The ’85 Bears’ “46 Defense” wasn’t just a scheme—it was a horror movie, and Steve “Mongo” McMichael was Freddy Krueger. Super Bowl XX? A 46-10 mauling of the Patriots where he played like a man possessed. But his magnum opus came on Monday Night Football in ’91: Down 13-6 to the Jets, he strip-sacked Blair Thomas, sparked an OT win, and cemented himself in Windy City folklore. “Opponents were scared to step on the field,” fan @RosettaWest tweeted. “That defense wasn’t football—it was art.”
Mongo wasn’t just a player; he was a “vibe.” For 15 NFL seasons—13 with Da Bears—he anchored a defense that turned QBs into chew toys. Imagine a human wrecking ball with 847 tackles, 95 sacks (second only to Richard Dent in Bears lore), and a franchise-record 191 straight games. “He’d squat 725 pounds like it was a warm-up,” former teammate Tom Waddle recalled, “but ALS made lifting his own body feel like 1,000.” Yet, true to form, Mongo treated his diagnosis like a fourth-quarter comeback. “You don’t try to be courageous,” he once growled. “You are.”
“The World Just Lost The Incredible Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael! He Was My Best Friend Through It All!” Ric Flair’s voice cracked like a quarterback’s ribs against the ’85 Bears’ defense as he mourned the loss of a titan. Nearly four years after he was diagnosed with ALS.
The World Just Lost The Incredible Steve “Mongo” McMichael! He Was My Best Friend Through It All! An Amazing Athlete And Human Being! I Have The Fondest Memories Working With Him, And This Is An Extremely Heartbreaking Loss For Me! I Love You Mongo! You Fought One Hell Of A… pic.twitter.com/yq2YHfWKmf
— Ric Flair® (@RicFlairNatrBoy) April 23, 2025
Stephen Douglas McMichael—Chicago’s ironclad defensive legend, wrestling wildcard, and Flair’s ride-or-die—succumbed to the disease at 67. But if you think this story ends with a funeral dirge, you don’t know Mongo. This is a victory lap draped in grit, gridiron glory, and enough swagger to make even death fumble.
Wooooo! From tackles to tag teams: The Flair-Mongo story
Beyond the roar of stadium cheers and the flood of fan tributes, the heart of Chicago Bears football felt a profound loss. In a statement that captured both heartbreak and pride, George H. McCaskey, chairman of the team, reflected on Mongo’s enduring spirit: “It’s a cruel irony that the Bears’ Ironman succumbed to this dreaded disease. Yet Steve showed us throughout his struggle that his real strength was internal, and he demonstrated on a daily basis his class, his dignity and his humanity. He is at peace now. We offer our condolences to Misty, Macy, the rest of Steve’s family, his teammates, and countless friends and fans of a great Bear.”
Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey on the passing of Steve McMichael: pic.twitter.com/L3IFPhSlIY
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 24, 2025
Off the field, Mongo’s personality was as loud as his hits. As @ShawnNonya put it, “He made you love football and wrestling—how many can say that?” When he body-slammed his way into WCW in ’96, critics scoffed—until he joined Flair’s Four Horsemen, turned heel mid-match, and snagged the U.S. Heavyweight Title. “This ain’t farm work, baby!” he’d crow, blending Texan charm with Flair’s flamboyance. Their bond? “He could out-party me,” Flair admitted, “and that’s saying something.”
But behind the limelight was brotherhood. When ALS stole Mongo’s voice, Flair became his hype man, lobbying for his 2024 Hall of Fame induction. The ceremony, held at Mongo’s home, was a tear-jerker straight out of Rudy—complete with Misty, his wife, whispering, “Hold a spot for me” as he took his place among legends, as @Abster reminisced, “Forever a Horseman.” Even non-fans felt the loss.
The tributes rolled in like Lambeau leaps. @TheLock toasted, “He fought ALS like he fought in the NFL—tenacious.”Mongo’s legacy? More than stats or titles. It’s the kid in a #76 jersey dreaming of glory. It’s the ALS warrior who, as Misty revealed, “had a perfect heart” till the end.
In a world of fair-weather heroes, Steve McMichael was a Category 5 hurricane—unapologetic, unstoppable, unforgettable. As Flair would say, “To be the man, you gotta beat the man.” And baby, Mongo was the man. Rest in power, you beautiful, merciless beast.
The post “RIP”: Ric Flair Mourns ‘Best Friend’ Death As Bears Chariman, NFL Fans Grieve Legend’s Passing Who battled ALS for 3 Years appeared first on EssentiallySports.