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Chicago Bears Praised For Decision On Steve McMichael Tribute

Originally posted on The Spun | By Tzvi Machlin | Last updated Jul 30, 2025 2:45 PM ET

2025 has seen the Chicago Bears lose two legends in their franchise's storied history, defensive lineman Steve McMichael and owner Virginia McCaskey-Halas. The team intends to honor both of them this year.

This week the Bears announced that they will be honoring both McMichael and McCaskey in a variety of ways.

For McMichael, who was a key player on the 1985 Bears, the team will wear a No. 76 decal on their helmets this season to represent his jersey number. Additionally, the No. 76 will be on the grass at Soldier Field for Bears home games this coming season.

The legend of Mongo will live on.

McMichael was one of the most dominant defensive tackles of the 80s and 90s. Over a 15-year career, 13 of those years being in Chicago, he recorded 95 sacks, 13 forced fumbles, 17 fumble recoveries and played in over 200 games.

Over his 13 years in Chicago, he was a two-time Pro Bowler and a four-time All-Pro selection.

After his football career, McMichael went into professional wrestling. He competed for five years in WCW, winning the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship in 1997.

In 2009, McMichael was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Canton came calling last year as he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Honoring Virginia Halas-McCaskey

As for the late Bears matriarch, the Bears will be wearing a football-shaped patch with her initials on their jerseys every game this season.

Speaking to the Chicago Sun-Times, Bears chairman George McCaskey said that the team will further honor his mother by following her preference of not using any throwback jerseys this season. He explained that she preferred to have the same uniforms at home and away for all games.

“She said to me many times, ‘If it were up to me, we’d have the same uniform at home and the same uniform away,’” McCaskey said. “I’m thinking, ‘Well, it is up to you, Mom.’ It’s a tribute to her than she understood and deferred to us in those choices. So we thought this would be a nice way to pay tribute to her.”

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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