Steve “Mongo” McMichael, Chicago Bears Legend and Hall of Famer, Dies at 67
The NFL lost one of its toughest warriors and Chicago lost a beloved icon.
Steve “Mongo” McMichael, a fierce defensive tackle and proud member of the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears, has died at the age of 67 after a long and courageous battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The NFL announced his passing on Wednesday.
McMichael’s name is forever etched in Bears history — a man who embodied toughness, loyalty, and fire. His legendary run with Chicago spanned 13 seasons and 191 straight games, earning him the nickname “Ironman.”
His career included 92.5 sacks for the Bears, second only to Richard Dent, and a legacy that went far beyond stats.
A Foundation Built on Fire and Fight
Originally drafted by the New England Patriots in 1980, McMichael’s early NFL journey didn’t go as planned. He played in just six games as a rookie before being cut. It wasn’t until the Bears picked him up that his story truly began — one that would lead him to become one of the franchise’s most beloved figures.
From 1981 to 1993, McMichael dominated offensive lines, terrorized quarterbacks, and anchored a defense that became the stuff of legends. He had seven or more sacks in seven straight seasons from 1983 to 1989 — a stretch only surpassed in Bears history by Dent’s 10-year streak.
But his legacy was about more than sacks. It was about presence. About fire. About heart.
The Glory of 1985: Super Bowl Champion and Defensive Anchor
The pinnacle of McMichael’s career came during the 1985 season, when he helped lead the Bears to a Super Bowl XX championship and an astonishing 18-1 record.
That defense — orchestrated by Buddy Ryan and known as the “46 Defense” — remains one of the most feared in league history. They led the NFL in fewest points allowed, yards allowed, and takeaways. During the postseason, they gave up just 10 total points in three games.
McMichael, who started every game that season, recorded eight sacks in the regular season and added another in the Super Bowl win over the Patriots.
He wasn’t always the flashiest guy on that defense — not with Singletary staring opponents down and Dent flying off the edge — but insiders knew: Mongo was the enforcer in the trenches.
A Long-Awaited Hall of Fame Moment
In August 2024, nearly 30 years after his final NFL snap, McMichael received football’s highest honor: a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Although ALS had taken away his ability to speak and move, McMichael was surrounded by family, friends, and former teammates as his Hall of Fame bust was unveiled in his Illinois home. His sister, Kathy, delivered a prerecorded speech on his behalf while he lay in bed wearing the Hall’s signature gold jacket.
“Steve, we’re here with all your world champion brothers,” Richard Dent said during the ceremony. “You’re on a team now you can never be cut from.”
“I Do Not Want ALS to Be My Legacy”
McMichael was diagnosed with ALS in 2021, and the disease progressed quickly. By 2023, he was bedridden, having signed a “Do Not Resuscitate” form as his condition worsened.
But that summer, when he found out he was a senior semifinalist for the Hall of Fame, he told his wife Misty to tear up the DNR. He wasn’t done fighting. And he wanted to live to see that gold jacket.
“I do not want ALS to be my legacy,” a message from McMichael read during his induction. “What I did on the field — that’s my legacy. Pushing myself to the limit … farther than anybody else could.”
His longtime publicist, Betsy Shepherd, recalled asking him what more she could do for him. He whispered: “Hall of Fame.”
And together, they made it happen.
After Football: From the Gridiron to the Wrestling Ring
Never one to stay in the shadows, McMichael moved into pro wrestling after retiring from football. He became a staple of World Championship Wrestling (WCW), joining the legendary “Four Horsemen” faction alongside Ric Flair and winning the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship.
In 1995, he made an appearance at WrestleMania in Lawrence Taylor’s corner, then joined WCW full-time — first as a commentator, then as a wrestler. He remained with the company until 1999.
A Lifelong Texan with a Chicago Soul
Born in Houston in 1957, McMichael was raised in Freer, Texas, by his mother Betty and stepfather E.V. McMichael. A multisport high school athlete, he lettered in six sports and was heavily recruited for college football — even receiving offers from Bear Bryant and Darrell Royal.
He chose Texas, where he became a unanimous All-American, and set school records for sacks and tackles. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010.
Though his roots were Southern, his soul was Chicago — gritty, loyal, and full of fight.
Family, Faith, and the Final Years
Steve was first married to Debra McMichael, a wrestling valet in WCW. After their divorce in 1998, he found love again with Misty Davenport, whom he married in 2001. Their daughter, Macy, was born in 2008 and remained his pride and joy.
In his final years, Misty stood by him as his strongest support system, caring for him full-time as ALS ravaged his body. Their bond, and the love from teammates and fans, became a beacon of strength during his toughest battle.
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Remembering Mongo
“He was the toughest player I ever coached,” Mike Ditka once said.
“Everyone who played with or against Steve shares the same opinion,” said Pro Football Hall of Fame president Jim Porter. “No one battled longer or harder from snap to whistle than Steve the player. And the love his teammates showed him throughout this journey says everything about Steve the man.”
McMichael may have finished his career with the rival Packers in 1994 — and he loved to joke that he only signed with them to “steal their money and whup their ass again” — but to the core, he was a Bear. Always was. Always will be.
Rest easy, Mongo. You’ll always be a legend in Chicago — and far beyond.
The Associated Press contributed to this report on Steve McMichael Chicago Bears.
