Former Bears CB Michael Richardson Arrested on Murder Charge

Former Chicago Bears cornerback Michael Richardson was arrested Wednesday in Arizona and charged with murder, misconduct involving weapons and a felony warrant.

According to Salma Reyes of the Arizona Republic, Richardson is the suspect in the shooting death of 47-year-old Ronald Like on Tuesday.

Richardson, 59, spent seven seasons in the NFL from 1983 to 1989 and was a starting cornerback on the vaunted 1985 Bears defense, which carried Chicago to its first and only Super Bowl victory.

After a standout collegiate career at Arizona State that saw him register 18 interceptions in four seasons and ultimately landed him in the Sun Devil Sports Hall of Fame, Richardson was selected in the second round of the 1983 NFL draft by the Bears.

He was an instant starter for the Bears and went on to spend one season with the San Francisco 49ers at the end of his career after a six-year stint in Chicago.

Richardson appeared in 91 regular-season games, making 80 starts, and registered 20 interceptions, including a career-high seven in 1986. He also had three interceptions in nine playoff games and started all three postseason games during the Bears' run to the Super Bowl in 1985, including Super Bowl XX.

Richardson was part of the Niners team that won the Super Bowl in 1989 as well, although he appeared in only three games that season. 

ESPN reported in 2010 that Richardson had been convicted on 21 drug-related charges, including five felonies during a 16-year period. He was sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2008, but the sentence was cut by more than 10 years.