NFL Hall of Famer Steve McMichael has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy a year after his death, the Concussion & CTE Foundation has revealed.
McMichael – a key member of the dominating defense that helped the 1985 Chicago Bears win the Super Bowl – died on April 23 last year at the age of 67, after a five-year battle with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
‘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.
Chicago Bears legend Steve McMichael has been diagnosed with CTE a year on from his death
The Super Bowl champion had been moved into hospice care shortly before his death at 67
Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, said about 6% of individuals with CTE in the brain bank also have ALS.
‘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 92.5.
McMichael played his final NFL season with Green Bay in 1994 and then went on to a career in pro wrestling.
McMichael’s wife, Misty, poses with his bust during the 2024 enshrinement ceremony
McMichael was the most feared player on one of the greatest defenses in NFL history
The Hall of Fame ex-defensive linebacker bravely went public with his ALS diagnosis in 2021
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.’
