Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael was diagnosed with CTE nearly one year after his death.
The Concussion & CTE Foundation announced that Steve “Mongo” McMichael was posthumously diagnosed with stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). McMichael, the Chicago Bears legend who later became a wrestler and commentator for WCW, died in April 2025, at age 67 after a long battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease).
Researchers at the Boston University CTE Center issued the diagnosis of the late McMichael, whose wife, Misty, shared the details publicly to help the public “better understand the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and the urgent need to advance research.”
“By sharing Steve’s diagnosis, we want to raise awareness of the clear connection between CTE and ALS,” said Misty McMichael, Steve’s wife of 25 years. “Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death. I donated Steve’s brain to inspire new research into the link between them.”
Boston University CTE Center details Steve McMichael’s head injuries
“Steve McMichael had severe CTE as well as ALS with TDP-43 inclusions typical for ALS in his brainstem and spinal cord,” said Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center and chief of neuropathology for the VA Boston Healthcare System. “There is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS; in our CTE brain bank, about 6% of individuals with CTE also have ALS.”
“Steve McMichael was known for his strength, toughness, and larger-than-life presence, but his final act was to give a piece of himself back to the sports community so we might have a chance to save ourselves,” said Dr. Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation. “I appreciate all the former athletes, including many of Steve’s ’85 Bears teammates, who are raising funds and volunteering to participate in CTE research so we can create a brighter future for athletes everywhere.”
According to a 2021 study, NFL players are more than four times more likely to develop ALS than the general male population. Several former NFL players who died of ALS, whose brains were studied at Boston University, were all diagnosed with both ALS and CTE. McMichael followed the research while he was alive and elected to donate his brain to research after his death.
McMichael will be honored at the Concussion & CTE Foundation’s Race to End CTE event on April 23, the first anniversary of his death, in Chicago. More information on how to attend and make a donation in McMichael’s name can be found here.
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