All three former Bears up for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame are set to receive the prestigious honor, sources have confirmed to the Chicago Sun-Times. The official announcement is slated to take place Thursday at the NFL Honors ceremony at Resorts World in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Among the illustrious trio is legendary defensive tackle Steve “Mongo” McMichael, whose long-awaited induction comes after nearly two decades of anticipation. McMichael, a central figure of the iconic 1985 Bears championship team, has remained a beloved figure among the Bears faithful.

Despite battling ALS, his indomitable spirit, outlandish personality, and fearless play have solidified his legacy as one of the most revered players in franchise history. McMichael, 66, spent 15 seasons in the NFL, 13 of which were with the Bears. His remarkable career saw him earn All-Pro honors twice and second-team All-Pro recognition twice. With 92 1/2 sacks, McMichael ranks second in franchise history, and his 814 tackles place him third.

Joining McMichael in the Hall of Fame class is electric return man Devin Hester, who will be enshrined on his third attempt. Hester, 41, etched his name in NFL history by setting the record for career special teams touchdowns in the regular season, with an impressive tally of 20.

Among his notable achievements is the unforgettable opening kickoff return for a 92-yard touchdown during Super Bowl XLI. Hester's electrifying presence as a return specialist earned him three All-Pro selections. Additionally, his versatility was showcased on offense, where he contributed 3,427 yards and 17 touchdowns primarily as a wide receiver.

The third inductee, nine-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers, solidifies his place among football's elite with his enshrinement. While Peppers, 44, spent the majority of his 17-year career with the Carolina Panthers, his impact during his four seasons with the Bears was undeniable. Amassing 37 1/2 sacks in Chicago, Peppers was a dominant force on the defensive front, earning All-Pro honors in 2010. His remarkable career total of 159 1/2 sacks ranks fourth in NFL history, further underscoring his status as one of the game's most prolific pass rushers.

Devin Hester's Greatest Moments with the Chicago Bears

1. Super Bowl XLI Opening Kickoff Return: Hester etched his name in Super Bowl lore with his electrifying 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to open Super Bowl XLI against the Indianapolis Colts. The iconic play set the tone for the game and remains one of the most memorable moments in Super Bowl history.

2. NFL Record for Career Special Teams Touchdowns: Hester's dynamic playmaking ability as a return specialist propelled him to set the NFL record for career special teams touchdowns in the regular season. With 20 touchdowns to his name, Hester's impact on special teams was unparalleled.

3. Three-Time All-Pro Selection: Hester's excellence as a return specialist was recognized with three All-Pro selections during his tenure with the Bears. His ability to change the momentum of a game with his electrifying returns made him a feared weapon on special teams.

4. Versatility on Offense: In addition to his prowess as a return specialist, Hester showcased his versatility on offense. With 3,427 yards and 17 touchdowns as a wide receiver, he proved to be a valuable asset in multiple facets of the game.

Another trade deadline of watching the Bulls sit on their hands in the forecast …

The NBA trade deadline is this afternoon and if you believe — among a few credible reporters — Darnell Mayberry, don’t get too excited about the Bulls making any moves.

“Little is expected from the Bulls ahead of Thursday’s deadline. Three of Chicago’s best players, LaVine, Williams, and Lonzo Ball, are injured. The Bulls don’t own a trove of draft picks. And there’s not a line of teams rushing to trade for DeRozan and Vučević,” Mayberry wrote in a column this week at The Athletic.

I wrote about it on Monday, and the exciting comeback victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night did nothing to change it: the Bulls need to begin the process of trading players so that they can earn some future assets.

The plan that Artūras Karnišovas put together three years ago is a sunk dream, and there’s no sense in trying to use a sloppy game that showed nothing other than some resiliency to justify trying to compete with this roster.

Even Billy Donovan said on Tuesday night that the Bulls win was no way to live:

“I don’t want to take away the way they’re fighting and competing and battling as a group,” Donovan said. “But it’s been two games where it’s a hard way to live.

“It’s hard to win games like that.”

It’s a refreshing change of pace for Bulls fans starved of a reason to cheer. but it’s not a winning formula. If Karnišovas is okay with that, he’s not the right guy for the job.

Making the Play-In Tournament and a first-round playoff exit the immediate priority over greater long-term success is a loser mentality that only looks good in the box office. The Reinsdorfs love that, but as we’re well aware if the Reinsdorfs love it, it’s probably a good way to make money, even at the expense of winning.

Yesterday’s Best

CHICAGO BEARS

• Seahawks wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba had some nice things to say about Shane Waldron on Wednesday, it just took him a while to get there. For what it’s worth: I’m not overly concerned about the potential that a rookie WR3 who ended up getting 90-plus targets last season isn’t a huge fan of Waldron.

• ICYMI: Thoughts on Roger Goodell, the 49ers practice field qualms, and Ben Johnson’s D.C. snafu.

CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS

• It’s official! The Blackhawks will host the 2025 NHL Winter Classic next January at Wrigley Field.

CHICAGO BULLS

• Eli opines whether or not a deal that would send DeMar DeRozan to Philadelphia makes sense for the Bulls.

• But of course, that hypothetical might not matter:

CHICAGO CUBS

• Jeff Passan guesses that the Cubs will land one of Scott Boras’ clients, but maybe not the one we assumed.

• J.D. Martinez connected to the Cubs with the ole “keep an eye out for” them thing.

• I can not wait for Spring Training to start so that we can be done with these speculative superlatives.

What’s on deck?

The Bulls are in Memphis tonight to take on the Grizzles. Tip-off is set for 7 PM CT.