Latest news with #SuperBowlXX
New York Times
24-04-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Steve McMichael, Hall of Fame Tackle for Champion Bears, Dies at 67
Steve McMichael, a Hall of Fame defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears with a theatrical personality and a ferocious intensity who helped anchor what might have been the most predatory defense in the history of the N.F.L. during the team's 1985 Super Bowl-winning season, died on Wednesday in Joliet, Ill. He was 67. The Bears confirmed his death, in hospice care. The team said he had struggled for years with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, the degenerative disease of the nervous system more commonly known as A.L.S. or Lou Gehrig's disease. McMichael played 15 years in the N.F.L., 13 of them with Chicago and none more rapacious than the 1985 season. The Bears lost only once that season while rampaging through the league with the so-called 46 defense, orchestrated by the team's boisterous defensive coordinator, Buddy Ryan. Placing eight defensive players near the line of scrimmage, Chicago hounded, outmuscled and intimidated opponents. No victory was more thorough than the Bears' 44-0 dismantling of the Dallas Cowboys on their own field on Nov. 17, 1985. It was the worst defeat in the team's then-26-year history. That afternoon, McMichael collected one of the 92 ½ career sacks he accumulated with the Bears, placing him second in franchise history to his teammate Richard Dent. In the view of many, Dallas simply gave up. Tom Landry, Dallas's coach at the time, called the defeat 'an old-fashioned country licking.' 'I call it the piranha effect,' the Chicago defensive end Dan Hampton told reporters afterward. 'We start getting on somebody and we smell blood. We seem to go into a frenzy.' Chicago's only loss that season came against the Miami Dolphins. The Bears dominated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX, 46-10, played on Jan. 26, 1986, in the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Though somewhat small for a defensive lineman at 6 feet 2 inches and 270 pounds, McMichael possessed immense strength and slippery quickness. He starred on a defense that included three other future Hall of Famers: the defensive ends Hampton and Dent and the linebacker Mike Singletary. He played in 191 consecutive games for the Bears and 12 more in the playoffs, a franchise record. 'He was a defensive tackle taking on double teams and triple teams and leg whips and this and that,' Hampton told The Chicago Tribune for its obituary about McMichael. 'To then essentially defy the physical reality of it is mind-boggling.' McMichael reveled in an exaggerated, untamed persona. His nicknames included Ming the Merciless, after the tyrant in 'Flash Gordon,' and Mongo, after the dimwitted ruffian who punches out a horse in the Mel Brooks comedy 'Blazing Saddles.' In a 2019 speech recounted by The Associated Press in its obituary, McMichael joked that his brief and inconsequential stay with the Patriots, who had chosen him in the third round of the 1980 N.F.L. draft, ended after a season because he was considered 'the criminal element in the league.' But the Bears readily accepted him in 1981. McMichael described walking into the office of the Bears' founder, George Halas, and being told: 'I've heard what kind of dirty rat you are in practice. Don't change, Steve.' After a final N.F.L. season, with the Green Bay Packers in 1994, his blustery guise helped ease McMichael into five years as a professional wrestler, who used a pile-driver move on opponents as if they were footballs with the 'Mongo Spike.' McMichael was born on Oct. 17, 1957, in Houston. His parents divorced when he was a year old. His mother, an English teacher born Betty Ruth Smalley, later married E.V. McMichael, an oil company executive. Steve, who took his stepfather's last name as a toddler, declined to discuss his surname at birth. His mother died of breast cancer in 2018, and his stepfather died after being shot in 1976. In 1964, the family moved to tiny Freer, Texas, south of San Antonio. McMichael lettered in football, baseball, basketball, track, tennis and golf at Freer High School. He played football at the University of Texas, where he was an All-American in 1979. In 2010, he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In the N.F.L., he was named All-Pro in 1985 and 1987. He is survived by his wife, Misty (Davenport) McMichael; a daughter, Macy McMichael; two sisters, Kathy and Sharon McMichael; and a brother, Robert. His first marriage, to Debra Marshall in 1998, ended in divorce. In 2020, McMichael began experiencing tingling in his arms. A year later, he was diagnosed with A.L.S. He kept his humor when he revealed his illness to The Chicago Tribune in April 2021, saying that it 'will sneak up on you like a cheap-shotting Green Bay Packer.' As the disease progressed, McMichael lost the ability to move and to speak. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 3, 2024, but he was too ill to attend the ceremony. The bust and gold jacket awarded to inductees were presented to him earlier that day at his bedside at his home in Homer Glen, Ill., a suburb of Chicago, where he was surrounded by former Bears teammates. 'It's a cruel irony that the Bears' Ironman succumbed to this dreaded disease,' George McCaskey, the Bears' chairman, said in a statement on Wednesday. 'Yet Steve showed us throughout his struggle that his real strength was internal, and he demonstrated on a daily basis his class, his dignity and his humanity.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Mongo' remembered: Reactions to death of beloved Chicago Bears player Steve McMichael
