McMichael Named Finalist For Pro Football Hall Of Fame

HOMER GLEN, IL — Steve McMichael is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the McMichael family announced Wednesday at a press conference at their Homer Glen home.

Steve's wife, Misty, said Steve received "the call" from the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday.

McMichael was named as one of 12 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in July, and now has been named as one of three finalists in the seniors category. The other two senior finalists are other senior finalists Randy Gradishar and Art Powell.

McMichael has been battling ALS since 2021, and it has progressed to the point where he is paralyzed from the neck down, and cannot speak, breathe or eat on his own.

“I hope he stays alive for the next year because I know he will if he gets inducted,” Misty McMichael told Patch earlier this month. “I know he’ll stay alive. He’s tough. He’s not human. He probably should have been dead already. The doctors have been giving him six months for a year.

“But he’s hanging on and I really hope that this gives him the incentive to hang on for another year.”

Now that he's a finalist, McMichael will have to receive 80 percent of the vote by the selection committee during Super Bowl week in 2024, to be elected and enshrined into the Hall of Fame.

McMichael spent 13 of his 15 NFL seasons with the Bears and was named a first-team All-Pro twice while making three all-NFL All-Pro teams. He finished his career with 95 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries and three safeties. He also had 5 1/2 sacks in 12 playoff games during his time with the Bears, for whom he played 191 of his 213 career games, ranking only behind Patrick Mannelly in career games played in a Bears uniform.