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Mongo's Brain: CTE Confirmed After Passing
7 Apr
Summary
- Hall of Famer Steve McMichael was diagnosed with CTE post-mortem.
- McMichael died last year after a five-year battle with ALS.
- His brain was donated to research the ALS-CTE link.

Hall of Famer Steve McMichael, celebrated for his role in the 1985 Chicago Bears' Super Bowl victory, has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). McMichael, known as 'Mongo,' passed away last year at the age of 67 after a prolonged five-year battle with ALS.
His wife, Misty McMichael, has donated his brain for scientific study, aiming to illuminate the connection between ALS and CTE. This degenerative brain disease is increasingly found in athletes from contact sports and others subjected to repeated head trauma, often leading to mood disturbances and behavioral changes.
A two-time All-Pro and 2024 Hall of Fame inductee, McMichael holds the franchise record for consecutive games played. His pledge to donate his brain highlights a growing effort within the sports community to understand and combat the long-term neurological effects of athletic careers.