Former Bears Tackle, Hall of Famer Steve McMichael Dies at 67

He won Super Bowl XX with the Bears.
Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael stands on the field.
Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael stands on the field. / Manny Rubio-Imagn Images
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Former NFL defensive tackle and Super Bowl champion with the Chicago Bears Steve McMichael has died at the age of 67, the NFL announced on Wednesday. McMichael was diagnosed with ALS in Jan. 2021.

McMichael was enshrined in the Pro Football of Fame last August after there was a push for him to be honored. He's also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame after his career with Texas.

The defensive tackle was drafted 1980 in the third round by the New England Patriots. He only spent one season there, and then went to the Bears and played there from 1981-93. He was part of the Super Bowl XX winning team with the Bears, and was a two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro member while in Chicago. He spent his final season in 1994 with the Green Bay Packers.

McMichael finished his NFL career with 9,045 tackles, 95 sacks, 17 fumble recoveries, 13 forced fumbles, three safeties and one interception.

Bears chairman George H. McCaskey released a statement about McMichael's legacy.

McMichael also became a professional wrestler after his NFL career ended. He won the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship in 1997.

The Hall of Famer spent some time coaching in the Continental Indoor Football Leagues (CIFL) with the Chicago Slaughter from 2007–13. The Slaughter won the title in 2009.


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Madison Williams
MADISON WILLIAMS

Madison Williams is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated, where she specializes in tennis but covers a wide range of sports from a national perspective. Before joining SI in 2022, Williams worked at The Sporting News. Having graduated from Augustana College, she completed a master’s in sports media at Northwestern University. She is a dog mom and an avid reader.