- Steve McMichael will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on August 3
- McMichael’s wife Misty raved about his toughness while he was in intensive care
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Chicago Bears great Steve McMichael, who is battling ALS, is expected to return home Thursday after being hospitalized for the past week, longtime publicist Betsy Shepherd said.
McMichael, 66, made his ALS diagnosis public three years ago. He was admitted to the intensive care unit of a suburban hospital last Thursday with a urinary tract infection.
The family announced Saturday that he had developed MRSA, a staph infection that can be difficult to treat because it is resistant to some antibiotics, and that he underwent a blood transfusion.
On Tuesday, McMichael’s family released a statement and provided an update on his recovery. His wife, Misty McMichael, praised his toughness and asked for continued prayers.
“He’s a tough guy,” Misty said. ‘He’s Mongo and his DNA is different! Keep those prayers coming! Thank you!’
Chicago Bears legend Steve McMichael (R) is expected to return home from the hospital today
McMichael was admitted to intensive care this weekend with a urinary tract infection and staph infection
McMichael was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and will be inducted on August 3
McMichael, who controlled the interior of the line for the Bears’ famed “46 defense,” was an All-Pro during the 1985 and 1987 Super Bowl championship seasons.
He played in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games from 1981-1993 and is second behind Hall of Famer Richard Dent on the Bears’ all-time sack list with 92 1/2. His final season was with Green Bay in 1994.
Whether he was terrorizing opponents or discussing the Bears on sports radio, the man known as “Ming The Merciless” and “Mongo,” after the “Blazing Saddles” character who knocked out a horse, remained alive long after his death a prominent presence in Chicago. playing days have ended. He also spent five years in professional wrestling in the late 1990s.
Over the weekend, McMichael’s family revealed that he had begun to respond well to antibiotics for his urinary tract infection. They wrote in a statement via Mike Berman of NBC: “He is also undergoing a procedure known as thoracentesis to remove fluid from his lungs.
“Steve is expected to be released from hospital in the coming days. Continued prayers are appreciated.”
McMichael was hospitalized shortly after being elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Joining him in his class are former Bears Julius Peppers and Devin Hester. They will be installed on August 3.