CHICAGO (WLS) — Steve “Mongo” McMichael, the legendary Chicago Bears player and NFL Hall of Famer who passed away last year after battling ALS, has been posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
On Tuesday, researchers from Boston University’s Concussion and CTE Center revealed that McMichael was found to have stage three out of four stages of CTE.
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McMichael, who passed away in April 2025 at the age of 67, was an integral member of the Bears team that clinched the Super Bowl title in 1985. He was honored with induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.
READ MORE | Chicago Bears legend Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael passes away at 67 after battling ALS
Misty McMichael, Steve’s wife of 25 years, stated, “By sharing Steve’s diagnosis, we aim to highlight the undeniable link between CTE and ALS. Far too many NFL players are diagnosed with CTE posthumously after enduring ALS during their lives. I donated Steve’s brain to encourage further research into the connection between these conditions.”
Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center and chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System, explained, “Steve McMichael had severe CTE, as well as ALS characterized by TDP-43 inclusions in his brainstem and spinal cord. The association between repetitive brain trauma and ALS is evident, with about 6% of individuals in our CTE brain bank also diagnosed with ALS.”
