Latest news with #SuperBowlXX
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL offseason power rankings: No. 15 Chicago Bears hire Ben Johnson to change their history
Other NFL team previews: 32. Titans | 31. Saints | 30. Browns | 29. Panthers | 28. Jets | 27. Giants | 26. Raiders | 25. Patriots | 24. Colts | 23. Dolphins | 22. Jaguars | 21. Falcons | 20. Steelers | 19. Cardinals | 18. Cowboys | 17. Seahawks | 16. Texans Before the 2024 NFL Draft, there was plenty of speculation that Caleb Williams wanted no part of the Chicago Bears. Everyone smiled and played nice when the team made it clear he'd be the pick, but the old issues came to light again this offseason. Advertisement "Chicago is the place quarterbacks go to die," said Caleb's father Carl Williams, according to an ESPN excerpt of Seth Wickersham's book "American Kings: A Biography of the Quarterback." The feathers that had settled were ruffled again with that comment. But it was also impossible to deny that Carl Williams was entirely spot-on. Chicago, which hasn't had an All-Pro quarterback since 1950, has been where quarterbacks' careers go to die. Williams' upside case died a little bit as he struggled last season behind a terrible offensive line and even worse coaching. The only good thing to come out of last season was that the Bears seemed to finally wake up and address the underlying issues that led Carl Williams to see if there was a way to circumvent the draft and steer his son way from a franchise that has never figured out the modern passing game. The Bears seemed reluctant to pay top dollar in its coaching search when it started, but eventually paid Ben Johnson handsomely to leave his job as the Detroit Lions' offensive coordinator. Johnson is one of the league's most respected play-callers and the Bears hope that leads to a big improvement for Williams. The Bears also revamped their offensive line and then drafted tight end Colston Loveland in the first round and receiver Luther Burden III in the second round, giving the Bears a deep group of skill-position players. Advertisement With an exciting offensive-minded coach, a good offensive line, a fun group of pass catchers and the No. 1 pick from the 2024 draft at quarterback, if the Bears can't get that elusive first 4,000-yard passing season, maybe the franchise is just doomed at the position. [Get more Bears news: Chicago team feed] While everyone has been quick to dunk on the Browns, Commanders, Panthers, Jets or some others for being among the NFL's truly dysfunctional franchises, the Bears haven't been any better. Winning a Super Bowl 40 years ago doesn't change that much, and the fact that the 1985 Bears are still the first topic of conversation in Chicago speaks to how bad the team has been since then. The Bears have won six playoff games in the 39 seasons since Super Bowl XX. The problems have generally started at quarterback. Since 1963, the only two Bears quarterbacks to make the Pro Bowl were Jim McMahon in 1985 and Mitchell Trubisky in 2018. Trubisky made it as a replacement. The Bears' record for passing yards in a season is 3,838 by Erik Kramer in 1995. Chicago, which was one of the NFL's original teams in 1920, is the only team that has never had a 4,000-yard passer or a 30-touchdown season either. Last season Williams had 3,541 yards, and many of his surface stats were fine. He had some exciting flashes as a rookie, like when he almost rallied the Bears to a comeback win in Detroit on Thanksgiving. Williams also held the ball way too long, trying to do too much, a main reason he led the NFL with 68 sacks taken. Williams was fine, and it didn't help the perception of him that No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels was far ahead and an instant superstar. Advertisement The Bears are again one of the darlings of the offseason and a popular pick to have a breakthrough, both on the team level and with their young quarterback. Now they have to actually do it. Johnson said one of the reasons he took the Chicago job was to work with Williams. He understands all of the history going against him and Williams, and he's undaunted. 'I love it. I love it. I love the opportunity to come on in and change that narrative,' Johnson said. 