Steve McMichael Couldn't Make It to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, so the Ceremony Came to Him
Battling ALS and bedridden in the advanced stages of the disease, McMichael was unable to travel to Canton, Ohio, for the enshrinement ceremony. But the Hall of Fame came to him.
On Saturday, Aug. 5, 2023, a delegation from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, led by President Jim Porter, traveled to McMichael's home in Romeoville, Illinois, to present him with his Hall of Fame bust and jacket.
McMichael, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2017, was unable to speak, but he smiled and shed tears of joy as he was surrounded by his family, friends, and former teammates.
"This is an incredible honor," McMichael's wife, Misty, said on his behalf. "Steve has always been so proud of his accomplishments on the field, and he is so grateful to be recognized by the Hall of Fame."
McMichael was a standout defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears from 1981 to 1993. He was a key member of the Bears' Super Bowl XX championship team in 1985 and was named to the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1980s.
After retiring from football, McMichael became a successful businessman and television personality. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2015.
McMichael's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a fitting tribute to a great player and a great man. Despite the challenges he has faced in recent years, McMichael has never lost his sense of humor or his love of life.
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