(670 The Score) Bears matriarch Virginia McCaskey is a semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame under contributor consideration, while the great Steve McMichael is also among semifinalists for the senior group.
Voting will be reduced to 12 in each group in the next phase of the Hall of Fame's process.
McCaskey, who turned 100 on Jan. 5, has been the principal owner of the Bears since the passing of her father, George Halas, in 1983. She currently holds a role as the secretary of the team's board of directors.
Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue famously referred to McCaskey as the "First Lady of the NFL."
McMichael, 65, was a 15-year NFL veteran who served as a key force on the Bears' vaunted defense for their 1985 Super Bowl championship team. He spent 13 years for Chicago, plus one year in Green Bay and one in New England.
McMichael posted 95 career sacks over 213 games, including 92.5 sacks over 191 games with the Bears.
A famed personality in his post-football career, McMichael was diagnosed with ALS in April of 2021. He resides locally in the Chicago suburbs and continues to battle the disease, for which there is known cure.
The late Clark Shaugnessy, a defensive coordinator for the Bears from 1951-'62, is also a semifinalist under the coaches/contributors category.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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