The Bears might have been the most obvious selection to play in the Hall of Fame Game in recent memory, as three members of this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame class have close ties to the franchise.
Devin Hester spent the bulk of his career in Chicago, while Julius Peppers made his name in Carolina but put together four strong seasons with the Bears. The election of Steve McMichael, who spent 13 seasons with the Bears and was part of the team's vaunted 1985 defense, made Chicago a shoe-in for the annual game.
Hester and Peppers received loud ovations from Bears fans who made the trip to Canton on Thursday, but it was Misty McMichael, Steve's wife, who represented her ailing husband and earned quite the ovation herself.
Here's what you need to know about Misty McMichael and how she's stayed by her husband during his grueling health battle.
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Who is Misty McMichael?
Steve McMichael married Misty Davenport in 2001, three years after he and his first wife divorced. Steve and Misty had a daughter, Macy, in 2008.
Tragedy befell the McMichael family when the former All-Pro was diagnosed with ALS in 2021. The disease would gradually take away Steve's ability to walk, talk, and care for himself. While Misty has taken on the unexpected role of caretaker, she continued campaigning for her husband to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
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"It’s been a wonderful, bumpy ride, but it’s been an awesome ride. It’s been amazing," Misty said when Steve was elected in February.
"He’s amazing. In football especially, but in everything he does, he’s amazing," Misty told reporters when the class of 2024 was introduced in Las Vegas. "He’s the most awesome football player I’ve ever seen. I’m a little bit biased, but y’all can watch the film."
Misty made the trip to Canton on Steve's behalf on Thursday, getting introduced along with the rest of the class of 2024 ahead of the Hall of Fame Game between the Bears and Texans. She appeared thrilled to be there, decked out in Bears orange.
Misty McMichael representing Steve McMichael. pic.twitter.com/FbFNMXFAaM
— ✶ :m:𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕦𝕤 :arrow_forwards: ✶ (@_MarcusD3_) August 2, 2024
The celebration will be heading back to the Chicago area after the Hall of Fame Game. While the induction ceremony itself is taking place in Canton on Saturday, Misty will be accompanied by Hall of Fame president Jim Porter and others when Steve receives his gold jacket and bust from his home.
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Is Steve McMichael still alive?
McMichael is alive and still battling ALS, but the disease has robbed him of his mobility and the ability to take care of himself.
The 66-year-old has had some serious scares throughout his battle with ALS, including two hospitalizations this year due to multiple infections. McMichael was hospitalized in intensive care just days after he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he was fortunately able to recover and head home.
ALS typically doesn't have a notable effect on a person's ability to think and understand. While McMichael has lost most of his physical abilities, he knows he's a Pro Football Hall of Famer, and he will see himself get inducted on Saturday.
