Steve McMichael becomes the sixth Longhorn to earn election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Former Longhorn All-American defensive tackle and Chicago Bears Super Bowl champion Steve McMichael became the sixth Texas-Ex to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Thursday when he was announced as a member of the hall’s class of 2024.
[Join Inside Texas and get ONE MONTH of Longhorn intel for just $1!]
McMichael, affectionately known as Mongo, was picked by the New England Patriots in the third round of the 1980 draft but was known for his 13 seasons with the Bears. He helped the 1985 Bears win Super Bowl XX and was a three-time first-team All-Pro (1985-87) and two-time selection to the Pro Bowl.
At Texas, he was a two-time All-American, including a unanimous selection in 1979, and a two-time first-team All-Southwest Conference pick in 1978 and 1979. He was honored as the Longhorns’ team MVP in 1979.
From the NFL’s announcement…
A long-haired roughneck out of Texas, “Mongo” became one of Chicago’s favorite adopted sons and the senior finalist has now become a Hall of Famer. A 1980 third-round pick of the Patriots, McMichael would become a force for the Bears and a standout on one of the NFL’s greatest and most revered teams: Chicago’s 1985 Super Bowl winner. McMichael was a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro with his first Pro Bowl selection coming during the ’85 season. He was the embodiment of the Bears’ ferocious 46 defense that plundered foes en route to a Super Bowl XX championship. An interior defensive lineman with a phenomenal pass rush, he posted 95 sacks, 847 tackles and 13 forced fumbles across 15 seasons — 13 in Chicago and one apiece for New England and Green Bay, retiring after after the 1994 season. He had seven years with eight or more sacks — second all time among defensive tackles. In 2021, McMichael announced he’d been diagnosed with ALS, but he’s battled the disease since and has now been recognized for his gridiron glory all those autumns ago.
With the Bears, he recorded 814 tackles with 92.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, and two interceptions. He spent one year with the Patriots and one year with the Green Bay Packers during his football career.
Following his career, McMichael became part of the professional wrestling world. He even won the WCW US heavyweight championship once during his time in the squared-circle.
This was the first time McMichael was named a finalist in his 29 years of eligibility for the hall.
Fellow Bears Devin Hester and Julius Peppers were also selected to the Hall of Fame. McMichael, Hester, and Peppers are joined by Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar, Andre Johnson, and Patrick Willis.
He becomes the sixth former Longhorn to earn enshrinement in Canton, Ohio along with Earl Campbell, Bobby Dillon, Tom Landry, Bobby Layne, and Tex Schramm.
[Subscribe to the brand new Inside Texas YouTube channel!]
McMichael’s enshrinement is scheduled for August 3.
