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Cole Kmet shares love for Steve McMichael on Hall of Fame induction day originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The “opportunity” to play in the Hall of Fame game is usually not a welcome one for NFL players. It means an extra preseason game for players trying to stay healthy and cutting vacations short to report to training camp one week early.
The Bears had three former players enshrined in Canton this weekend, though, so the team got to enjoy history that hit closer to home in addition to the exhibition game. For Cole Kmet, who grew up in Arlington Heights, a highlight included learning more about his dad’s favorite player, Steve McMichael.
“I guess Hampton was the good-looking guy.. obviously Richard Dent had all the sacks… but McMichael was just kind of the lunch pail guy in the middle,” Kmet said. “A grinder that brought a ton of attitude. He always was drawn to that, so that was pretty cool to hear.”
McMichael, nicknamed “Mongo,” was a colorful character and key cog on the 1985 Bears Super Bowl champion team. He initially joined the Bears as a free agent in 1981 and developed into one of the most dominant defensive tackles in franchise history.
Once McMichael made his Bears debut, he played in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games for the team. In those 191 career games with the team, he notched 92.5 sacks, which ranks second all-time in franchise history. Only Dent has more sacks in a Bears uniform, with 124.5.
In addition to all the sacks, McMichael recovered 16 fumbles, forced 12 more, and intercepted two passes. His 12 forced fumbles are the sixth-most in Bears history and his 16 fumble recoveries are tied for seventh-most with Brian Urlacher. McMichael has another Bears record all to himself, too: his three safeties top the franchise leaderboard.
McMichael earned Pro Bowl bids twice and was twice named a First-Team All-Pro. After he left the Bears in 1993, McMichael played one more season for the Packers, in…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/cole-kmet-shares-love-steve-205933579.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2024-08-03 20:59:33
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