Bears HOFer McMichael, who died at 67, had CTE

Q: What was Steve McMichael diagnosed with after his death?

Steve McMichael was diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. The Concussion & CTE Foundation said the diagnosis was confirmed after his brain was studied.

Q: How did Steve McMichael die?

Steve McMichael died at age 67 after a five-year battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The article says he had revealed the ALS diagnosis in 2021.

Q: What connection does the article make between CTE and ALS?

The article says there is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS. It also notes that NFL players are more than four times more likely to develop ALS than other men, according to a 2021 Harvard and Boston University study.

Q: Why was Steve McMichael's brain donated for research?

Steve McMichael's brain was donated to help researchers study the link between ALS and CTE. His wife said she wanted to inspire new research into that connection.

Q: What was Steve McMichael known for in his football career?

Steve McMichael was a major part of the Chicago Bears' 1985 Super Bowl-winning defense. He played in 191 consecutive games, had 92.5 career sacks with the Bears, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024.

Bears HOFer McMichael, who died at 67, had CTE

BOSTON -- Hall of Famer Steve McMichael, a key member of the dominating defense that helped the 1985 Chicago Bears win the Super Bowl, has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the Concussion & CTE Foundation said.

McMichael died last year at 67 after a five-year battle with ALS, commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

"Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death," his wife, Misty McMichael, said in a statement released by the foundation. "I donated Steve's brain to inspire new research into the link between them."

CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in athletes in contact sports, combat veterans and others exposed to repetitive head trauma. It has been known to cause violent mood swings, impulsive behavior and depression.

It can only be diagnosed after death.

According to a 2021 study by the Harvard Medical School and the Boston University CTE Center, NFL players are more than four times more likely to develop ALS than other men. Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, said about 6% of individuals with CTE in the brain bank also have ALS.

"There is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS," McKee said.

A two-time All-Pro and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, McMichael was known as "Mongo" and "Ming The Merciless" while playing in a franchise-record 191 consecutive games from 1981-93. He ranks second to Richard Dent on the Bears' career sacks list with 92.5.

McMichael played his final NFL season with Green Bay in 1994 and then went on to a career in pro wrestling.

In 2021, McMichael revealed he was battling ALS, which affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. He followed the research seeking a link between ALS and CTE and pledged his brain to be studied, according to Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation.

"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," Nowinski said. "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."

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