LAS VEGAS — All three former Bears up for the Hall of Fame will be announced as inductees Thursday at the NFL Honors, sources told the Sun-Times.
Legendary defensive tackle Steve “Mongo” McMichael finally will make it after nearly two decades of waiting, electric return man Devin Hester is getting in on his third try and nine-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers will join them.
McMichael’s story has become a celebrated cause for the Bears as he battles ALS.
He remains a central figure in the folklore of the 1985 Bears’ championship team because of his outlandish personality and fearless play. He played 15 seasons, 13 of which were with the Bears, and was an All-Pro twice and second-team All-Pro twice. He’s second in franchise history in sacks (92.5) and third in tackles (814).
“He’s just one of those guys that when you look at what he’s done and what his play meant to our team ... I’m not sure Steve really saw himself as a special player, but the greatest asset that Steve McMichael brought to our team was consistency,” Hall of Fame linebacker Mike Singletary told the Sun-Times. “He was not really concerned about stats. He wasn’t concerned about sacks or whatever. The most important thing that he brought is you always knew where he was going to be. You always knew he was gonna do his job.”
McMichael, 66, was one of three players sent on as finalists by the Hall of Fame’s seniors committee and needed to get at least 80% of the vote from the full panel to get in.
Hester, 41, holds the NFL career record with 20 special-teams touchdowns in the regular season — 14 on punts, five on kickoffs and one on a missed field goal — and added one of the league’s most memorable plays ever by taking the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI for a 92-yard touchdown. He was a three-time All-Pro return man.
Hester also put up 3,427 yards and 17 touchdowns on offense, mostly as a wide receiver.
Peppers, 44, played most of his 17-year career with the Panthers, but had 37.5 sacks in four seasons with the Bears and was an All-Pro in 2010. He is fourth in NFL history with 159.5 sacks.
