HOMER GLEN, Illinois – Former Chicago Bears star Steve “Mongo” McMichael, recently announced as part of the latest class of inductees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has been hospitalized and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit as he battles ALS, his family revealed Thursday night.
McMichael, who played 13 seasons with the Bears and made the Pro Bowl five times, has been awaiting the Hall of Fame announcement for years. His wife, Misty, traveled to Las Vegas for the ceremony, attending on his behalf, as he communicated through a special device that follows eye movements.
The family spokesperson said McMichael was taken to Silver Cross Hospital with a fever and was very lethargic. While initially suspected to have pneumonia, it was later confirmed that he had a urinary tract infection. As any illness can be very serious for McMichael in his fight against ALS, the family has requested continued prayers for his recovery.
Despite the ravages of ALS robbing him of the ability to move or speak, McMichael remains determined to attend his Hall of Fame induction in Canton, Ohio later this summer. The NFL has pledged to cover the medical expenses required to send him to the ceremony in-person.
Many people in the Homer Glen community, where McMichael now lives, have been making plans to be in Canton for the induction ceremony. McMichael’s wife expressed how much the Hall of Fame induction means to their family, and he has made it clear through his eye-tracking device how important the honor is to him.
This hospitalization is not the first for McMichael, who previously spent nearly a week battling sepsis and pneumonia in August. Despite these health challenges, he continues to be surrounded by strong support from his family, fans, and the NFL as he fights the debilitating effects of ALS.