Steve McMichael, a Hall of Fame defensive lineman for the 1985 Chicago Bears, was diagnosed with ALS in 2021 and disclosed his condition while continuing to support brain research on CTE, a disease that can only be definitively diagnosed after death and is linked to repetitive brain trauma.

Posthumously, McMichael’s brain was found to show chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after his death in 2025 at age 67 following a five-year ALS battle, aligning with decades of concerns about head trauma in football.

The coverage also reflects on McMichael’s legacy beyond football, including his enshrinement ceremony, ESPN contributions, and reactions from teammates and fans that frame his impact.

McMichael was known by the nicknames “Mongo,” “Ming the Merciless,” and “Ming,” and he also spent time in professional wrestling.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024, shortly before his death.

Over 15 NFL seasons, primarily with the Bears, McMichael played 191 consecutive games, logged 92.5 career sacks (second-most for the Bears), and helped the 1985 team win the Super Bowl or contribute to that era.

McMichael’s career included a final NFL season with Green Bay in 1994, followed by a transition to professional wrestling.

Bears chairman George H. McCaskey paid tribute, praising his strength and humanity and offering condolences to Misty, Macy, and the Bears community.

The NFL has acknowledged long-term brain injury risks and enacted safety measures, but debates continue about CTE rates and the effectiveness of rule changes in reducing occurrence.

There is a broader push for a reliable living-diagnosis test for CTE and clearer diagnosticcriteria, amid concerns about safety changes’ impact on CTE prevalence.

A 2023 Boston University study is cited to show high CTE prevalence among donated brains of athletes who died young, with several former NFL players diagnosed posthumously, including McMichael.

Beyond football, McMichael pursued coaching in local leagues and a pro wrestling career, including a collaboration with Lawrence Taylor for WrestleMania XI and stints with WCW.