Steve McMichael
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CHICAGO - DECEMBER 30: Steve McMichael #76 of the Chicago Bears removes his helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on December 30, 1990 in Chicago, Illinois. The Chiefs won 21-10. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Steve McMichael, a Hall of Fame defensive tackle who spent most of his career playing for the Chicago Bears, passed away last year at the age of 67, and now, one year later, he has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy.
The news was announced by the Concussion & CTE Foundation, with his wife, Misty McMichael, sharing a statement.
“Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death,” Misty said. “I donated Steve’s brain to inspire new research into the link between them.”
There are four stages of CTE, and McMichael was found to have stage three.
McMichael passed away after a five-year battle with ALS, which is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
What Is CTE?
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which is also known as CTE, is a brain diseased that is often caused by repeated head injuries.
According to the Mayo Clinic, CTE gets worse over time, but the only way to diagnose it is after death. The symptoms can include mood swings, impulsive behavior and depression.
There have also been studies finding a link between CTE and ALS.
“There is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS,” director of the Boston University CTE Center Dr. Ann McKee said. “In our CTE brain bank, about six percent of individuals with CTE also have ALS.”
Specifically, A 2021 study found NFL players are over four times more likely to develop ALS than the general male population. And that was why Steve’s wife, Misty, wanted to speak out about these findings.
“By sharing Steve’s diagnosis, we want to raise awareness of the clear connection between CTE and ALS,” she added in the statement. “Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death.”
Steve McMichael’s Legacy
McMichael attended and played college ball at Texas from 1975 to 1980. He was then selected in the third round of the 1980 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. But he was quickly cut ahead of his second season.
From there, the Chicago Bears wasted no time swooping in, signing the defensive tackle. He went on to win a Super Bowl with the team in 1985, becoming one of the key starters. He remained in Chicago from 1981 to 1993, finishing his career with the Green Bay Packers in 1994. Across his career, he was a two-time first-team All-Pro, a two-time second-team All-Pro, and a two-time Pro Bowler. He is also known as one of the Top 100 Greatest Bears All-Time and is on the Bears All-Time Team.
In 2023, McMichael was named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024 and was officially selected that year. He was formally inducted on August 3, 2024, with his sister delivering a heartfelt speech on his behalf.
Along with his football career, McMichael also pursued wrestling.
In 2021, he officially announced that he had been diagnosed with ALS in a conversation with the Chicago Tribune in which he revealed he is no longer able to “raise his arms or hold anything in his hands.”
“I promise you,” McMichael told the Tribune, “this epitaph that I’m going to have on me now? This ain’t ever how I envisioned this was going to end.”