{"id":19104,"date":"2025-07-27T05:29:43","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T09:29:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/sin-categoria\/steve-mongo-mcmichael-bears-legend-and-hall-of-famer-dies-at-67-3\/"},"modified":"2025-07-27T05:29:43","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T09:29:43","slug":"steve-mongo-mcmichael-bears-legend-and-hall-of-famer-dies-at-67-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wwe\/steve-mongo-mcmichael-bears-legend-and-hall-of-famer-dies-at-67-3\/","title":{"rendered":"Steve &#8220;Mongo&#8221; McMichael, Bears Legend and Hall of Famer, Dies at 67"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Steve &#8220;Mongo&#8221; McMichael, Chicago Bears Legend, Passes Away<\/h2>\n\n\nThe NFL announced the passing of Steve &#8220;Mongo&#8221; McMichael, a prominent member of the legendary &#8220;46&#8221; defense of the Chicago Bears from the 1980s. McMichael, who ranked second in franchise history with 92.5 sacks, died at the age of 67.\n\nIn 2021, McMichael was diagnosed with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig&#8217;s disease. His impact on the field was significant, playing 13 seasons with the Bears and leaving an indelible mark on the history of American football.\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A one-of-a-kind personality and Hall of Fame player. Mongo will never be forgotten. \ud83d\udc99 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/PwVpER1cmH\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/PwVpER1cmH<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChicagoBears\/status\/1915209126973448306?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 24, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\nDuring his career, McMichael won a Super Bowl (1985) and was selected twice to the first All-Pro team and the Pro Bowl. His defensive performance was key, achieving at least seven sacks in seven consecutive seasons (1983 to 1989).\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>It&#8217;s a cruel irony that the Bears&#8217; &#8220;Ironman&#8221; succumbed to this dreaded disease. However, Steve showed us throughout his fight that his true strength was internal, and he demonstrated daily his class, his dignity, and his humanity. Now he is at peace.\n<\/p>\n<cite>George H. McCaskey, Bears chairman<\/cite>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\nOn August 3, 2024, McMichael was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Surrounded by his wife, daughter, and members of the famous 1985 Bears defense, McMichael&#8217;s bust was unveiled at his home in Homer Glen, Illinois. His sister, Kathy, delivered the induction speech in a pre-recorded video.\n\nIn the event of his induction, his former teammates Richard Dent, Ron Rivera, Mike Singletary, Jimbo Covert, Gary Fencik, Jim Osborne and Marcus Keyes were present.\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The NFL is heartbroken to hear of the passing of Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer Steve McMichael after a brave battle with ALS.<br><br>Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and loved ones. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/ENXTqfoqQk\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/ENXTqfoqQk<\/a><\/p>&mdash; NFL (@NFL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/NFL\/status\/1915184548926906403?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 23, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\nA live video from McMichael&#8217;s bed was broadcast to the crowd in Canton, while Chris Berman, Hall of Fame emcee, relayed the message he received from the defensive tackle about his impact on the career.\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>I don&#8217;t want ALS to be my legacy. What I did on the field, that is my legacy. Pushing myself to the limit&#8230; beyond what anyone else could.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\nMcMichael, who was selected by the Hall of Fame&#8217;s senior committee, had been nominated previously in 2014 and 2015, and although he passed the first round of candidates on two occasions, he was not selected.\n\nHis wife, Misty, actively fought for her husband&#8217;s inclusion, as ALS took away his ability to move or speak, confining him to bed during the last years of his life.\n\nIn 2023, McMichael signed a &#8220;do not resuscitate&#8221; form before his condition worsened. Upon learning that he was one of the senior semi-finalists last August, McMichael informed his wife that he wanted to break the DNR pending the news of his selection.\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>We will never know a stronger fighter. He was also the sweetest guy I&#8217;ve ever known. I am proud of everything we achieved together, especially the Pro Football National Hall of Fame. It was the last thing he could say to me before he lost the ability to speak. I asked him what else I could do for him and he whispered: &#8216;Hall of Fame&#8217;. Thanks to the fans, we did it. I loved you endlessly.<\/p>\n<cite>Betsy Shepherd, McMichael&#8217;s publicist<\/cite>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/a2.espncdn.com\/combiner\/i?img=%2Fphoto%2F2024%2F0211%2Fr1289816_1296x729_16%2D9.jpg\" alt=\"Steve McMichael\" title=\"\"><figcaption>Steve McMichael, miembro del Sal\u00f3n de la Fama, ocupa el segundo lugar en la historia de los Chicago Bears con 92.5 capturas, acumulando al menos siete capturas en siete temporadas consecutivas y jug\u00f3 en un r\u00e9cord del equipo de 191 juegos consecutivos. Gan\u00f3 un Super Bowl con los Bears del &#8217;85.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\nDuring the 1985 regular season, McMichael recorded eight sacks and added another in the Super Bowl XX victory over the Patriots. He was a first-team All-Pro selection, starting every game that season. He controlled the interior of the line for a defense that led the league in fewest points and yards allowed, as well as recording the most recovered fumbles. He is considered by many to be the best in history, after leading Chicago to an 18-1 record.\n\nMcMichael, who finished with 95 sacks in his career, also accumulated 847 tackles, 13 forced fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries, 2 interceptions, and 3 safeties in 213 games. His 92.5 sacks with the Bears are only surpassed by Dent in team history.\n\n\n<p>Although often in the shadow of Hall of Fame members Singletary and Dent, McMichael was fundamental to the Bears&#8217; success. Coach Mike Ditka described him as the toughest player he ever coached.<\/p>\n\n\nAfter retiring from football, McMichael ventured into professional wrestling with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he won the United States Heavyweight Championship as a member of the famous &#8220;Four Horsemen&#8221; group led by Ric Flair.\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">The World Just Lost The Incredible Steve \u201cMongo\u201d McMichael! He Was My Best Friend Through It All! An Amazing Athlete And Human Being! I Have The Fondest Memories Working With Him, And This Is An Extremely Heartbreaking Loss For Me! I Love You Mongo! You Fought One Hell Of A\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/yq2YHfWKmf\" target=\"_blank\">pic.twitter.com\/yq2YHfWKmf<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Ric Flair\u00ae (@RicFlairNatrBoy) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RicFlairNatrBoy\/status\/1915178110321885250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">April 23, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\nAfter soccer, &#8220;Mongo&#8221; had a resurgence in his career as a professional wrestler with World Championship Wrestling (WCW), where he won the United States Heavyweight Championship as a member of the famous &#8220;Four Horsemen&#8221; group led by Ric Flair.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Steve &#8220;Mongo&#8221; McMichael, Chicago Bears Legend, Passes Away The NFL announced the passing of Steve &#8220;Mongo&#8221; McMichael, a prominent member of the legendary &#8220;46&#8221; defense of the Chicago Bears from the 1980s. McMichael, who ranked second in franchise history with 92.5 sacks, died at the age of 67. In 2021, McMichael was diagnosed with ALS, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":19107,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[44],"tags":[880,881,477,882],"class_list":{"0":"post-19104","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-wwe","8":"tag-als","9":"tag-chicago-bears","10":"tag-hall-of-fame","11":"tag-steve-mcmichael"},"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19104","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19104"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19104\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/19107"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19104"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19104"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alofokedeportes.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19104"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}