Packers Hall of Famer Passes Away at 67
Chicago, IL – April 23, 2025 – Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve McMichael, the fierce and larger-than-life defensive tackle who helped define the Chicago Bears’ legendary 46 Defense of the 1980s, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 67 due to complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.
The heartbreaking news was shared by Jarrett Payton, son of Bears legend Walter Payton, who wrote on social media:
“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 in your prayers.”
A Career Anchored in Dominance
Known affectionately as “Mongo,” McMichael was a cornerstone of the Bears’ iconic defense, playing 13 of his 15 NFL seasons in Chicago, where his intensity, durability, and grit made him a fan favorite. From 1981 to 1993, he appeared in 191 consecutive games, an Ironman streak emblematic of his relentless toughness.
Though often overshadowed by Hall of Fame teammates Mike Singletary and Richard Dent, McMichael built a resume worthy of Canton. He racked up at least seven sacks for seven straight seasons, including eight during the 1985 Super Bowl-winning campaign, and finished with 92.5 career sacks with the Bears—second in franchise history behind Dent.
He closed out his playing days with the Green Bay Packers in 1994, registering 28 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and a forced fumble in 14 games and helping the team reach the playoffs—ironically playing for the team he once terrorized.
A Legacy On and Off the Field
McMichael wasn’t just known for his play—he was also one of football’s most colorful personalities. A natural showman, he became a professional wrestler post-retirement, joining WCW’s “Four Horsemen” alongside Ric Flair and even wrestling Reggie White in 1997.
His larger-than-life persona never overshadowed his impact. As the late John Madden wrote in One Knee Equals Two Feet:
“Steve told me something I’ve never heard another player say: ‘I want to play the best I can in every game. You never know what game is going to be your last.’ ... The way Steve McMichael plays, he’ll always be proud of his last game.”
In 2021, McMichael publicly announced his ALS diagnosis. Despite the illness, he remained active in advocacy, raising more money for ALS research than he ever earned in the NFL, according to his family. His final wish was fulfilled in 2024, when he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame by the Seniors Committee—though his deteriorating health prevented him from attending.
A Final Tribute
“It’s a cruel irony that the Bears’ Ironman succumbed to this dreaded disease,” said Bears chairman George H. McCaskey in a statement. “Yet Steve showed us throughout his struggle that his real strength was internal… He is at peace now.”
Born in Houston in 1957, McMichael starred at the University of Texas, losing just one game in his collegiate career. Drafted in the third round by the New England Patriots in 1980, he was cut after one season but found a home—and a legacy—in Chicago.
Steve McMichael is survived by his wife, Misty, and daughter, Macy.
