Steve McMichael Posthumously Diagnosed with Stage 3 CTE

Steve McMichael, the Chicago Bears defensive tackle and Pro Football Hall of Famer who helped anchor the team's dominant 1985 Super Bowl-winning defense, has been posthumously diagnosed with stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. The announcement came Tuesday from the Concussion Legacy Foundation, based on analysis by researchers at Boston University's CTE Center. McMichael died in April 2025 at age 67, following a nearly five-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS.

McMichael's 15-year NFL career included 13 seasons with the Bears, where he earned four All-Pro selections, two first-team and two second-team. Known on the field as "Mongo" and "Ming the Merciless" for his imposing 6-foot-2, 270-pound frame and relentless play, he appeared in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games from 1981 to 1993. He recorded 92.5 sacks, second in Bears history behind Richard Dent, and contributed to multiple division titles before finishing his career with the Green Bay Packers in 1994. After retiring, McMichael pursued professional wrestling. He received his long-awaited Hall of Fame induction in 2024, just months before his ALS diagnosis progressed to its final stages.