Tag Archives: green bay packers

College Football HoF, NFL, Pro Football HoF, University of Texas

McMichael, Steve ‘Mongo’ (1957-2025)

CARDS: Action Packed 1990, Skybox 1992, Gameday 1991, University of Texas Upper Deck 2011
ACQUIRED: IP 1993, CGA Youth Golf Tournament. TTM 2012, C/o Home
SENT: 6/24/12 RECEIVED: 7/14/12 (20 Days)

CAREER SNAPSHOT:

  • Steve McMichael played DL at the University of Texas from 1976-’79.
  • He set the college’s career records for most tackles (369) and sacks (30) and was named the Hula Bowl MVP in 1979.
  • Selected in the third round of the 1980 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.
  • Had a quiet rookie season, recording only 5 tackles.
  • Released and signed with the Bears in 1981 and quickly became a mainstay at DT/NT.
  • He’d provide solid work in the trenches as a technically sound run stopper and pass rusher over 13 seasons.
  • McMichael also notched over 10 sacks 3 times in his career along the way.
  • Started a team record 191 consecutive games.
  • Key contributor to the Bears solid efforts to win Super Bowl XX in 1985, ironically against his ex team- the Patriots.
  • McMichael played a final season across the lake in Green Bay before retiring in 1994.
  • Had 3 career safeties.
  • After football, pursued a career in Pro Wrestling, adopting the name “Mongo” and coming in under the WCW banner.
  • Mongo would have a much publicized wrestling career and even took on other former pro football players such as Kevin Greene and Reggie White.
  • Wrestled under different banners and groups through 1999.
  • Returned to the sport briefly again in 2008 as a referee in TNA Wrestling.
  • Since that time, Steve spent time doing pre-game commentary for Bears games.
  • Coached the Chicago Slaughter of the CIFL from 2007-’13.
  • Went 14-0 in 2009 as the Slaughter won the CIFL Championship.
  • Finished with a 58-34 record.
  • Steve’s health began to decline, and in 2021, he announced he was fighting ALS- a CTE complication suspected from his physical career playing football.

ACCOLADES:

  • College Football Hall of Fame
  • Pro Football Hall of Fame
  • WCW Heavyweight Champion 1997

NOTES:

I initially got Steve’s autograph when he was riding around with Earnest Byner during the CGA Youth Golf Tournament in 1993. Steve and Ray Childress were my favorite defensive linemen when I was a kid, so to meet both of them during my younger years was quite a treat to me. I had already gotten back around to Ray, and had been looking for a good excuse to write Steve again, so when the University of Texas Upper Deck 2011 set came out, I thought I had the best justification to do so, and put 3 cards in the mail.

Well, I’m guessing Steve didn’t have his UT Upper Deck All American card or his All Time Alumni card as he kept those. Still the fact that he signed his base set card, was what I really wanted most, so to just get only one back from him was fine by me.

Mike Ditka called McMichael the toughest player he ever coached.  Now let me stress that again… Mike Ditka called him that.

My strange connection to Mongo is that while I was working at a used video game store back in ’97, his ex-wife’s best friend was my boss. I eavesdropped on one too many conversations back then.

Steve appears in both Tecmo Bowl and Tecmo Super Bowl on the NES.

EPITAPH:

4/23/25- Shortly after arriving at hospice in Joliet, IL, Steve passed away at the age of 67 from ALS.

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NFL

Joyner, Seth

Card: Action Packed 1992
Acquired: In Person, Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp 1993, West Chester, PA.

I got Seth’s autograph on my trip to Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp back in 1993 at West Chester, PA.

A dominant linebacker who could enforce the run as well as play the pass, Seth Joyner was drafted in the 8th round of the 1986 draft and played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers and Denver Broncos over a 13 year career.  A three time Pro Bowl selection (1991,93, and 94) he was also runner up for the AP NFL defensive player of the year in 1991, and the SI NFL player of the year that same year. After winning Superbowl XXXIII with the Denver Broncos he retired as a member of 20/20 club. A rare breed of linebacker that has at least 20 picks and 20 sacks in their career. (Rickey Jackson, a member of this club was just inducted into the HoF in 2010.) Since retiring to Arizona Seth has become an avid golfer and does NFL analysis work for a variety of networks on the radio and on TV and continues to be beloved by the Eagles’ faithful.