One of the most colorful players in Chicago Bears and NFL history, Steve "Mongo" McMichael died Wednesday after living the last years of his life with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. He was 67. The Pro Football Hall of Famer solidified his legacy as a member of the Bears' beloved Super Bowl XX champions, anchoring a defensive line in Chicago's famed "46 defense" — still considered to be one of the NFL's best defenses. Advertisement McMichael was a fixture in Chicago, earning five All-Pro nods in 13 seasons. He has 92.5 sacks with the Bears, second in team history behind former teammate Richard Dent, and played an incredible 191 games in a row — a franchise record. "Mongo" left an indelible mark on the sports world. We took a spin around social media to get the reactions. 'Brave battle' The Chicago Bears called McMichael a "one-of-a-kind personality," who "will never be forgotten," posting a heartfelt 90-second highlight video that included words from McMichael himself. "What you do in life speaks eternal, baby, and I am so glad to be a Chicago Bear and part of you guys' history," he said. "It's an honor and a privilege." The Pro Football Hall of Fame lauded McMichael's tenacity and highlighted the love shown by his teammates. Advertisement "Everyone who played with or against Steve shares the same opinion: No one battled longer or harder from the snap until the whistle than Steve the player," the HOF said in a statement. "That legendary will to fight allowed him to experience his enshrinement as a member of the Hall's Class of 2024. And the love his teammates showed him throughout this difficult journey says everything about Steve the man.' NFL Draft: The Chicago Bears have made 98 first-round picks in NFL Draft since 1936. Here's the list Mongo, pro wrestling and the Four Horsemen McMichael spent his final year in football playing with the Green Bay Packers and performed for years as a wrestler and commentator for multiple professional wrestling organizations, including the World Wrestling Federation. Advertisement McMichael was one of the final members of "The Four Horsemen," a legendary wrestling quartet that began with Ric Flair, Ole Anderson, Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard. McMichael was part in the late 1990s. Flair, now 76, celebrated McMichael in a post on calling him a friend, amazing athlete and human being. "I have the fondest memories working with him, and this is an extremely heartbreaking loss for me!" Flair wrote. "I love you, Mongo! You fought one hell of a battle!" Arn Anderson also posted a tribute, calling McMichael "one hell of a man" and ending his remembrance with a "side note to God: You're gonna have your hands full with this one." 'I'll have a speech with that umpire after the game' In 2001, McMichael sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch during a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field. before jumping into song, McMichael sent a barb to home-plate umpire Angel Hernandez, saying "I'll have a speech with that home-plate umpire after the game," referring to a perceived blown call the inning before. Advertisement Hernandez glared up from the field at McMichael, who then booed, hoisted a beer and burst into the song. 'Compassion' Family friend and WGN-TV sports anchor Jarrett Payton, the son of Bears legendary running back Walter Payton, posted a video of McMichael from 2021 in which "Mongo" shares some sobering words in the face of his ALS diagnosis. "You know what's best in the human condition, my son? Compassion. Not warrior. Not competitor. Not alpha," McMichael said. "The compassion in the human being. And with what's going on in the world today, you kinda lose faith in that, don't ya? "But everybody that comes into my presence now that I'm in this condition, that's the first thing I see on their face ... Man, and it reinvigorates your belief in humanity." This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Chicago Bears legend Steve 'Mongo' McMichael remembered: Social media reaction
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steve McMichael, Chicago Bears great and Super Bowl champion, dies at 67: In memoriam, 1957
