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Homer Glen officials are throwing their support behind hometown hero Steve “Mongo” McMichael, as the Chicago Bears legend waits to hear whether he will be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Wearing “Team Mongo” T-shirts and other Bears apparel, the Homer Glen Village Board unanimously passed a resolution Wednesday urging the Hall of Fame selection committee to name McMichael to its class of 2024.
“McMichael was not only a great football player, he is a generous, fun-loving guy and has a genuine heart,” Mayor Christina Neitzke-Troike said. “The village of Homer Glen would be honored to have one of our own inducted into the Hall of Fame.”
McMichael has been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, for more than 2 1/2 years. The former Bears defensive tackle and starter on the 1985 Super Bowl-winning team was admitted to the hospital last week and returned home Tuesday evening.
His wife, Misty McMichael, attended Wednesday’s meeting to accept the resolution.
“I think he’s going to get in, and I think he’ll live to see it, and that’s all I want,” McMichael said.
Steve McMichael is one of 12 players, whose final game appearance was no later than 1998, in the running to be inducted into next year’s Hall of Fame class. On Aug. 22, the senior committee will choose up to three senior finalists who could be enshrined next August.
Homer Glen officials said they hope their resolution and community support convinces the committee to move McMichael closer to being enshrined.
“On behalf of the nearly 25,000 residents of Homer Glen, we do hereby strongly urge the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee to recognize the storied career of Steve “Mongo” McMichael and vote to enshrine him to his rightful place as a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame,” said Trustee Dan Fialko, reading the resolution.
“Amen, brother,” Misty McMichael responded.
She said being named to the Hall of Fame means everything to her husband, and she is one of his biggest advocates.
“He’s from Texas, Friday night lights, born and raised with football,” she said. “Every hall of fame you can imagine, he’s in. He deserves to be in the NFL Hall of Fame. It’s long overdue. It’s time. He already did all the hard work. All I have to do is push.”
And she is hoping her husband, who has since lost the ability to move or speak, will still be alive to see his induction, noting Chicago Cubs legend Ron Santo was inducted to the National Baseball Hall of Fame after his death.
“We will keep him alive until at least next August until he sees himself enshrined,” Misty McMichael said. “That’s my goal, and I’m a beast about it.”
Homer Glen’s resolution, which village officials said will be sent to the selection committee, listed McMichael’s accomplishments, including his MVP award in the 1979 Hula Bowl, his induction in the College Football Hall of Fame, being named a two-time Pro-Bowler and five-time All-Pro, and an instrumental leader in the Bears’ Super Bowl XX victory.
McMichael played in the NFL for 15 seasons, 13 with the Bears. He did not miss a single game during 13 seasons with the Bears, playing in a franchise-record 191 straight games.
Misty McMichael said she appreciates all the support, including a gathering at Silver Cross Hospital Friday, the day after he was admitted, and advocating for his inclusion in the Hall of Fame.
“I think this is awesome,” she said. “I’m feeling the love. Totally. That’s why I’m not going to move out of Homer Glen.”
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Fialko said the McMichael family has given to the community as philanthropists.
“They’ve always been there for others, so it’s an honor for this board to be able to give back,” Fialko said.
Misty McMichael said her husband’s health is improving after being admitted to the hospital with sepsis and pneumonia. She said he will be on IV antibiotics to combat the pneumonia, and he even asked for ice cream.
Michelle Mullins is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.