Ric Flair Champions Steve McMichael's Induction into Hall of Fame
Ric Flair, the legendary wrestling champion, is championing the cause for his close friend Steve McMichael's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He's surprised that more people haven't been advocating for McMichael's induction for some time.
"You've gotta talk about Mongo," Flair firmly told WGN News Now, referring to the recent discussion about potential candidates for the Class of 2024. "Let's forget about talking about first ballot, let's get a guy that might live another six months, let's talk about him."
Flair's push comes as McMichael, the former Chicago Bears defensive tackle, is battling ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. McMichael has made it to the final 12 of the Seniors Committee's list for potential enshrinement in the Class of 2024. On August 22, the committee will decide on up to three finalists for a full vote early next year. The past year saw all three finalists from the Seniors Committee make it to the Hall of Fame.
Flair argues that McMichael's induction is a no-brainer, pointing to the player's stats, which are comparable to Hall of Famer Warren Sapp's, and his contributions to the famed Bears' defense of the mid-to-late 1980s. McMichael was a crucial part of the team's 4-6 scheme and was a two-time first-team NFL All-Pro and two-time Pro Bowl selection during his time in Chicago, which spanned 13 of his 15 seasons in the NFL.
Flair emphasized the urgency of the situation given McMichael's battle with ALS, which has been progressing since his diagnosis in January 2021.
"You can put a price on how important it is," said Flair about McMichael's Hall of Fame induction. "I'll tell you right now, I would be very disappointed and I would look at the Hall of Fame in a whole different light."
