CANTON, Ohio — On Saturday, seven NFL greats will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. While Andre Johnson will go into the Hall representing Houston, one inductee who was born in Houston will have the Hall of Fame ceremony taken to him.
Steve McMichael, who was born in Houston, went to high school in Freer, Texas, and played his college football at the University of Texas is a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 2024.
McMichael is battling ALS after being diagnosed in 2021. He’s unable to be in Canton to accept the honor, so the honor is coming to him. According to the Chicago Bears, Hall of Fame president Jim Porter will present the traditional gold jacket and bronze bust to McMichael at his suburban Chicago home. McMichael's family and former Bears teammates will be there to celebrate with him.
McMichael was drafted by the Patriots in 1980, but only played in six games in his rookie season and was released before the 1981 season. It was 1981 that the Bears picked him up and he played the bulk of his career in Chicago. Of his 15-year career, McMichael played 13 of those seasons in the Windy City. He was a key part of the dominant defense on the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl-winning team.
For his career, McMichael had 95 sacks, 13 forced fumbles and 17 fumble recoveries. He made two Pro Bowls and was an All-Pro three times.
Aside from Johnson and McMichael, the other players being inducted on Saturday are Dwight Freeney, Randy Gradishar, Devin Hester, Patrick Willis and Julius Peppers.
