NFL Hall of Famer Steve “Mongo” McMichael, one of the fiercest defenders on the Chicago Bears’ legendary “46 defense” of the 1980s, has died at the age of 67, the NFL announced on Wednesday. McMichael had been battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, since 2021. Despite being a football legend, he wrestled in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). After his demise, the MMA and Wrestling community paid their respects to him.
Mongo played 13 of his 15 NFL seasons with the Bears, sandwiched between brief stints with the New England Patriots and Green Bay Packers. But it was his time in Chicago that defined his football legacy. From 1981 to 1994, McMichael appeared in 207 games, including a Bears record 191 straight games, a streak that still stands tall in franchise history. That Ironman run included a Super Bowl title in 1985, back when the Bears’ defense was chewing up quarterbacks and spitting out wins. McMichael earned first-team All-Pro honors twice and was selected to the Pro Bowl two times. He notched at least seven sacks in seven straight seasons between 1983 and 1989—second only to teammate Richard Dent’s 10-year streak. With 92.5 career sacks, he ranks second in franchise history.
In recognition of his achievements, McMichael was officially enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame on August 3, 2024. The ceremony took place just 344 miles west of Canton, Ohio, in a long-awaited moment that many fans and teammates believed was overdue. After football, McMichael didn’t exactly ride off into the sunset, he took a hard left into the squared circle.
Nicknamed “Mongo,” a nod to the character from Blazing Saddles who famously knocked out a horse, McMichael found a second act in professional wrestling. In April 1995, he appeared at WrestleMania in the corner of NFL star Lawrence Taylor. That same year, he joined World Championship Wrestling (WCW) as a commentator before eventually becoming a full-time wrestler.McMichael became part of the iconic “Four Horsemen” stable alongside Ric Flair. During his WCW run, he even captured the United States Heavyweight Championship, proving that his brute strength wasn’t just limited to the football field.
McMichael publicly revealed his ALS diagnosis on April 23, 2021. That same year, he was honored with the ALS Courage Award by the Les Turner ALS Foundation. Four years later, on April 23, 2025, McMichael was transferred to hospice care in Joliet, Illinois, and passed away later that day due to complications from the disease.
RIP to a legend https://t.co/a0CHUQ9UIV
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) April 23, 2025
Jarrett Payton, son of Bears legend Walter Payton and one of McMichael’s closest friends, shared the heartbreaking news with a touching message. “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 have been with him in his final moments. Please keep Steve and his family in your prayers. #Bears”.
In the aftermath of his death, tributes poured in from the wrestling and MMA community.
Steve “Mongo” McMichael Remembered by MMA and Wrestling Figures
Replying to the post, Veteran fight journalist and author Marc Raimondi wrote, “RIP to a legend.” Robbie Fox, host of My Mom’s Basement and Barstool Sports journalist, echoed the sentiment, writing, “RIP Mongo.”
Damon Martin, senior reporter at MMA Fighting, remembered McMichael not just for his time in the NFL but for his impact in the world of pro wrestling. He wrote, “A legit legend of the gridiron but he was also a member of the Four Horseman in WCW when I was a kid growing up loving pro wrestling. That’s how I’ll always remember him best.”
Jason Hagholm, TV broadcaster and MMA journalist for The MMA Chronicles and The Scrap, also joined in, “RIP to @ChicagoBears Super Bowl Champion & WCW Legend Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael #RIPMongo.”
Meanwhile, WrestlingNewsCo paid tribute by posting a throwback to one of McMichael’s most iconic moments. In 1995, he did guest commentary on Monday Night Raw alongside Vince McMahon and ended up brawling with Kama Mustafa, also known as ‘The Godfather’. “Steve McMichael and Kama (The Godfather) had one of the best pull apart brawls ever. RIP Mongo,” they posted alongside the video.
Fans were quick to join in with their own memories and respect. One user wrote, “He was part of the Four Horsemen, and he played for the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers wow God bless.” Another added, “Rest in Peace Sir.”
Steve McMichael lived every chapter of his life with intensity—on the field, in the ring, and through his final battle with ALS. Whether it was Soldier Field or the WCW ring, he left an impact that spanned generations and genres.
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