(670 The Score) Three Bears legends were enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.
Defensive lineman Steve “Mongo” McMichael, returner Devin Hester and defensive end Julius Peppers were recognized for their greatness and awarded with their gold jackets and bronze busts as they joined a storied class of the greatest of all time to play football.
The most emotional scene of the day came Saturday morning in McMichael’s home in Homer Glen, where the devastating ALS disease has confined him to his bed and prevented him from traveling. Hall of Fame president Jim Porter flew to Homer Glen, and McMichael was enshrined in his home while surrounded by his wife, Misty, and plenty of family and friends from the 1985 Bears. Among the Bears teammates present were fellow Hall of Famers Richard Dent and Mike Singletary.
Later in the afternoon, McMichael’s at-home enshrinement ceremony was then played back on the big screen at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio, where the rest of the class was being inducted.
Jarrett Payton – the son of Bears legend Walter and whom McMichael considers to be family – was McMichael’s presenter. McMichael’s sister, Kathy, also shared a speech on his behalf.
A star defensive tackle who played for the Bears from 1981-'93 amid his 15-year NFL career, McMichael is best known for his role in the middle of Chicago’s dominant defense in the team's 1985 Super Bowl-winning season. McMichael recorded 95 career sacks, including 92.5 sacks over 191 games with the Bears, and he earned first-team All-Pro honors in 1985 and 1987.
An 11-year NFL veteran, Hester is the NFL's all-time leader in return touchdowns with 20, including 14 punt return touchdowns. He was selected by the Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft and played eight seasons for Chicago. Hester recorded 19 of his record 20 return touchdowns with the Bears.
Peppers was a nine-time Pro Bowl selection who posted 159.5 sacks over 17 NFL seasons, including four years with the Bears from 2010-’13. He recorded 37.5 sacks over 64 games in Chicago. Peppers also played 10 seasons with the Panthers and three seasons with the Packers.
With the additions of Hester, Peppers and McMichael, the Bears now have 40 members of their franchise in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.