Steve McMichael, Legendary Chicago Bears Defensive Star and Wrestling Icon, Dies at 67 After Battle With ALS
Steve McMichael, Legendary Chicago Bears Defensive Star and Wrestling Icon, Dies at 67 After Battle With ALS
CHICAGO — Steve "Mongo" McMichael, the fierce defensive tackle who helped lead the Chicago Bears to their iconic 1985 Super Bowl victory, has passed away at the age of 67 following a courageous battle with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis). His publicist, Betsy Shepherd, confirmed his death on Wednesday afternoon.
A two-time All-Pro and a pillar of the Bears' legendary defense, McMichael played in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games from 1981 to 1993 and ranks second on the team's all-time sacks list with 92.5. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024, a fitting honor for a player whose tenacity and spirit defined a generation of Bears football.
Nicknamed “Mongo” and “Ming the Merciless”, McMichael was more than just a gridiron great. His larger-than-life personality made him a Chicago icon and later a natural fit in the world of professional wrestling. He joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) during the height of the “Monday Night Wars” era, where he transitioned from commentator to in-ring competitor and became a member of the legendary Four Horsemen alongside Ric Flair.
McMichael announced his ALS diagnosis in April 2021 after experiencing symptoms dating back to 2020. The disease gradually robbed him of his mobility and strength, reducing the once-270-pound athlete to a bedridden state, yet his spirit and will to fight never wavered.
“This ain’t ever how I envisioned this was going to end,” McMichael told the Chicago Tribune in 2021.
Born in Houston, Texas, McMichael rose to athletic fame at the University of Texas, becoming a consensus All-American. After a brief stint with the New England Patriots, he found his home in Chicago — and left a legacy that would forever shape the franchise.
He also made a mark off the field, coaching the Chicago Slaughter of the Indoor Football League and hosting sports radio shows. Later in life, he devoted time to ALS awareness, and his battle with the disease brought together fans, teammates, and the city of Chicago in support.
McMichael is survived by his wife, Misty, whom he married in 2001, and their daughter, Macy, born in 2008. His first marriage to wrestling personality Debra Marshall ended in 1998.
“He’s the most badass man I’ve ever known, inside and out,” Misty McMichael said ahead of his Hall of Fame induction. “He’s a good man. He’s going to heaven before any of us.”
As the sports world mourns, fans remember McMichael as a warrior — on the field, in the ring, and in life. His legacy lives on in Chicago and beyond.
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