to ALS, his sister Kathy delivered a speech that he had worked on, expressing gratitude to many, including his family and teammates. The speech was filled with pride about his time in the NFL, capturing his love for the game.

McMichael’s career includes an impressive record of 191 consecutive games for the Bears and a key role in the defense that earned a championship in Super Bowl XX. His journey to this honor began when he was drafted by the New England Patriots, but he would go on to make a name for himself in Chicago.

McMichael, also known as «Mongo,» was beloved both for his skills on the field and his vibrant personality off it. He became a fan favorite, embodying the spirit of the Bears during an unforgettable era of football.

Sadly, McMichael has been living with ALS since 2020, a disease that has significantly impacted his life. However, his family remains hopeful that the attention from this honor will help raise awareness for ALS.

Misty shared her feelings about the Hall of Fame experience, saying, «Steve was diagnosed in 2020, and he’s still here. A lot of this week is about raising awareness of ALS.»