The Concussion & CTE Foundation has announced that NFL Hall of Famer Steve McMichael has been posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease linked to repetitive head trauma. The diagnosis comes one year after McMichael's death on April 23, 2023, at age 67, following a five-year battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.
A Legacy of Dominance and a Tragic Diagnosis
McMichael was a pivotal defensive player for the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears team that secured a Super Bowl victory. Known by nicknames such as 'Mongo' and 'Ming The Merciless,' he set a franchise record by playing 191 consecutive games from 1981 to 1993. His career achievements include ranking second on the Bears' all-time sacks list with 92.5 sacks, trailing only Richard Dent, and earning two All-Pro selections before his induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.
The Connection Between CTE and ALS
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive brain condition found in athletes from contact sports, military veterans, and others subjected to repeated head impacts. Symptoms can include violent mood swings, impulsive behavior, and depression, and it can only be definitively diagnosed after death. McMichael's wife, Misty McMichael, emphasized the troubling pattern in a statement released by the foundation, noting, 'Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death.' She donated his brain to research, aiming to spur investigations into the connection between these diseases.
Research supports this link. A 2021 study conducted by Harvard Medical School and the Boston University CTE Center found that NFL players face a risk of developing ALS more than four times higher than that of the general male population. Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, reported that approximately 6% of individuals with CTE in their brain bank also have ALS, stating, 'There is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS.'
McMichael's Battle and Contribution to Science
In 2021, McMichael publicly disclosed his ALS diagnosis, a disease that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, leading to muscle control loss. According to Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation, McMichael actively followed research on the CTE-ALS connection and committed to donating his brain for study. Nowinski remarked, '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 that we might have a chance to save ourselves.'
After his final NFL season with the Green Bay Packers in 1994, McMichael transitioned to a career in professional wrestling. His legacy extends beyond the field, as his case adds to growing concerns about athlete safety and long-term health impacts in contact sports. Nowinski acknowledged the efforts of former athletes, including many of McMichael's 1985 Bears teammates, who are fundraising and participating in CTE research to foster a safer future for athletes worldwide.
