Man, this one hurts. We’ve lost a giant—literally and figuratively—in the world of football, wrestling, and life itself. Steve “Mongo” McMichael, the Chicago Bears legend, Super Bowl champion, WCW star, and Hall of Famer, has passed away at the age of 67 after a brutal, three-year battle with ALS.
You want to talk about toughness? Steve McMichael didn’t just define it—he redefined it. This man was a wrecking ball in shoulder pads. Over a 15-year NFL career, Mongo racked up 95 sacks, 14 forced fumbles, and made offensive linemen across the league question their life choices. He helped anchor one of the most feared defenses in NFL history—the 1985 Chicago Bears—and walked away with a Super Bowl ring from that legendary team.
But he didn’t stop there. Two-time First-Team All-Pro. Fan favorite. And in 2024, a long-overdue induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Even in declining health, he lived to see that crowning achievement. That’s grit. That’s heart.
When McMichael was diagnosed with ALS in 2021, he didn’t retreat from the spotlight—he faced the diagnosis with the same tenacity that defined his playing days. ALS, that cruel, unforgiving disease, took his mobility and eventually everything else, but it didn’t take his spirit.
He became paralyzed from the shoulders down, but not once did he stop fighting. Just hours before his passing, his wife, Misty, had announced plans to move him to hospice care. His friend Jarrett Payton was by his side in his final moments. He died at 5:28 PM, surrounded by those who loved him. That’s a warrior’s exit.
And let’s not forget—Mongo wasn’t just a monster on the gridiron. He brought that same larger-than-life energy to professional wrestling. During his time in WCW, he mixed it up with the likes of Hulk Hogan and Ric Flair.
And speaking of The Nature Boy, Flair delivered a heartbreaking tribute, calling McMichael his best friend and a “human being” of the highest caliber. “I love you, Mongo! You fought one hell of a battle!”
Steve McMichael didn’t stop after football or wrestling. He went on to coach the Chicago Slaughter to a championship in the CIFL in 2009. He was a man of many talents, but above all, he was a man of the people. Gritty, loud, passionate, and unapologetically himself.
The NFL, the Bears community, the WCW family, and every fan who ever watched number 76 tear through a quarterback are feeling this one deep. The league released a statement calling him a champion and acknowledging the bravery of his battle with ALS. It was more than bravery—it was ferocity until the very end.
