Steve McMichael will be in attendance at the Chicago Bears 100th anniversary celebration this weekend. So to set the stage he like others have already begun to make media appearances to hype the event up. He became the latest guest on Bears All-Access on 780-WBBM with Jeff Joniak, Tom Thayer, and Jim Miller.
True to form, the man known as “Mongo” was not afraid to speak his mind on any subject. It started with a fascinating story of how McMichael used to kick in high school and college. Mike Ditka used that at one point in the Bears preseason. The big defensive tackle literally went onto the field and chased the current kicker off.
He talked about how the biggest reason the 1985 team is remembered so fondly is because of the cast of characters they had. However, the most fascinating story was saved for when McMichael detailed how he actually ended up with the Bears. Most people might not remember this, but the defensive tackle didn’t start his career in Chicago.
Steve McMichael was specifically targeted by George Halas
McMichael was a 3rd round pick of the New England Patriots in 1980. He only played in six games his first year and quickly developed a reputation for being overly aggressive in practice. By the next year, the Patriots had enough and he was cut. Uncertainty about his future was in the air as the season began without him being on a roster.
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Then he got a call from the Bears. What happened next is something he’ll never forget.
“Well I came to Chicago in ’81, six weeks into the season. George Halas still in his office, still running the team. Signed me to my first contract. I walked in and he said, ‘You don’t need no agent, son. Come on in my office.’ I walked in there and it was like walking into a 1920s gangster movie, and he was James Cagney.
You know the vernacular of the 1920s? Talked like it. You know what he said to me? He said, ‘I’ve heard what kind of dirty rat you are in practice. Don’t change, see.’ Halas wanted me to come mix it up in practice. He was tired of the lolly-gagging.”
That sounds exactly like something Halas would do. The Bears founder was always known for not being afraid to take on guys with supposed attitude problems provided they were fighters and worked hard. Doug Atkins and Ed Sprinkle were two notorious examples from previous generations. Both went to the Hall of Fame.
McMichael may not get there, but he became a Bears legend all the same. Papa Bear knew what he was doing.