Jan 26, 1986; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael (76) on the field prior to Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots at the Superdome. The Bears defeated the Patriots 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Manny Rubio-USA TODAY Sports Steve McMichael: A life in photos 2 Oct 1988: Defensive tackle Steve McMichael of the Chicago Bears (center) goes after Bullalo Bills quarterback Jim Kelly during a game at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. The Bears won the game, 24-3. One of the great Monsters of the Midway, defensive lineman Steve McMichael died on April 23, 2025. He was 67. The longtime NFL legend won a Super Bowl with the Chicago Bears in 1985, one of many accolades during his 15 seasons in the league. His career culminated with the highest honor in 2024, when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Steve McMichael 29 Nov 1992: Quarterback Bernie Kosar of the Cleveland Browns scrambles to avoid Chicago Bears defensive lineman Steve McMichael during a game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Browns won the game, 27-14. Steve McMichael CLEVELAND - NOVEMBER 29: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears walks across the field during the game against the Cleveland Browns on November 29, 1992 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Browns won 27-14. (Photo by) Steve McMichael CHICAGO - DECEMBER 13: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears looks for the pass during the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 13, 1992 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won 30-6. (Photo by) Steve McMichael CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 3: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears looks for the pass during the game against the Detroit Lions on November 3, 1991 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won 20-10. (Photo by) Steve McMichael CHICAGO - DECEMBER 29: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears runs the play during the game against the Dallas Cowboys on December 29, 1991 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cowboys won 17-13. (Photo by) Steve McMichael CHICAGO - DECEMBER 30: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears removes his helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 30, 1990 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chiefs won 21-10. (Photo by) Steve McMichael GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 31: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears walks across the field during the game against the Green Bay Packers on October 31,1993 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers won 17-3. (Photo by) Steve McMichael CHICAGO - OCTOBER 3: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears is under pressure during the game against the Atlanta Falcons on October 3,1993 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won 6-0. (Photo by) Steve McMichael CHICAGO: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears looks on during the game against the Detroit Lions on in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won 27-24. (Photo by) Steve McMichael CHICAGO - SEPTEMBER 27: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears watches the action during the game against the Atlanta Falcons on September 27, 1992 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won 41-31. (Photo by) Steve McMichael CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 7: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears celebrates during the game against the Los Angeles Raiders on November 7, 1993 in Chicago, Illinois. The Raiders won 16-14. (Photo by) Steve McMichael 4 Sep 1988: Defensice lineman Steve McMichael of the Chicago Bears (right) works against offensive lineman Tom Toth of the Miami Dolphins during a game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won the game, 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport Steve McMichael 4 Sep 1988: Defensive lineman Steve McMichael of the Chicago Bears (left) goes after Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino during a game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won the game, 34-7. Steve McMichael Sep 1991: Defensive lineman Steve McMichael of the Chicago Bears looks on during a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears won the game, 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport Steve McMichael 1989: Defensive tackle Steve McMichael of the Chicago Bears (left) works against offensive lineman Mark Cooper of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during a game at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Buccaneers won the game, 32-31. Mandatory Credit: Jonatha Steve McMichael Jan 26, 1986; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears defensive tackles (72) William Perry and (76) Steve McMichael chase New England Patriots quarterback (14) Steve Grogan during Super Bowl XX at the Superdome. The Bears defeated the Patriots 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Malcolm Emmons- USA TODAY Sports © Copyright Malcolm Emmons Steve McMichael Jan 26,1986; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; New England Patriots quarterback Tony Eason (11) is pressures by Chicago Bears defensive end Dan Hampton (99) William Perry (72) and Steve McMichael (76) during Super Bowl XX at the Superdome. The Bears defeated