'That's where great stories are written." Caleb Williams of the Chicago Bears talks with head coach Ben Johnson during an offseason practice. (Photo by) (Michael Reaves via Getty Images) Offseason grade Make all the jokes about the Bears being back-to-back offseason champs. Last year everyone gushed about the Bears' moves, forgetting that coaching and offensive line play matters too. This year the Bears had another impressive offseason on paper. The coaching was presumably fixed with Ben Johnson coming aboard. The offensive line got a complete makeover. Center Drew Dalman was signed from the Falcons for $42 million over three years. The Bears traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, and both have been Pro Bowl performers. Chicago also signed some defensive help with pass rusher Dayo Odeyingbo ($48 million over three years) and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett ($42.75 million over three years). That's how you improve both lines. The draft got good reviews, with the team adding to Caleb Williams' weapons with tight end Colston Loveland in the first round and receiver Luther Burden III in the second. There weren't any significant losses either. It would be a surprise if this set of moves don't lead to a notable improvement. Advertisement Grade: A Quarterback report Caleb Williams was uneven as a rookie, with his base stats (20 touchdowns, six interceptions) belying that there was a lot to work on within his game. Were the issues due to Williams' flaws or poor coaching? We should find out more this season. Ben Johnson is working with Williams on everything, including better body language, which was bad at times last season as he was getting hit and the Bears were losing. He also took way too many sacks and was inaccurate on deep throws. Johnson ran a tremendous offense with the Lions, finishing among the NFL's top five in points scored and yards gained in each of his three seasons as offensive coordinator. Last season the Lions scored 564 points, which led the NFL and was the fourth-most in league history. But Johnson acknowledges the Bears have different personnel, starting with the quarterback, and his approach has to change with it. Advertisement "He is a phenomenal talent that had, as many quarterbacks do, an up-and-down rookie year," Johnson said when he was introduced as the team's new head coach, via "Where I see my role is as a supporter of him. This offense will be calibrated with him in mind. We're going to build this thing — this is not simply a dropping of a previous playbook and starting there. No, we're ripping this thing down to the studs, and we're going to build it out with him first and foremost, and then the pieces around him next. I really look forward to challenging him and pushing him, as I said before, to continue to grow and develop." BetMGM odds breakdown From Yahoo's Ben Fawkes: 'With a new head coach in Ben Johnson and additions on offense (drafted Colston Loveland and Luther Burden III, added Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman on o-line), the pieces are in place for second-year QB Caleb Williams to take a leap. Make no mistake: This team will go only as far as Williams takes them. The Bears are a big underdog (+155) to make the playoffs at BetMGM and their win total of 8.5 is shaded to the under, so oddsmakers and the betting public think a wild-card berth may still be a year away. It doesn't help that Chicago plays in arguably the league's best division in the NFC North. The Bears are projected to be favored in only seven games this season." Yahoo's fantasy take From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "The market has been cool to Colston Loveland so far, and I think that's the right call. Although Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers both had dynamic rookie years in the past two seasons, it's likely a mistake to apply their success to the Chicago situation. Consider that Loveland steps into a crowded situation for pass catchers (the Bears have a slew of good wideouts and even a respectable other tight end in Cole Kmet). And we still need some proof that Caleb Williams can play in this league — he had a horrible sack problem last year, and generally sack problems are mostly about the quarterback, not other things. Even if I wind up drafting two tight ends on some roster builds, Loveland is not a player I'm targeting." Advertisement Stat to remember The Bears allowed 5.9 yards per play last season. The only team to give up more per play was Carolina, a horrible defense that allowed the most points in NFL history. It was a clear step back for a unit that came into last season with high hopes. Chicago's defense had a strong second half in 2023, which was somewhat comically attributed to trading for defensive end Montez Sweat during the season, and it crashed a bit last season. In 2023, the Bears allowed 27.3 points in the eight games before trading for Sweat and 17.9 in the nine games after the deal. Then last season Chicago allowed 21.8 points per game and 354.2 yards per game, which ranked 27th in the NFL. The Bears were second to last in net yards per pass attempt allowed, as the pass rush dried up. The Bears added some pieces up front to their defense, and the secondary was steady last season, so perhaps there's a rebound coming with former Saints head coach Dennis Allen getting back