Former NFL and professional wrestling star Steve McMichael passed away on Wednesday at the age of 67 after battling ALS. The news has saddened many, including wrestling legend Ric Flair, who teamed up with McMichael as part of the Four Horsemen in 1996 and 1997. Flair expressed his grief on Twitter, referring to McMichael as his “best friend.”
The official NFL account also acknowledged McMichael’s passing. McMichael played in the NFL from 1980 to 1994 before transitioning to a career in professional wrestling from 1995 to 1999. He was a member of the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl-winning team and became a fan favorite during his time in Chicago. Throughout his NFL career, he received all-pro honors five times, including two first-team selections.
Last summer, McMichael was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Although he could not attend the ceremony in Ohio due to health reasons, several former teammates joined him at his home in the Chicago area. Among them was former Bears linebacker Mike Singletary, also a Hall of Famer.
Singletary commented on McMichael’s induction: “I’m really excited for him,” according to the Chicago Bears official site. “It’s been a long haul. It’s been tough. He’s been through a lot: blood, sweat and tears on the field, and then from the inside out, all the things that his body has gone through and his mind, all the exasperation, I’m just very thankful that this is coming to him.”
Before joining the NFL, McMichael played college football for the Texas Longhorns and earned consensus All-American honors in 1978 and 1979.
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