the Patriots 46-10. Mandatory Credit: David Boss-USA TODAY Sports Steve McMichael Oct 30, 1988; Foxboro, MA, USA: FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael (76) on the bench against the New England Patriots at Foxboro Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports Steve McMichael Jan 26, 1986; New Orleans, LA, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael (76) tackles New England Patriots quarterback Tony Eason (11) during Super Bowl XX at the Louisiana Superdome. The Bears won 46-10. Mandatory Credit: Dick Raphael-USA TODAY Sports Steve McMichael Nov 20, 1988; Tampa, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Vinny Testaverde (14) scrambles under pressure from Chicago Bears defensive players Ron Rivera (59) and Steve McMichael (76) at Tampa Stadium during the 1988 season. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photots-USA TODAY Sports Steve McMichael Sep 26, 1993; Chicago, IL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bears defensive end Steve McMichael (76) on the sideline against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Peter Brouillet-USA TODAY NETWORK Steve McMichael Aug 2, 2024; Canton, OH, USA; Misty McMichael, wife of hall of fame player Steve McMichael, along with daughter Macy holds up his gold jacket at the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrines gold jacket dinner at Canton Memorial Civic Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports Steve McMichael Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 enshrinee Steve McMichael is represented by daughter, Macy (left), and wife, Misty McMichael, during unveiling of a case with his personal memorabilia inside the Hall main lobby, Friday, May 24, 2024. This article originally appeared on The List Wire: Steve McMichael, Chicago Bears great and Super Bowl champion, dies at 67: In memoriam, 1957 – 2025
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bears Hall of Famer, Super Bowl Champion dies at age 67
CANTON, Ohio (WKBN) – Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve McMichael died at the age of 67 on Wednesday evening. McMichael battled ALS for more than four years, and was placed in hospice care earlier in the day on Wednesday. Pro Football Hall of Fame President Jim Porter issued the following statement: 'Steve McMichael told everyone he would fight ALS with the same tenacity he showed for 15 seasons in the National Football League. And he did just that. Everyone who played with or against Steve shares the same opinion: No one battled longer or harder from the snap until the whistle than Steve the player. That legendary will to fight allowed him to experience his enshrinement as a member of the Hall's Class of 2024. And the love his teammates showed him throughout this difficult journey says everything about Steve the man.' McMichael started his NFL career with the Patriots after being selected in the third round of he 1980 NFL Draft out of the University of Texas. After being released by New England, McMichael joined the Chicago Bears the following season. He went on to play a franchise-record 191 consecutive games for the Bears, becoming a starter at defensive tackle during the 1983 campaign. He earned a pair of trips to the Pro Bowl in 1986 and 1987. In addition, he earned three consecutive first-team All-Pro selections (1985-87). Nicknamed 'Mongo,' McMichael played a key role in the Bears' Super Bowl XX run in 1986, ending a drought of nearly 20 years. He also helped Chicago win six division championships. His 92.5 career sacks rank second in Bears history. McMichael finished his career playing one season with the Green Bay Packers. He appeared in 213 career NFL games, piling up 95 sacks, 838 total tackles, and 13 forced fumbles. McMichael was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Axios
Chicago Bears legend Steve "Mongo" McMichael dies after ALS battle
Chicago Bears Hall of Fame legend Steve "Mongo" McMichael has died at age 67 after a long bout with ALS. The big picture: McMichael's death came just hours after it was announced he was being taken off a ventilator and moved into hospice. Context: McMichael was one of the colorful characters on the legendary 1985 Bears team that won Super Bowl XX. He was a starter on a defense that included Hall of Fame players like Richard Dent, Dan Hampton and Mike Singletary. McMichael is third on the Bears' all-time sack list (95). He was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024, voted in by the Hall of Fame's seniors committee. Zoom out: The Texas native brought his big personality to Chicago in 1981, and even though he played for other teams in his career, he returned after retiring to live in the area. McMichael was also a one-time professional wrestler, a restaurateur and a football analyst. Mongo was famous for rattlesnake hunting and for being an unpredictable live interview in the locker room and on post-game shows. He once famously handcuffed sports anchor Mark Giangreco to his desk on live television. In 2021, the larger-than-life personality was diagnosed with ALS, which confined him to a bed ever since.