NFL

Favre, Brett

Cards:  Action Packed Rookies 1991
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre is the definition of a gunslinger and has left a lasting legacy on the NFL with an inhuman 285 consecutive starts. He played his best statistical season (2009) with the Vikings almost returning to the Superbowl. Favre at the time of this post (2009 season) is #1 in wins (181), completions (6083), passing yards (69329), passing touchdowns (497), and also notably interceptions (317). He triumphed over injury (intestinal injury from car wreck) before being drafted in the second round by then Jerry Glanville of the Atlanta Falcons (-who actually thought Brett was crazy) from Southern Mississippi where he played with wide receiver Michael Jackson. After his rookie season in 1991, the Falcons traded him to the Packers (as Glanville claims) to sober him up. The change was good for him, as he quickly took over for local legend Don Majkowski, and never relinquished the starting role until he was traded to the Jets in 2007. In his career with the Packer faithful, Brett led them to two consecutive Superbowls (XXX, XXXI) winning Superbowl XXXI, being named NFL MVP 1995-1997, 9 Pro Bowl nominations and a variety of achievements along the way.  Brett has a cannon for an arm, (breaking 8 different fingers on receiver Antonio Freeman’s hands,) a love for the game, and an insatiable desire to win.

Favre however, battled inner demons most of his Packer career. Over his playing time, he was wracked by alcoholism, painkiller addictions, hurricane Katrina destroyed his family home, his wife was diagnosed with breast cancer, and his father who had a strong influence on his life passed away during the 2003 season. His wife recovered and somehow he made it through all of these personal tragedies. Favre retired regrettably and prematurely in 2007, creating an uncomfortable rift between him and the Packers, when Brett returned to camp unexpectedly. Brett was traded to the Jets and played one subpar season with them in 2008 and then retired again, but was coaxed out of retirement for another run with the Minnesota Vikings, riling the Packer faithful. He played his best season in his career in 2009, having his best statistical season and leading the Vikings to the NFC championship game. Brett Favre announced his retirement again on August 3rd, 2010, (at the age of 40) possibly due to a lingering ankle injury that he felt had not fully healed. He promptly unretired after a visit from players at his home on the 17th of that month, ending his 4th and shortest retirement from football, but would retire finally once again after the 2010 season.

Brett is a character and has many memorable moments and interesting trivia about his career. Once he bet Jerry Glanville 100.00 that he could throw the football into the upper deck of Fulton County Stadium. (Brett won.) He missed the team photo in 1991 because as Brett claimed, “There was a car wreck.” Jerry Glanville responded,”You are a car wreck.”  When the Falcons traded him to the Packers, the Packers could have failed Brett’s physical, as he was diagnosed with the same hip condition as Bo Jackson, but Ron Wolf, (Packers GM) overruled. Brett completed his first career pass- to himself. The ball was deflected and he caught it for a -7 loss. He was actually booed by fans during first home contest who started chanting for Ty Detmer, (Favre’s backup) to come into the game. Favre has thrown an interception in his final attempt for every team he has played for (Vikings, Packers, Falcons, and Jets). Brett has a penchant for butt slapping- extremely hard- to motivate players.  Brett in early 2010, became the first ever grandfather in the NFL.

I sent off for Brett’s autograph after hearing Ron Wolf talking Brett up on the radio as the team’s QB of the future. The request represents the epitome of what methodology I used at the time of collecting autographs at the time- to draft my own future prospects. To show my friend Josh what a fiend I had become collecting autographs through the mail, I had Brett sign two cards, and return one to Josh TTM also. Favre is a great example of somebody who’s autograph has changed over the years, as his ‘B’ and ‘E’ have become more detached, looped, and more stylized.

Games 289    Att 9811      Comp 6083        Yds 69329
Td 497       Int 317         Rat 86.4