As a wild man on a defense of another world, Steve McMichael asked the attention with his personality and his play.
A barbaric of 6 feet 2 inches and 270 pounds from the fall who terrorized opposing offenses, the man known as “Mongo” was a native of Texas who became a beloved sports figure in Chicago, playing a pivotal role in the emblematic race of the Bears Super Bowl of 1985.
But today is a sad day in the windy town.
After announcing in April 2021 that he had received a diagnosis of SLA, the reproductive temple of professional football died Wednesday at the age of 67.
The death of McMichael was announced by Jarrett Payton, the son of the former teammate and colleague of McMichael, Walter Payton. Jarrett was the spokesperson for the McMichael family throughout his battle Als.
“With a deep sadness, I share that Steve McMichael passed at 5:28 p.m. after a courageous fight with #als, surrounded by relatives,” wrote Payton. “I am grateful to have been with him in his last moments. Please keep Steve and his family your prayers.”
During the entire NFL mandate from 1980 to 1994, McMichael recorded 213 games, 171 departures, 847 plated and 95 bags, winning two pro Bowl head nods along the way. These 95 bags are fourth of all time among the defensive plated and its 92.5 with the Bears are second in the history of the franchise behind his teammate Richard Dent (124.5).
Let’s go too early, McMichael has certainly packed a lot of punch in his life.
Born in Houston on October 17, 1957, McMichael played as large as his Texas size personality, becoming an All-American consensus as a defensive tackle in UT Austin.
Although his heritage was born in Chicago, his 15 -year NFL career was not. McMichael was taken to the third round of the NFL of the NFL of 1980 by the Patriots, but was in New England for a single season before going out. Signed as a free agent by Chicago in 1981, McMichael did not become a starter with the Bears before 1983. Mongo turned out to be a perfect adjustment for a legendary defense overflowing with ferocity and flamboyance, serving as a focal point in the 46 coordinator of the Buddy Ryan coordinator.
Really a Midway monster, McMichael, marked by his long hair and his non -stop engine, played in a franchise record 191 consecutive games for the Bears from 1981 to 1993. He prospered in 1983 to 1989, including a team / career 11.5 in ’88.
During the illustrious 15-1 campaign in Chicago in 1985, McMichael produced 44 plated and eight bags, winning the first of its two All-Pro honors from the first team. From the defensive line of the Bears alongside Richard Dent, Dan Hampton and William “Refrigerator” Perry in the Super Bowl XX, McMichael had one of the seven bags of the team in the 46-10 beat of the New England team which initially drafted it. The Patriots only managed to total 123 yards in the match, overthrowing the ball six times. McMichael and Perry have teamed up to transport the head coach Mike Ditka out of the Superdome field to New Orleans on January 26, 1986, concluding the first and only winning season of the Bears Super Bowl.
