Mike Hartenstine was born July 27, 1953, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and spent his youth in the Leigh Valley Region of Eastern Pennsylvania. During his time at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, he quickly found his talent and passion for football. With an impressive high school record and career, Hartenstine was a must have player for Penn State University.

Standing 6’3” and 251lbs, Hartenstine was a force to be reckoned with on the field. He was an exceptional lineman during his time at Penn State. He established himself as one of the top defensive linemen in the nation, collecting career defining accolades as his career progressed. By 1975, the end of his time as a Nittany, Hartenstine earned Consensus All-American honors and was named First-team All-East. Hartensitine was a clear force on the field that never faltered, making him a top NFL prospect at the end of his collegiate career. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the NFL Draft right as the 31st pick, behind Walter Payton.

Hartenstine’s impact on Soldier Field came just in his rookie season when he earned a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America NFL All-Rookie Team, and his 12 season career only took off from there. Hartenstine played for the Bears from 1975 to 1986, appearing in 184 games over his 12 seasons. During this time, he recorded 55 career sacks, 17 fumble recoveries, and two defensive touchdowns, including a 12-yard interception return for a touchdown in 1976. His career-high came in 1983 when he recorded 12 sacks in one season. In just one game, during a career defining performance, Hartenstine secured 3 sacks in a single game against the New Orleans Saints.

Hartenstine’s most impressive moment during his career took place during the Chicago Bears’ historic 1985 season, when they were one of the most dominant teams in the NFL at the time. Hartensine was 32 in 1985, stacking up as the oldest player on the roster. Despite this stat, he still stood as a vital player during the Bears’ Super Bowl XX victory that year when they defeated the New England Patriots 46-10. His contributions as a rotational defensive end were integral to the Bears’ success, and proved to be a cornerstone of their championship run.

In 2019, Hartenstine’s legacy was honored tenfold when he was named to the Bears’ “100 Greatest Bears of All-Time” list.

Hartenstine’s final season in the NFL was with the Minnesota Vikings in 1987. He retired after appearing in five games, concluding a 13-year NFL career with a total of 184 regular-season games and one of the most historic Chicago sports history titles to his name: the 1985 Bears Super Bowl championship title.

Off the field, Mike Hartenstine has been married to his wife, Donna, for 46 years and together, raised their three children Jill, Michael, and Beau.

Today, Hartenstine is remembered as a cornerstone of the 1985 Bears and one of the great figures in Chicagoland sports history.