ARLINGTON, Texas – The Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic proudly salutes its newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the announcement of former Texas defensive tackle Steve McMichael and former Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis as members of the Class of 2024.
 
The Hall of Fame revealed its latest group of honorees on Feb. 8 during festivities leading to Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas. With McMichael and Willis, the Classic's Hall of Fame roster grows to 36 alumni who have been honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame either as players, coaches or administrators. This year's Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony is set for Aug. 3, in Canton, Ohio.
 
At Texas, McMichael earned the nickname "Bam-Bam" as a hard-hitting defender for the Longhorns. He played a key role in No. 1 Texas rolling through the 1977 regular-season unbeaten and earning a berth in the 42nd Cotton Bowl Classic opposite Notre Dame. Two years later, he became a unanimous All-America selection during the 1979 season and departed Texas as the Longhorns' all-time tackle leader.
 
McMichael was drafted in the third round of the 1980 NFL draft by the New England Patriots but played 13 of his 15 professional seasons with the Chicago Bears. A member of the Bears' vaunted "46" defense, he helped anchor a tenacious Chicago defense that dominated New England 46-10 in Super Bowl XX to conclude the 1985 season.
 
"Mongo," as he later became known with the Bears, set a franchise record for consecutive games played with 191. He led the Bears in quarterback sacks seven times and was a five-time All-Pro selection. He is the fourth Bears' defensive player from that Super Bowl winning team to reach the Hall of Fame.
 
McMichael was honored with his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.
 
Willis was a freshman when Ole Miss knocked off Oklahoma State 31-28 in the 68th Cotton Bowl Classic to wrap up the 2003 season. He played in all 13 games for the Rebels as a freshman and then came of age the following year to lead Ole Miss in tackles as a sophomore. He topped the Southeastern Conference tackle chart as a junior and senior.
 
Willis earned first-team All-America honors twice during his Ole Miss career and as a senior was presented the Dick Butkus and Jack Lambert awards as college football's outstanding linebacker.
 
The 11th overall pick in the first-round of the 2007 NFL Draft by the San Francisco 49ers, Willis launched his pro football career with a bang, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He started all 16 of the 49ers' games during his rookie season, recorded 174 tackles and earned first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors.
 
Willis was named first-team All-Pro six times during his eight-year NFL career and participated in Super Bowl XLVII. Willis was San Francisco's first player in franchise history to be selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons. He retired from pro football following the 2014 season.
 
Willis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2019.
 
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