04/07/26 07:03:00
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04/07 07:00 CDT Researchers say Bears Hall of Famer Steve McMichael had CTE. He
died in 2025 after fighting ALS
Researchers say Bears Hall of Famer Steve McMichael had CTE. He died in 2025
after fighting ALS
By JIMMY GOLEN
AP Sports Writer
BOSTON (AP) --- Hall of Famer Steve McMichael, a key member of the dominating
defense that helped the 1985 Chicago Bears win the Super Bowl, has been
diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the Concussion & CTE
Foundation said.
McMichael died last year at 67 after a five-year battle with ALS.
"Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE
after death," his wife, Misty McMichael, said in a statement released by the
foundation. "I donated Steve's brain to inspire new research into the link
between them."
CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in athletes in contact
sports, combat veterans and others exposed to repetitive head trauma. It has
been known to cause violent mood swings, impulsive behavior and depression.
It can only be diagnosed after death.
According to a 2021 study by the Harvard Medical School and the Boston
University CTE Center, NFL players are more than four times more likely to
develop ALS than other men. Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University
CTE Center, said about 6% of individuals with CTE in the brain bank also have
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
"There is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS," McKee said.
A two-time All-Pro and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, McMichael was
known as "Mongo" and "Ming The Merciless" while playing in a franchise-record
191 consecutive games from 1981-93. He ranks second to Richard Dent on the
Bears' career sacks list with 92 1/2.
McMichael played his final NFL season with Green Bay in 1994, and then went on
to a career in pro wrestling.
In 2021, McMichael revealed he was battling ALS, which affects nerve cells in
the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. He followed the
research seeking a link between ALS and CTE and pledged his brain to be
studied, according to Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion &
CTE Foundation.
"Steve McMichael was known for his strength, toughness, and larger-than-life
presence, but his final act was to give a piece of himself back to the sports
community so that we might have a chance to save ourselves," Nowinski said. "I
appreciate all the former athletes, including many of Steve's '85 Bears
teammates, who are raising funds and volunteering to participate in CTE
research so we can create a brighter future for athletes everywhere."
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