Former Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael is one step closer to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after the group of Senior semifinalists for the Class of 2024 was trimmed from 31 to 12.
The charismatic Texas native affectionately known as "Mongo" played 13 seasons with the Bears from 1981-93, appearing in a franchise-record 191 straight games. McMichael ranks second in team history with 92.5 sacks, helped the Bears win six division champions and was an instrumental part of the 1985 Super Bowl XX championship defense that many consider to be the best in NFL history.
Individually, McMichael was a two-time first-team All-Pro, a three-time second-team All-Pro and a two-time Pro Bowler. He was named the 19th best player in Bears history in 2019 by writers Don Pierson and Dan Pompei in the Chicago Bears Centennial Scrapbook—the second highest slot for a non-Hall of Famer.
McMichael revealed in April 2021 that he is suffering from ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
ALS is a neurodegenerative neuromuscular disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. The affected muscles are responsible for chewing food, speaking and walking. Unfortunately, McMichael's condition has continued to deteriorate.
The other remaining Senior semifinalists are Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Roger Craig, Randy Gradishar, Joe Jacoby, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Art Powell, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor and Al Wistert.
Clark Shaughnessy, who served as a defensive coach for the Bears from 1951-62, remains in contention in as a Coach/Contributor after that category was trimmed from 29 to 12. Shaughnessy was an innovator who helped introduce the "T" formation.
The other remaining Coach/Contributor semifinalists are Tom Coughlin, Mike Holmgren, Frank "Bucko" Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Art Rooney Jr., Marty Schottenheimer, Mike Shanahan, Lloyd Wells and John Wooten.
Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey was among the initial semifinalists in the Coach/Contributor category but was not selected to move onto the next step.
Both selection committees will meet to discuss the semifinalists at length. Coach/Contributor Committee members will meet Aug. 15 to select one Coach or Contributor for final consideration for the Hall of Fame's Class of 2024, while the Seniors Committee will meet Aug. 22 and may select up to three Seniors for final consideration. Expansion of the Seniors pool for election to the Hall was approved in 2022 for the Classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025.
Take a look at each of the 32 players in franchise history to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the most of any team in the NFL.
![Devin Hester
Class of 2024](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/rquijh6c1x0lnzb21wjs.jpg)
Devin Hester
Class of 2024
![*Steve McMichael
*Class of 2024](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/upload/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/czhkjsv5ybuja6awodat.jpg)
*Steve McMichael *Class of 2024
![Jimbo Covert
Class of 2020](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/vmdvghnowysirnpkriws.jpg)
Jimbo Covert
Class of 2020
![Ed Sprinkle
Class of 2020](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/dkevshwdxocez5azfiod.jpg)
Ed Sprinkle
Class of 2020
![Brian Urlacher
Class of 2018](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/zhy8ymiapyzpgurwmirv.jpg)
Brian Urlacher
Class of 2018
![Richard Dent
Class of 2011](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/hbq6fslnk89jzybpswet.jpg)
Richard Dent
Class of 2011
![Dan Hampton
Class of 2002](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/qivgdugyxwvby16wvpgo.jpg)
Dan Hampton
Class of 2002
![Mike Singletary
Class of 1998](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/ly98ndadw2s9jvisrsh8.jpg)
Mike Singletary
Class of 1998
![Jim Finks
Class of 1995](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/k8vnez2zmo2ti2spevb1.jpg)
Jim Finks
Class of 1995
![Walter Payton
Class of 1993](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/ajn3ijxb6nkph8gqarbz.jpg)
Walter Payton
Class of 1993
![Stan Jones
Class of 1991](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/gyd5zhw384xfyune2npm.jpg)
Stan Jones
Class of 1991
![Mike Ditka
Class of 1988](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/czunrggthpl2tndxpj3a.jpg)
Mike Ditka
Class of 1988
![Doug Atkins
Class of 1982](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/jy0hwgpvtonp9vtebppi.jpg)
Doug Atkins
Class of 1982
![George Musso
Class of 1982](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/luedioyov3uojlmlstmq.jpg)
George Musso
Class of 1982
![George Blanda
Class of 1981](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/neii2lylug2lc3ggfxrs.jpg)
George Blanda
Class of 1981
![Dick Butkus
Class of 1979](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/idmijbsuyq9im8z7zmnl.jpg)
Dick Butkus
Class of 1979
![Gale Sayers
Class of 1977](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/rqqht5mt5mfxioistiph.jpg)
Gale Sayers
Class of 1977
![George Connor
Class of 1975](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/wp8dvkxdondwjxwpzguh.jpg)
George Connor
Class of 1975
![Bill George
Class of 1974](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/qf2arp7ljauuf3yhynll.jpg)
Bill George
Class of 1974
![Bill Hewitt
Class of 1971](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/wbppfbblmouy1cv7v9sv.jpg)
Bill Hewitt
Class of 1971
![Joe Stydahar
Class of 1967](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/iymggbxqu3duiefypqxc.jpg)
Joe Stydahar
Class of 1967
![Clyde "Bulldog" Turner
Class of 1966](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/rxtn93i7nycsr2e3ljjy.jpg)
Clyde "Bulldog" Turner
Class of 1966
![George McAfee
Class of 1966](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/ztdkvvcxwhvxgaod9cgv.jpg)
George McAfee
Class of 1966
![Sid Luckman
Class of 1965](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/iusscpwu1wtgqpia3msc.jpg)
Sid Luckman
Class of 1965
![Danny Fortmann
Class of 1965](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/t3ppvesclphq9o7rbnou.jpg)
Danny Fortmann
Class of 1965
![Paddy Driscoll
Class of 1965](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/fh06ujm5exanmehud6jy.jpg)
Paddy Driscoll
Class of 1965
![George Trafton
Class of 1964](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/eo3wz6k7rcweii1h15xl.jpg)
George Trafton
Class of 1964
![Roy "Link" Lyman
Class of 1964](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/oda8stoeiypogvtvsy9s.jpg)
Roy "Link" Lyman
Class of 1964
![Ed Healey
Class of 1964](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/obbfgh7ysr5wry4vmntz.jpg)
Ed Healey
Class of 1964
![Harold "Red" Grange
Class of 1963](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/oerheaqfkffnpbvmxsp9.jpg)
Harold "Red" Grange
Class of 1963
![Bronko Nagurski
Class of 1963](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/nfcy3wmdgbzqwd0msupu.jpg)
Bronko Nagurski
Class of 1963
![George Halas
Class of 1963](https://static.clubs.nfl.com/image/private/t_new_photo_album/t_lazy/f_auto/bears/j0yjiqemz4hsyyzyb1ou.jpg)
George Halas
Class of 1963