Steve McMichael Diagnosed Posthumously With Stage 3 CTE

The football world is grappling with a sobering reminder of the long-term costs of the gridiron. The Concussion & CTE Foundation announced Tuesday that Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve McMichael had been diagnosed with stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The diagnosis comes months after the Chicago Bears legend passed away in April 2025 at the age of 67.

McMichael, known to fans as “Mongo” and “Ming the Merciless,” spent the final five years of his life battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The posthumous discovery of CTE provides a critical piece of the puzzle for researchers studying the intersection of repetitive head trauma and neurodegenerative diseases.

For those unfamiliar with the terminology, CTE is a degenerative brain disease found in people exposed to repeated head impacts, such as contact sport athletes and combat veterans. It is often linked to impulsive behavior, depression and violent mood swings. Crucially, it can currently only be diagnosed after death through a brain autopsy.

The Link Between CTE and ALS

The diagnosis is not just a personal tragedy for the McMichael family but a data point in a growing medical concern. Misty McMichael, Steve’s wife, donated his brain to the Boston University CTE Center to help researchers understand why so many former NFL players develop ALS during their lives, only to be diagnosed with CTE after they pass.

“Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death,” Misty McMichael said in a statement. “By sharing Steve’s diagnosis, we wish to raise awareness of the clear connection between CTE and ALS.”

Medical data supports this concern. A 2021 study conducted by NBC News reports that researchers from Harvard Medical School and the Boston University CTE Center found NFL players are more than four times more likely to develop ALS than the general male population. Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, noted that approximately 6% of individuals in their brain bank with CTE also have ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

While the NFL has implemented numerous rule changes since 2009 to reduce concussions, experts suggest these measures may not address “subconcussive” blows—the repetitive, smaller hits that occur on every play, such as offensive and defensive linemen banging helmets during a scrimmage.

A Dominant Force in Chicago

To the sports world, Steve McMichael was the embodiment of the “Monsters of the Midway.” A defensive tackle who played 15 seasons in the NFL, McMichael was a cornerstone of the 1985 Chicago Bears defense that led the team to a Super Bowl XX victory.

His durability was legendary; he played a franchise-record 191 consecutive games between 1981 and 1993. On the stat sheet, McMichael remains one of the most productive defenders in Bears history, ranking second to Richard Dent on the team’s career sacks list with 92 1/2 sacks (with 95 total career sacks recorded across his NFL tenure).

His accolades reflect a career spent at the top of his position:

• Pro Football Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2024.
• All-Pro Honors: Two-time First-team All-Pro (1985, 1987) and two-time Second-team All-Pro (1986, 1991).
• Pro Bowl: Two-time selection (1986, 1987).

McMichael’s career began in 1980 with the Recent England Patriots before his long tenure in Chicago and a final season with the Green Bay Packers in 1994. He had previously established his dominance at the University of Texas, where he was a Unanimous All-American in 1979.

Life After the NFL: Wrestling and Coaching

McMichael’s larger-than-life personality extended well beyond the football field. After retiring from the NFL, he transitioned into professional wrestling, joining World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as a member of the elite “Four Horsemen” stable.

He also found success in the coaching ranks. From 2007 to 2013, he served as the head coach for the Chicago Slaughter, leading the team to a CIFL championship in 2009 with a career head coaching record of 62–38.

The Path Forward for Player Safety

The diagnosis of stage 3 CTE (where stage 4 is the most severe) underscores the ongoing debate regarding player safety in American football. While the league has focused on high-profile concussions, the “slow burn” of repetitive head trauma remains a critical area of study.

The medical community is now looking toward the development of a reliable CTE test for living patients. Such a breakthrough would allow athletes to be diagnosed and treated—or encouraged to retire—before the disease reaches advanced stages.

For now, the legacy of Steve McMichael serves as both a celebration of athletic greatness and a cautionary tale. By donating his brain to the Concussion & CTE Foundation, the man known as “Mongo” continues to contribute to the game, this time by helping protect the health of future generations.

The sports community awaits further findings from the Boston University CTE Center as they continue to analyze the link between repetitive brain trauma and ALS.

Do you think the NFL has done enough to address subconcussive hits? Share your thoughts in the comments below.