Chicago Bears Icon Steve “Mongo” McMichael Diagnosed with CTE After Passing
The family of former Chicago Bears defensive lineman confirmed a posthumous CTE diagnosis on Tuesday. McMichael died April 23, 2025, after nearly a five-year fight with ALS.
Chicago Bears Icon Steve “Mongo” McMichael Diagnosed with CTE After Passing was the headline shared by his widow, Misty. She said the family hopes the news will boost research and public awareness.
Family aims and wishes
Misty McMichael said her husband wanted his brain studied after he died. The family believes examining his brain could illuminate links between ALS and CTE.
She noted concern about multiple former NFL players who develop ALS during life and show CTE after death. The family hopes this encourages further funding for research.
Expert findings and context
Dr. Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, commented on the diagnosis. He cited epidemiological studies showing higher ALS risk among NFL players.
Nowinski said NFL players face about four times the ALS risk compared with the general public. He added that every NFL player studied with ALS also showed CTE at autopsy.
Scope of CTE in athletes
CTE can only be confirmed after death, which complicates detection during life. Nowinski warned that repetitive head impacts underlie the condition.
The Concussion Legacy Foundation has identified nearly 500 former NFL players with CTE findings. The organization reports CTE in more than 90 percent of the brains it has examined.
Calls to change youth and practice policies
Nowinski urged a national discussion on youth sports safety. He recommended avoiding repetitive head impacts in athletes younger than 14.
He suggested flag football until high school for parents who want future tackle players. He also advised against heading the ball in soccer before high school.
Nowinski emphasized reducing contact during practice, noting most head impacts occur there rather than in games. He said sports such as rugby, soccer, and ice hockey also carry CTE risk.
McMichael’s career and legacy
McMichael was a third-round pick, No. 73 overall, in the 1980 NFL Draft. He had been a consensus All-America at the University of Texas.
The New England Patriots released him after six regular-season games. He signed with the Chicago Bears in 1981 and became a defensive mainstay.
The 6-foot-2, 270-pound tackle played a franchise-record 191 games for the Bears. He became a full-time starter at defensive tackle in 1983.
He made three consecutive All-Pro teams beginning in 1985. McMichael helped the Bears win Super Bowl XX, recording a sack in the game.
He played 13 seasons with Chicago from 1981 to 1993. His 92.5 sacks rank second in team history behind Richard Dent.
McMichael was part of six division title teams. He earned two first-team All-Pro selections and made the Pro Bowl in 1986 and 1987.
He finished his career with one season in Green Bay and retired after 1994. McMichael later appeared briefly in the WWF, and worked in World Championship Wrestling for five years.
He revealed his ALS diagnosis in 2021. In 2024, family and friends celebrated his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The family said they will continue advocating for research and safety reforms. Filmogaz.com will monitor developments and report further findings.
