The sports world has just said goodbye to a name that meant a lot to football fans—especially those in Chicago.

A towering figure on the field and an unforgettable personality off it, this former defensive tackle shaped one of the NFL’s most iconic teams.

His final years were marked by a private battle with a devastating illness, but his legacy remained strong.

Now, fans and former teammates alike are reflecting on the impact he made.



Steve McMichael, a Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and cornerstone of the Chicago Bears' 1985 Super Bowl-winning team, has passed away at the age of 67 after a public battle with ALS.

Jarrett Payton, son of McMichael’s former teammate Walter Payton, was with him in his final moments and shared the news on social media with heartfelt reverence:

"With deep sorrow, I share that Steve McMichael passed at 5:28 PM after a brave fight with #ALS, surrounded by loved ones. I’m grateful to have been with him in his final moments. Please keep Steve and his family your prayers. #Bears."

The NFL also paid tribute, writing that the league “is heartbroken to hear of the passing of Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer Steve McMichael after a brave battle with ALS. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family and loved ones.”


Born in Houston in 1957, McMichael was raised in the small town of Freer, Texas. A gifted multi-sport athlete, he lettered in six sports—football, basketball, baseball, track, tennis, and golf—at Freer High School.

He initially dreamed of a career in baseball but ultimately followed his parents' wishes to attend college, where he chose the University of Texas at Austin. It was there that his path to football greatness began.

However, his college years were marked by personal tragedy. During his freshman year, his stepfather, E.V. McMichael, was murdered. That moment deeply affected him.

“That changed me,” he told the Chicago Tribune in 2005. “Got me thinking, ‘What good is it to be just an athlete if life can just come to an end like that?’ His death drew me to those neon lights.’”

Despite the heartbreak, McMichael rose to prominence on the field, earning All-American honors his senior year and becoming the defensive MVP at the 1979 Hula Bowl.

He would eventually be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2020.


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McMichael’s NFL career began with a brief stint at the New England Patriots, but it wasn’t until the Chicago Bears signed him in 1981 that his legacy truly began.

Over 13 seasons in Chicago, he became the rock of the Bears' defensive line—appearing in 191 consecutive games from 1981 to 1993, a franchise record at the time.

He earned All-Pro honors, went to two Pro Bowls, and was a key force in the Bears’ Super Bowl XX victory. The team’s swagger, amplified by their iconic “Super Bowl Shuffle” music video, made them a cultural sensation—and McMichael was right in the middle of it.

Nicknamed “Mongo” after the hulking, horse-punching character in Blazing Saddles, McMichael was known for his aggressive play and quirky, confrontational pregame stares at opposing teams.

McMichael said that it was all to match the passion of the Bears fans.


McMichael retired in 1994 after one season with the Green Bay Packers, finishing his NFL career with 95 sacks and 847 tackles. But football wasn’t the end of his time in the spotlight.

He found new fame in professional wrestling, debuting at WrestleMania XI before becoming a key figure in World Championship Wrestling and a member of Ric Flair’s “Four Horsemen” stable.

“Football was gone in my life. Entertaining people and the roar of the crowd? Man, there's nothing like that,” he said in a 2019 interview.

He authored Steve McMichael's Tales from the Chicago Bears Sideline in 2004, coached the Chicago Slaughter indoor football team from 2007 to 2013, and even made a bid for mayor of Romeoville, Illinois in 2012.


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In 2021, McMichael revealed his ALS diagnosis, which led him to step away from public life. The disease progressed quickly, but he remained a fighter.

His wife and daughter—Misty and Macy—stood by him through every step.

In 2024, after years of being overlooked, McMichael was finally elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame—an honor his family said gave him the strength to keep going.

“He’s literally alive because of this nomination,” Misty told ESPN.

“It’s amazing we’ve waited a very long time,” added his sister, Kathy. “We are really, really happy that he gets to go to Canton.”



Just two months later, in February 2025, McMichael was hospitalized with an infection, and his health declined rapidly. Despite the struggles, he maintained his humor and grit.

“I thought I was ready for anything,” he told the Chicago Tribune. “But man. This will sneak up on you like a cheap-shotting Green Bay Packer.”

Steve McMichael is survived by Misty and their daughter Macy. His story is one of passion, perseverance, and presence, both on the field and far beyond it.

Fans remember not only his powerful tackles and championship rings, but also the way he gave back—to the game, to his teammates, and to the community that loved him.

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Did you grow up watching McMichael play? What moment do you remember most from the 1985 Bears season? Do you think his legacy will inspire future players to bring the same heart to the game? Leave your thoughts, memories, and tributes in the comments below—let’s celebrate a man whose story went far beyond the final whistle.