Tag: Steve McMichael

Bears legend Steve McMichael hospitalized

The McMichael family is asking for prayers.

Chicago Bears legendary defensive tackle Steve “Mongo” McMichael was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday, his family announced in a statement that was shared via WGN’s Jarrett Payton. McMichael was admitted to the hospital and is undergoing tests. A few hours later, Payton shared an update that McMichael has a urinary tract infection and will be returning home.

McMichael was diagnosed with ALS in 2021 and has been in and out of the hospital the last couple of years. Most recently, McMichael was admitted to the hospital in mid-February and was diagnosed with MRSA. He was released a few days later after undergoing a blood transfusion.

The former Bears great spent 13 of his 15 seasons in Chicago, becoming one of the key cogs of the 1985 Super Bowl champion defense. McMichael racked up 95 sacks over the course of his career to go along with 847 tackles. In February, he was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 and will be enshrined in Canton this August.

Bears great Steve McMichael released from hospital

Great news: Steve McMichael is back home after more than a week in the hospital.

Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael has returned home after more than a week in the hospital, publicist Betsy Shepherd said Friday.

“The outpouring of love, support and prayers have helped Steve get through this latest battle,” Shepherd said in a statement. “All he wanted was to get home to [wife] Misty and [daughter] Macy where he feels most comfortable.”

McMichael, 66, was rushed to the emergency room on Feb. 15 with what the family believed to be pneumonia. But he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, and he responded well to antibiotics. McMichael had a procedure to clear fluid from his lungs, and he was expected to leave the hospital shortly after.

But McMichael was later diagnosed with MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, and his family asked for prayers as he underwent a blood transfusion Feb. 17. He has responded to antibiotics and his condition improved.

Now, McMichael is back home, where he’ll have around-the-clock nursing care and receive IV antibiotics to treat his infections.

McMichael was recently named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, as nominated by the Seniors Committee. McMichael, who played for the Bears for 13 years, ranks second in franchise history in sacks and was a key member of the legendary 1985 Bears championship team.

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Bears great Steve McMichael to return home from hospital

Former Bears DT Steve McMichael is set to return home Thursday after his recent hospitalization.

Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael is set to return home Thursday following his recent hospitalization, according to longtime publicist Betsy Shepherd.

McMichael, 66, was rushed to the emergency room on Thursday night with what the family believed to be pneumonia. But he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, and he responded well to antibiotics. McMichael had a procedure to clear fluid from his lungs, and he was expected to leave the hospital shortly after.

But McMichael was later diagnosed with MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, and his family asked for prayers as he underwent a blood transfusion Saturday. He has responded to antibiotics and his condition improved. Now, he’s expected to return home Thursday.

McMichael was recently named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, as nominated by the Seniors Committee. McMichael, who played for the Bears for 13 years, ranks second in franchise history in sacks and was a key member of the legendary 1985 Bears championship team.

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Steve McMichael ‘improving’ after recent MRSA diagnosis

Bears great Steve McMichael is “improving” after his recent MRSA diagnosis, and he’s expected to return home early this week.

Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael is “improving” after a recent MRSA diagnosis, according to a family spokesperson. McMichael is expected home on Tuesday with IV antibiotics.

“Steve is responding to the antibiotics and his condition is improving,” NBC Chicago’s Mike Berman shared. “We hope to have him home on Tuesday with IV antibiotics. He’s one tough guy. He’s Mongo and his DNA is different! Keep those prayers coming! Thank you!”

“Great news – Mongo is feeling better and he’s responding well to the antibiotics,” WGN’s Jarrett Payton shared. “The hope is to have him back at home on Tuesday. Please keep sending up your thoughts and prayers for Steve and his family.”

McMichael was rushed to the emergency room on Thursday night with what the family believed to be pneumonia. But he was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, and he responded well to antibiotics. McMichael had a procedure to clear fluid from his lungs, and he was expected to leave the hospital shortly after.

But McMichael was later diagnosed with MRSA, or methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus, and his family asked for prayers as he underwent a blood transfusion Saturday. The most recent update indicates he’s progressing and expected to return home early this week.

McMichael was recently named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, as nominated by the Seniors Committee. McMichael, who played for the Bears for 13 years, ranks second in franchise history in sacks and was a key member of the legendary 1985 Bears championship team.

Steve McMichael’s family provides update following recent hospitalization

Steve McMichael’s family provided an update after he was hospitalized on Thursday night.

Steve McMichael’s family provided an update following his hospitalization on Thursday night for what the family suspected was pneumonia.

It was later revealed McMichael was admitted to the intensive care unit for a urinary tract infection. The family’s recent update revealed he’s also undergoing a procedure to remove fluid from his lungs.

