Chicago Bears legend Steve McMichael officially inducted into Hall of Fame from his Homer Glen home

HOMER GLEN, Ill. (WLS) -- Chicago Bears legend Steve "Mongo" McMichael was officially inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday morning with a special delivery.

Hall of Fame President Jim Porter traveled to McMichael's home in Homer Glen to present the former Bears star defensive tackle with his gold jacket and bust as part of the Class of 2024's enshrinement ceremony.

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ABC7 has learned this is the first time the Hall of Fame has made a house call with a ceremony like this, away from Canton, Ohio.

An ESPN camera recorded the private ceremony. ABC7 will share that video in our newscast at 5 p.m.

McMichael is bedridden with ALS and unable to travel. Many of his loved ones have said they believe he has beaten the odds to survive long enough to see this, they come. And it was quite a moving, but private, celebration inside.

READ MORE | Misty McMichael reflects on emotional journey ahead of Mongo's Hall of Fame induction

Porter flew in with McMichael's wife Misty, their daughter Macy and HOF former Bears teammates Richard Dent and Jimbo Covert.

"You can see it in his eyes, but more than anything you can feel it in your heart," Dent said.

McMichael was inducted sometime before 10 a.m.

"Really emotional time in there for everybody," Covert said. "But just so glad he was able to be here for it"

The group immediately flew back to Canton in order to make it back in time for the ceremony.

"There's probably nobody more deserving of induction into the hall," retired Bear Tom Thayer said. "This was not a pity selection. It's a deserving selection."

McMichael, a big supporter of first responders, got a special performance by The Emerald Society Bagpipe Corps outside his window. His wife said anticipation of this day has been motivation that has kept McMichael alive.

"If you're going into the Hall of Fame, you need to be alive to see it," Misty said. "And I am so happy that he has stretched his time with us. He got two-to-five years seven years ago."

Two other former Bears, Devin Hester and Julius Peppers, were inducted at the ceremony in Ohio.

READ MORE | Bears' Devin Hester rewrote NFL record book with spectacular returns; now he goes into Hall of Fame

He had to wait 30 years but McMichael becomes the seventh member of the '85 Bears Super Bowl team to get into the Hall of Fame, including coach Mike Ditka.

"He's a fighter, a battler," teammate Ron Rivera said. "The struggle he's going through epitomizes who he is."

Neighbors and fans gathered outside the home meantime get to see Bears legends coming in and out of the house, some even getting autographs. For the players it is a special time.

"This is just the cream on top. Doesn't get much better than this," Hall of Famer Mike Singletary said.

Many more former Chicago Bear players who came for the special ceremony spoke to ABC7 outside of McMichael's house.

"It's a privilege and honor to be down here to respect an honor him," said former Bear Mike Hartenstein. "What a great achievement and well deserved.

"You think back to all the times that you spent out there on the field in practice and just being around one another - man it was great feeling it was great time," said former Bear Jim Osobrne. "We were all young energetic, our bodies didn't ache."

Another celebration was held Thursday in Chicago ahead of McMichael's induction. Meanwhile, the Chicago Bears played in the Hall of Fame Game Thursday in Canton, Ohio.

Fans played a big role in McMichael's selection to the Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame officials said they got more letters and support of McMichael than any other player ever, and Bears fans everywhere are celebrating Saturday.

An All-Pro defensive tackle in 1985 and 1987, McMichael played in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games from 1981 to 1993 and ranks second to Richard Dent on the Bears' all-time sacks list with 92 1/2. His final NFL season was with Green Bay in 1994.

Whether he was terrorizing opponents or discussing the Bears on sports talk radio, the man known as "Ming The Merciless" and "Mongo" after the character in "Blazing Saddles" who knocked out a horse remained a prominent presence in Chicago long after his playing days ended. He also spent five years in professional wrestling in the late 1990s.

McMichael's brash personality and willingness to say whatever was on his mind made him a natural for professional wrestling. It also got him ejected from a Cubs game in 2001 for calling out home plate umpire Angel Hernandez during the seventh-inning stretch.

He began working for World Championship Wrestling at the height of the "Monday Night Wars" with the World Wrestling Federation, starting as a color commentator and later joining Ric Flair in the "Four Horsemen" group.

McMichael was born in Houston and starred at Texas from 1976-79, becoming a consensus first-team All-American as a senior. He entered the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

McMichael became one of the most feared players on what might be the greatest defense ever assembled. With Hall of Famers Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary, Dent and McMichael, the 1985 Bears demolished just about everyone in their path on the way to the franchise's lone Super Bowl championship.

He played 15 years in the NFL - 13 with Chicago. Now, McMichael got one more moment of glory.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.