Today's installment of Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff brings us just 76 days away from the start of the 2023 season, meaning that today will feature the best player in franchise history to wear the number 76, Super Bowl Champion defensive tackle Steve McMichael.
Steve McMichael's path to the Chicago Bears
Hailing originally from Houston, Texas, Stephen McMichael and his family moved to Freer Texas before McMichael's enrollment in Freer High School. In school, McMichael lettered in multiple sports, including football, baseball, basketball, track and field, tennis, and golf. Of all his sports endeavors in high school, baseball may have been McMichael's favorite and best, but despite offers to join the St. Louis Cardinal's system out of high school, the multi-sport athlete chose to continue at the University of Texas, where he would join the school's football team.
At Texas, McMichael was a dominant force on the team's defensive line. A four-year letterman, McMichael was selected as a unanimous first-team All-American as a senior, earned two first-team All-Conference nods, and finished his collegiate career as the school's all-time sack and tackle leader with 30 and 369, respectively. McMichael even served early in his career as a part-time kicker, making 10 out of 14 total attempts as a freshman for 14 total points.
Following a standout career at Texas, McMichael entered the 1980 NFL Draft, where he was selected by the New England Patriots with the 73rd overall pick during the third round. With the Patriots, McMichael played in just six games as a rookie, and after logging just five total tackles as a rookie, McMichael was released from New England following his first season.