to what he does best as Chicago's new defensive coordinator. There has been plenty of talk about the Bears' offense this offseason and rightfully so, but Chicago probably won't be a playoff contender if its defense isn't better, regardless of how many strides its offense makes. Burning question How will the Bears split up touches? Unless Ben Johnson is seriously creative, there still remains just one ball in play for each NFL offense. That presents an issue. How will the Bears keep all their skill-position players happy? DJ Moore looks like the No. 1 option, though he won't be a target hog like Malik Nabers or CeeDee Lamb. He'll need to share first with Rome Odunze, the ninth overall pick of last year's draft who had a fairly quiet rookie season but plenty of potential. There is also Luther Burden III, who might not see the field much if the Bears rely on two tight end sets with rookie Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. Burden missed time in the offseason program due to a soft tissue injury, which seemed to irk Johnson. And don't forget that the Lions loved running the ball with Johnson in charge. That means someone among D'Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson or rookie Kyle Monangai — maybe all three in a fairly unimpressive running back room — could be a big part of the offense too. Having plenty of capable offensive players is a good problem to have, and it will be interesting to see how the pie is split up. Advertisement Best-case scenario Maybe the Bears need an injection of swagger. Ben Johnson came in swinging when he was hired, as he explained wanting to stay in the NFC North. "And to be quite frank with ya, I kind of enjoyed beating Matt LaFleur twice a year," Johnson said, referring to the Packers' head coach. It's a lot easier for a coach to win the news conference and the offseason than win games in the fall. But a few months after Johnson was a highly coveted head-coaching candidate — he was last year too before backing out and staying with Detroit — the Bears have no reason to believe they made the wrong hire. It seems like Johnson's transition to being a head coach is going well. Plenty of NFL Coach of the Year winners have been rookies who take over after the previous coach was dragging the franchise down, and the turnaround leads to a playoff berth and impresses voters. It's easy to see Johnson in that role, helping Williams to a big season, a talented Bears roster to the postseason and perhaps an NFC North title if everything breaks right. Williams can't even be discounted as a long-shot MVP candidate this season (Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes are recent MVPs who won in their second seasons). If this all hits for Chicago, it might hit really big. Advertisement Nightmare scenario Through an all-time heist of a trade with the Panthers, the Bears positioned themselves perfectly to take Caleb Williams with the first overall pick of last year's draft, the first time they'd selected first since 1947. They got a supreme prospect who could lift them out of a decades-long quarterback rut. But what if Williams isn't great? No quarterback should be judged after only two seasons. But it's not like the Bears haven't done a lot to put Williams in a good situation for Year 2. If Williams struggles this season when he's surrounded by Ben Johnson, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Luther Burden III, Colston Loveland, Cole Kmet, Drew Dalman, Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, what's next year's move? There wouldn't be many viable excuses for Williams, unless injuries hit hard this season. And if we get to the end of Williams' second season and he doesn't look like a viable franchise quarterback — not necessarily a finished product and a star, but promising enough that everyone understands the arrow is clearly pointed up — that would be alarming. The Bears have spent a lot of resources to get the most out of Williams. They need to see tangible progress. The crystal ball says The Bears are the first NFC North team to appear on the rankings countdown, but the toughest division in the league isn't separated by that much. It feels like any team could finish first (and any team could finish last as well). Caleb Williams will have a nice growth season. Ben Johnson is a sharp offensive mind and Williams has plenty of talent and a good cast around him. But it's possible for the Bears to be much better, look like they're on the right path and still finish last. The division is that good. Let's say the Bears stay in playoff contention until late in the season but fall short, and then Chicago goes into the 2026 season as one of the more hyped teams in the NFL ... a role it should be used to by now.
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.
