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Steve McMichael on Verge of Hall of Fame

Bears defensive tackle now needs 80% of the final electors' vote during Super Bowl week to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Gene Chamberlain|
Steve McMichael on Verge of Hall of Fame
Steve McMichael on Verge of Hall of Fame

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Chicago Bears

It's not done yet but the best way to put it is Steve McMichael's bid for the Pro Football Hall of Fame has reached the extra-point kick.

McMichael was one of three players voted to be a finalist for the Hall of Fame. When 50 electors cast the actual final vote, he will now need to be on 80% of the ballots. The odds for this would appear extremely good. Last year, all three of the senior finalists received the required 80% and went into the Hall of Fame.

McMichael, Art Powell and Randy Gradishar are the three players who made it to the final level, it was announced by the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday.

They beat out Roger Craig, Otis Taylor, Sterling Sharpe, Ken Anderson, Joe Jacoby, Maxie Baughan, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador and Al Wistert from the group of semifinalists.

The beloved Bears defensive tackle from the 1985 Bears defense has been battling ALS since 2021 and is completely paralyzed. He has lost the ability to speak. Earlier this month McMichael was in the hospital due to sepsis.

McMichael played 13 of his 15 seasons for the Bears and appeared in a franchise-record 191 straight games. He is second in Bears history in sacks with 92 1/2 behind Richard Dent.

McMichael's election is part of the regular senior voting process. The senior process was established to ensure players who had their careers completed at least 25 years ago would have a chance to go to the Hall along with the modern-era players.

The final vote for these players takes place when the vote is held for modern-era players. That occurs during Super Bowl week.

The last Bears voted into the Hall of Fame were defensive lineman Ed Sprinkle of the 1940s-50s era and McMichael's teammate, left tackle Jimbo Covert in 2020.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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