Steve McMichael was unable to attend the Pro Football Hall of Fame, so the ceremony was brought to him.
Despite battling ALS and being bedridden in the advanced stages of the disease, the 66-year-old two-time All-Pro defensive tackle was honored as the second player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame from the Class of 2024 on Saturday.
Surrounded by several of his Chicago Bears teammates and his wife, Misty, at his home in Homer Glen, Illinois, McMichael, wearing his gold jacket, had his bronze bust unveiled in a heartfelt tribute.
“You are on a team that you can never be cut from and never be released from. When you die, you’ll always be on this team. Welcome home, Steve. You’re in football heaven forever,” Hall of Famer Richard Dent said, patting McMichael on the head.
Emotional, Misty McMichael wiped tears as she turned her husband’s head toward the bronze bust.
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“That’s you, baby, forever,” she said.
Jim McMahon, quarterback of the 1985 Bears Super Bowl championship team, watched the scene unfold on a video screen from the in-person event at Tom Benson Stadium in Canton, Ohio. Many Bears supporters shed tears watching McMichael.
Nicknamed “Mongo” and known for his bold and lively personality, McMichael was the most formidable player on one of the greatest NFL defenses. He became the fourth defensive player from the 1985 team to enter the Hall, joining Dent, Mike Singletary, and Dan Hampton.
Reading a speech she had worked on with her brother before he lost the ability to move and speak, McMichael’s sister, Kathy, expressed gratitude to the Chicago Bears, their fans, and the city.
Jarret Payton, son of Bears Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, presented McMichael and referred to him as a “pseudo-son” in the speech read by his sister.
McMichael played in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games from 1981 to 1993 and ranks second to Dent on the Bears’ all-time sacks list with 92 1/2. His final NFL season was with Green Bay in 1994.
The ceremony in Ohio was delayed nearly two hours due to heavy rain and lightning, similar to weather conditions that disrupted the preseason opener between the Chicago Bears and Houston Texans on Thursday night.
Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Julius Peppers, and Patrick Willis were also honored, increasing the total Hall of Fame members to 378.
Freeney, a three-time All-Pro defensive end with the Indianapolis Colts, credited his high school football coach for redirecting his path from soccer to football, a decision that shaped his successful career.
Colts owner Jim Irsay, introduced Freeney through a video message, then joined the stage in a wheelchair to unveil Freeney’s bronze bust.
“He arguably was the best Colt defensive player in our 60-plus year history,” Irsay said.
Freeney played 11 seasons in Indianapolis and 16 total, registering 125 1/2 sacks, numerous using his signature spin move. He forced 47 fumbles, made seven Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl ring.
Hester’s career mainly focused on being a return specialist, with a league-record 14 punt return touchdowns and five kickoff return touchdowns. He was recognized as the first player inducted primarily for his return skills.
Willis, a versatile linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, made a significant impact in his eight NFL seasons, earning multiple accolades and Pro Bowl appearances.
Peppers, a highly accomplished defensive end drafted second overall in 2002, had a fruitful 17-year career with three All-Pro selections and nine Pro Bowl appearances.
Johnson, the first player in the Hall to start his career with the Texans, was recognized for his remarkable accomplishments as a wide receiver.
Gradishar had the longest wait among the new inductees, becoming the first member of the Denver Broncos’ “Orange Crush” defense to be enshrined in the Hall, 41 years after his last NFL game. The seven-time Pro Bowl linebacker emphasized the importance of working for God’s glory in his speech.
