Steve McMichael, Bears Legend and Hall of Famer, Diagnosed With Stage 3 CTE After His Death

The football world got some grim news this week. Steve McMichael, the legendary Chicago Bears defensive tackle who was part of that iconic 1985 Super Bowl championship team, has been diagnosed with Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. The diagnosis came a year after his death at age 67, according to the Concussion & CTE Foundation.

McMichael, who went by the nickname "Mongo," was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024. He passed away last year following a five-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS. While he was still alive, McMichael made the decision to donate his brain for research, knowing the stakes of what he had experienced over his playing career.

A Life of Impact, a Legacy of Warning

CTE is a degenerative brain disease that's been found in people who played contact sports like football and experienced repetitive head trauma. It causes cognitive decline, depression, and violent mood swings. The thing is, CTE can only be diagnosed after death. That's why McMichael's decision to donate his brain matters so much.

McMichael was a five-time All-Pro who spent 13 of his 15 NFL seasons with the Bears. He was a first-team All-Pro on that famed 1985 Bears defense that powered the franchise's only Super Bowl championship run. He was the real deal.

The Bigger Picture

McMichael's wife, Misty, released a statement about the diagnosis: "By sharing Steve's diagnosis, we want to raise awareness of the clear connection between CTE and ALS. Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death. I donated Steve's brain to inspire new research into the link between them."

That connection is real. According to a 2021 study led by Harvard Medical School and the Boston University CTE Center, NFL players are more than four times more likely to develop ALS compared to the general male population. It's a sobering statistic that underscores the long-term cost of the game at the highest level.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.