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McMichael grateful for his Hall of Fame honor
Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve “Mongo” McMichael realized a life-long dream when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 3.
Suffering from the ravages of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), which is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, McMichael is unable to walk or talk.
A member of the Fred Mitchell Award selection committee since 2009, McMichael was considered the glue to the vaunted 1985 Super Bowl XX champion Bears defense. That defense included Hall of Famers Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary and Richard Dent.
McMichael’s sister, Kathy, read a brief speech on behalf of Mongo that was heard by the crowd assembled at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
“Chicago Bears fans and Mongo fans. Woohoo, I’m in the Hall of Fame, baby!” she read. “I want to thank the Hall of Fame, the Senior Selection Committee, the Chicago […]
Ottawa’s Reeves 2023 Fred Mitchell Award winner
The road to glory and success often includes a few potholes and detours.
Landon Reeves of Ottawa University in Arizona has experienced that journey on the way to winning the 2023 Fred Mitchell Award as the best kicker among more than 750 non-FBS colleges in America.
Landon Reeves is […]
Pro Football Hall of Fame writer named to Fred Mitchell Award panel
Esteemed veteran pro football writer Dan Pompei has been added to the Selection Committee of the Fred Mitchell Award.
“It is an honor and a privilege,” said Pompei, who is a member of the writers’ wing of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Now a senior writer for The Athletic, Pompei previously wrote for the Chicago Tribune, Chicago […]
Former NFL star writes about travails of pioneering black players
The history of African Americans in professional football is a complicated, alarming, and yet remarkable journey that warrants detailed research and analysis.
Gary Burley, a former outstanding defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons, has made it his mission to chronicle those often-overlooked chapters in a new book entitled: “Glory: The Struggle For Yards.” It is written with acclaimed […]
Ethan Gettman’s 56-yard field goal “would have been good from 65”
Chris Merritt, head football coach at Bryant University, realizes he has a tremendous weapon in 2022 Fred Mitchell Award winner Ethan Gettman.
Gettman, from Ormond Beach, Fla., led the nation (FCS) in field goal percentage (93.3) in addition to booming a school-record 56-yard field goal last season as a junior.
“I think this football team and this coaching staff has a tremendous […]