Legendary Bears lineman Steve “Mongo” McMichael has died, Walter Payton’s son, Jarrett, shared on Wednesday.
He was 67.
Payton mentioned McMichael was surrounded by his family members on the time of his dying.
McMichael was identified with ALS in 2021 and the illness moved into the superior phases, with the Bears nice’s well being taking a flip for the more serious previously few weeks, his spouse, Misty, informed Fox 32 in Chicago.
She mentioned he had been “unresponsive for final two weeks and out and in of the hospital.”
McMichael was shifting into hospice care on Wednesday, his household revealed earlier within the day.
“With deep sorrow, I share that Steve McMichael handed at 5:28 PM after a courageous combat with #ALS, surrounded by family members,” Payton wrote. “I’m grateful to have been with him in his ultimate moments. Please maintain Steve and his household your prayers.”
ALS, which is also called Lou Gehrig’s illness, is a neurodegenerative illness affecting the nerve cells within the mind and spinal wire, inflicting a lack of muscle management.
McMichael began taking part in within the NFL with the Patriots in 1980 after which spent the following 13 years with the Bears, the place he turned a beloved determine in franchise historical past and a key a part of the crew’s 1985 Tremendous Bowl championship.
He recorded 95 profession sacks over his 15-year NFL profession and was named an All-Professional 5 instances, which included first-team honors in 1985 and 1987.
“It’s a merciless irony that the Bears’ Ironman succumbed to this dreaded illness,” Bears proprietor George McCaskey wrote in a press release Wednesday. “But Steve confirmed us all through his wrestle that his actual power was inside, and he demonstrated each day his class, his dignity and his humanity. He’s at peace now.
“We provide our condolences to Misty, Macy, the remainder of Steve’s household, his teammates, and numerous buddies and followers of a terrific Bear.”
McMichael performed his ultimate season within the NFL in 1994 with the Packers.
He was inducted into the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame final summer season and the legendary Bear was introduced along with his gold jacket and bronze bust at his bedside in Homer Glenn, Illinois.
McMichael was joined by former teammates, Misty and his daughter, Macy, for the ceremony.
“Steve McMichael informed everybody he would combat ALS with the identical tenacity he confirmed for 15 seasons within the Nationwide Soccer League. And he did simply that,” Corridor of Fame president Jim Porter mentioned Wednesday. “Everybody who performed with or towards Steve shares the identical opinion: Nobody battled longer or tougher from the snap till the whistle than Steve the participant. That legendary will to combat allowed him to expertise his enshrinement as a member of the Corridor’s Class of 2024.”
Following his time in professional soccer, McMichael spent 5 years within the skilled wrestling world working for World Championship Wrestling, beginning as a shade commentator earlier than changing into a part of the legendary “4 Horsemen” faction led by Ric Aptitude.
He later returned to soccer, serving as the top coach of the Chicago Slaughter of the Continental Indoor Soccer League.
