Ex-Bears coach shares the epic welcome Mongo gave him at his first training camp

According to a source who spoke with NBC5 Chicago, Steve “Mongo” McMichael will eventually be

inducted into the Hall of Fame on Thursday night.

This is a well-earned accolade for the defensive tackle who won the Super Bowl and set the tone for one of the most

formidable defenses in NFL history.

Although McMichael gave Chicago Bears coach Dave Wannstedt a warm welcome upon his arrival,

Mongo was a tough opponent on the football field. Wannstedt will never forget that, in 1993, after he won his first game as head coach,

Mongo gave him a game ball.

Wannstedt spoke warmly about a period during his first training camp as head coach,

when McMichael looked after not only him but the whole Bears coaching staff.

This was discussed in a recent episode of the Under Center Podcast.

Our third week of two-a-days with full pads and no days off for players, coaches, or anybody else was underway.

After practice, Mongo and Keith Van Horne approached me and said, “Coach, can we talk to you?”

“Sure, what’s up?” I asked. “Coach, we’re approaching our third consecutive week of practicing twice a day,

with full pads in the morning and afternoon.” “You know what guys, I didn’t really give it much thought,” I exclaimed.

Let’s practice well tonight, I promise, and then we may go no curfew. I’ll give everybody off.’”

The Bears did have that good practice and Wannstedt kept his word.

“There’s one bar that you can’t go to in Platteville: the American Legion downtown. That’s the coaches’ bar.

Stay outta there. Go anywhere else. I don’t care if you drive back to Chicago.

Don’t go, that’s what we’re going to be. I’m going to be there.

“And sure enough, after practice, we see the video. All of the staff members pile into cars and head down there.

Who’s sitting at the bar with his tiny puppy when we walk in? Mongo. He gives me a quick glance and a smile as I go in.

He gulps down his beer—I recall this as though it were yesterday—and digs into his pocket.

Bear in mind that, at the American Legion in 1993 or 1994, a draft beer was likely only twenty cents.

Perhaps a quarter”Take care of these coaches,” he says, reaching into his pocket to slap 100.

“I believe our men stayed up late drinking for that 100. The best was him.

The NFL Honors presentation on Thursday night will feature the official announcement of the 2024 NFL Hall of Fame class.