It is a great day for Chicago Bears fandom. The 2024 Hall of Fame class was announced and two franchise icons got in. Steve “Mongo” McMichael was inducted as a senior member, finally receiving his long-overdue recognition as a member of that iconic 1985 championship team. He was joined by Devin Hester, the greatest return man in NFL history. Even Julius Peppers got in. Everybody remembers his amazing contributions as a pass rusher between 2010 and 2013. There couldn’t be a better way to kick off an important off-season than this.
For those fans who might be a little more on the superstitious side, it might also bode well for the Bears’ draft plans. In their long history, there has only been one year where the organization sent somebody to the Hall of Fame while also selecting a quarterback in the 1st round of the draft. That was in 1982. Both George Musso and Doug Atkins got their gold jackets that year. That same off-season, the Bears took a young kid out of BYU with the 5th overall pick.
His name was Jim McMahon.
Timing might be on the Chicago Bears’ side.
They hold the #1 pick in the draft this year. All signs point to them selecting a quarterback, be it Caleb Williams or somebody else. This is the best opportunity they’ve had in years to land a true franchise guy. Everybody remembers what happened with McMahon. While never perfect, his leadership and intelligence were exactly what that team needed. He was the puppeteer for a loaded roster that ended up claiming a Super Bowl championship in ’85 and made the playoffs in five straight seasons. Fans still wonder how good he might’ve been if he’d stayed healthy.
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Hester and McMichael getting into the Hall of Fame set the tone for the Chicago Bears this off-season. More than luck is needed to build a championship team, but it sure doesn’t hurt to have good vibes. Poles is a former Bears undrafted free agent. If ever there were enough signs from the universe that this might finally be the year they land a viable franchise quarterback, it’s now.
