What was supposed to be a happy day for the NFL has now turned into a sad one.
One of the best players in Chicago Bears history is no longer with us.
According to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN, Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael has passed away after a long battle with ALS.
Bears legend Steve “Mongo” McMichael passed away today after a long battle with ALS, family friend Jarrett Payton announced.
Payton wrote: “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… pic.twitter.com/J25d0pH2uo
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 23, 2025
Known for being a disruptive defensive force and a Chicago legend, the Pro Football Hall of Famer passed away at 67.
McMichael played in the NFL from 1980 through 1994.
Over that span, he made 213 career appearances (171 starts) and logged 847 tackles and 95 sacks.
He was a two-time Pro Bowler and logged the fourth-most sacks by any defensive tackle in league history.
He’s also second all-time in the Bears’ sacks leader list with 92.5, trailing only his fellow legendary teammate Richard Dent (124.5).
The New England Patriots drafted him in the third round of the 1980 NFL Draft before releasing him after just one season.
Then, he joined the Bears in free agency, but he had to wait until 1983 to establish himself as a starter.
McMichael went on to play a franchise-record 191 consecutive games for the team from 1981 through 1993.
He registered at least seven sacks in seven consecutive years from 1983-89, including a career-best 11.5 in 1988.
McMichaels spent 13 years with the Bears before joining their divisional rivals, the Green Bay Packers, for his final campaign in the league.
A perennial winner and a physical force as an interior pass-rusher, he will go down not only as a Bears and NFL legend but also as a fan favorite way beyond the Windy City.
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