Bears legend Steve McMichael reveals he’s battling ALS

Steve “Mongo” McMichael is a larger than life titan of the Chicago sports scene. The legendary defensive tackle helped the Bears win Super Bowl XX during the 1985 season, and was a two-time All-Pro, playing for the Bears from 1981-93. He became a star in World Championship Wrestling, a coach in the Continental Indoor Football League and a well-known Chicago sports radio personality after his playing days were over.

Which is why it’s so jarring for Bears fans to hear that McMichael is battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Often known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, the progressive nervous system disease disrupts the brain’s ability to communicate with muscles. The cause of the disease is unknown and there is no cure for it.

McMichael, 63, revealed his diagnosis in interviews with the Chicago Tribune and WGN.

McMichael was initially diagnosed in September at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and the diagnosis was confirmed Jan. 7 by doctors at Rush University Medical Center, according to the Tribune. McMichael’s wife of 23 years, Misty, is taking care of him at their home in Romeoville. The couple has a 13-year-old daughter Macy.

McMichael can no longer raise his arms or hold anything in his hands, according to the Tribune and WGN. His leg strength is also failing. Misty helps him eat and use the bathroom.

A GoFundMe page has been created by friends to help the family with McMichael’s medical costs. Already it has garnered more than $23,000 in donations as of Friday afternoon. They have also created a website, teammongo76.com, and a Facebook page, @TeamMongo76, where they will provide updates.

Well wishes poured in from all across the Chicago community and football community. The Bears sent out a tweet with #TeamMongo and a photo from McMichael’s playing days.

WGN’s Jarrett Payton, son of Walter Payton, wrote: “I love this guy so much!!!” on Twitter with a recent video of McMichael.

ESPN radio’s Marc Silverman of the “Waddle and Silvy” on show ESPN 1000 wrote that McMichael is “the most underrated Bears player of all time. He is also underrated as a person.” McMichael worked for ESPN 1000 in Chicago after his playing days were over.

He is a man of many talents, too.

McMichael could often be found around the Chicago area playing music with the Chicago 6 Band. The band formed during downtime caused by the 1987 NFL players’ strike and originally included McMichael, Dan Hampton, Otis Wilson, Walter Payton and Dave Duerson.

McMichael also once ran for mayor of Romeoville in 2013, losing to the incumbent mayor. He has a restaurant, Mongo McMichael’s, in Romeoville as well.

McMichael grew up in Texas and played college football for the Texas Longhorns. He is in the College Football Hall of Fame. The New England Patriots drafted him in the third round of the 1980 draft but cut him prior to his second season. He signed with the Bears as a free agent and remained in Chicago for the next dozen years.

He played in two Pro Bowls (1986 and 1987) and was voted All-Pro twice (1985 and 1987). He ended his career with a brief stint with the Green Bay Packers in 1994.

In 2019, to mark the organization’s 100th anniversary, the Bears released a list of the top 100 Bears of all time. McMichael came in at No. 19.