“Steve is responding to the antibiotics administered for treatment of his UTI. He is also undergoing a procedure known as thoracentesis to remove fluid from his lungs. Steve is expected to be released from the hospital in the coming days. Continued prayers are appreciated. Thank you! The McMichael Family.”

McMichael has been battling ALS for the past three years. He revealed his diagnosis in April 2021, and he’s now fully paralyzed and has lost the ability to speak. McMichael was hospitalized last August when he was admitted to the ICU with sepsis and pneumonia.

McMichael was recently named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, joining fellow Bears greats Devin Hester and Julius Peppers. McMichael spent 13 seasons with the Bears and was a member of the 1985 Super Bowl team. McMichael was a two-time first-team All-Pro, three-time second-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler. His 92.5 sacks rank second in franchise history behind only Richard Dent (124.5).

Former Bears DT Steve McMichael admitted to ICU with urinary tract infection

Steve McMichael’s family is “asking for prayers” as he heads to the emergency room.

Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael is heading to the emergency room with suspected pneumonia, according to a spokesperson for the McMichael family.

“We are asking for prayers for Steve McMichael. He is going to the Emergency Room now with suspected pneumonia. We will inform you as we have more updates. Thank you. The McMichael Family. Team Mongo.”

McMichael has been battling ALS for the past three years. He revealed his diagnosis in April 2021, and he’s now fully paralyzed and has lost the ability to speak. McMichael was hospitalized last August when he was admitted to the ICU with sepsis and pneumonia.

McMichael was recently named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024, joining fellow Bears greats Devin Hester and Julius Peppers. McMichael spent 13 seasons with the Bears and was a member of the 1985 Super Bowl team. McMichael was a two-time first-team All-Pro, three-time second-team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler. His 92.5 sacks rank second in franchise history behind only Richard Dent (124.5).

UPDATE (8:25 p.m. CT):

McMichael is being admitted to the intensive care unit on Thursday night with a urinary tract infection. He is on three antibiotics.

“Steve is fighting a Urinary Tract Infection. He is on three antibiotics and is being admitted to the ICU this evening. Continued prayers are appreciated for Steve’s speedy recovery. Thank you! The McMichael Family and Team Mongo.”

Roman Reigns almost made it, The Rock never did: 5 former WWE wrestlers who actually played in the NFL

Take a walk down memory lane to start football season with a look at WWE wrestlers who were in the NFL.

When it comes to WWE wrestlers who once dreamed of playing in the NFL, it’s often a case of close but not quite.

Take the company’s top star, Roman Reigns. Then known as Joe Anoa’i, Reigns was a pretty good college football player at Georgia Tech, earning All-ACC first-team honors in 2006. But after going undrafted in 2007, he was signed by two teams, then released prior to the ensuing NFL season.

(He did, however, play a few games in the CFL, and we’d say he’s done alright for himself since then, what with the whole Undisputed WWE Universal Championship thing and all.)

How about Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson? Negative there as well. After his college career at The U (a.ka. the University of Miami), Johnson also went undrafted, and found his true calling after a short stint on a CFL practice roster.

Yet there have been a handful of others who gave the NFL a shot before seeking out pro wrestling and have actually experienced the thrill of playing football at the highest level. Let’s take a quick spin through some of the WWE wrestlers who were in the NFL first, and in the ring second.

Bears may have Hall of Fame Game and ‘Hard Knocks’ this summer

It’s shaping up to potentially be a busy and memorable summer for the Bears.

The Chicago Bears have a lot going on right now. There is an expectation that they will be a big spender in free agency, they have the number one pick in the 2024 NFL draft, and they just had three players named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024. 

With some cap space to spend, you can assume that the Bears will use their financial wealth to improve their team. They might not be adding any game breakers or anything like that, but they should be able to fill in the cracks with some good talent.

Their plan with the first overall pick depends on the decision made with Justin Fields. Is he their guy at quarterback going forward or will they draft Caleb Williams out of USC? That is one of the top NFL conversations going on locally and nationally. 

The three players going into the Hall of Fame are Devin Hester, Julius Peppers, and Steve McMichael. They are the first trio of players to go into the Hall at the same time that played for the same team (for at least four years) since the San Francisco 49ers (3) in 2000. 

With those players being inducted into Canton, and all being Bears, Chicago is a good bet to participate in the annual Hall of Fame Game. That would also likely be the first time that we see Williams in a Bears jersey, if they go that route this spring.

The excitement and anticipation for that type of offseason/training camp will be off the charts compared to other years. The Bears, good or bad, always have a lot of hype, but this year will be different. 

As a result, don’t be surprised if they are chosen to do “Hard Knocks,” the hit documentary that follows an NFL team during training camp and shows the ins and outs of the early season process. 

If an NFL team hasn’t made the playoffs over the previous two seasons, they have a new head coach, or they have been on in the last 10 years, they can’t be forced to do it. A team could be forced to do it if they meet that criteria and no other team has volunteered. A lot of teams — from owners to coaches to players, namely George McCaskey — don’t want to do it. 

The Bears are one of just three teams — along with the Denver Broncos and New Orleans Saints — who can be forced to do “Hard Knocks” in 2024. Based on how unexciting those two teams are right now, Chicago feels like a lock. There is no escape this year. 

The Bears are just an interesting team right now for all of the reasons mentioned. With the number one pick possibly being a generational talent, along with an extra preseason game, it is going to be a circus. The organization might as well embrace the chaos.  

Bears made history with the 2024 Hall of Fame class

The Chicago Bears had three of their players make the Hall of Fame on Thursday night.

The Chicago Bears haven’t done a lot of winning over their history, but they have produced plenty of legends in the game. That was put on display on Thursday night when the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class was announced, and three Bears were selected — Devin Hester, Steve McMichael, and Julius Peppers.

This was a great announcement for Bears fans. We all remember how good a guy like Peppers was during his four seasons with the team. He spent some time with other teams (Carolina Panthers and Green Bay Packers), but some of his best seasons came while wearing the navy and orange.

McMichael played 13 of his 15 seasons (1981-1993) with Chicago. That means he was on the legendary 1985 team that won the Super Bowl. He was diagnosed with ALS in Jan. 2021, and his health has deteriorated over the past few years. But his push for the Hall of Fame kept him fighting.

Hester is the greatest kick returner in the history of the NFL. He was a mediocre wide receiver but an exceptional return man. He changed the way that position is viewed forever. Even when he didn’t find the endzone, the offense found itself in good field position.

This Hall of Fame class was historical. It was the first time that three players, who spent at least four seasons with the same team, were inducted into the Hall of Fame from the same class since 2000 (San Francisco 49ers).

This is very cool for Bears fans. Seeing their players make it to the Hall of Fame is always special. Being alive to see one of these all-time great Bears representations is extra special. All of these guys were memorable in their way and deserve this recognition.

As a class like this comes out with all of this Bears representation, you can’t help but hope that more greatness is on the way soon. Chicago is trying to build a winner and it would be nice to see them produce a few Hall of Fame-type talents in the not-so-distant future. It would be nice to see all of the festivities that come from this announcement motivate the modern-day Bears to become great, as well.

’85 Bears react to Steve McMichael being named to Pro Football Hall of Fame

Steve McMichael is the seventh member of the 1985 Bears to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Chicago Bears great Steve McMichael has done his waiting, but he’s finally joining his 1985 Bears teammates in football immortality. McMichael was one of three Bears named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2024, along with Devin Hester and Julius Peppers.

McMichael becomes the seventh member of the ’85 Bears to be inducted into the Hall of Fame — joining Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Dan Hampton, Richard Dent, Jim Covert and Mike Dikta.

McMichael is the fourth player from the legendary ’85 Bears defense, widely considered to be the greatest ever, to be enshrined.

“For Steve to be in the Hall of Fame, it means that we’re together again in a place that no one can take away from him,” Singletary told the Sun-Times. “In the football world, he’s finally home.”

McMichael has been waiting a long time to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, and unfortunately time isn’t on his side. McMichael has been battling ALS for the last couple of years. He revealed his diagnosis in April 2021, and he’s now full paralyzed and lost his voice.

“It’s a victory with an asterisk,” former Bears safety Gary Fencik said. “We’re happy and celebrating success, but we’re also looking at Steve’s condition.”

McMichael spent 13 seasons with the Bears, where he was a member of the 1985 Super Bowl team. McMichael was a two-time First Team All-Pro, three-time Second Team All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowler. His 92.5 sacks ranks second in franchise history, behind only fellow Hall of Famer Dent (124.5).

“I’m not sure Steve really saw himself as a special player, but the greatest asset that Steve McMichael brought to our team was consistency,” Singletary said. “He was not really concerned about stats. The most important thing was that you always knew, come hell or high water, Steve was gonna do his job.

“For a middle linebacker, I always knew he was gonna be where he was supposed to be, and that takes all the second-guessing out of it. It makes you play that much faster. It makes all the difference in the world.”

McMichael’s wife, Misty, has said the push for the Hall of Fame has been inspiration for him to keep fighting.

“It’s gonna mean the world to them,” said Jim McMahon. “Maybe now he can let go. How he’s survived this long, I don’t know. He’s been through so much, and he’s still here. Hopefully now he hears great news and he can go in peace.”