Chicago Bears HOFer Steve McMichael Diagnosed with CTE After Death

McMichael's brain donation aims to spur research into link between CTE and ALS

Apr. 7, 2026 at 2:22pm

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An abstract, energetic painting in neon colors depicting the violent collision of a football tackle, with players' bodies and equipment dissolving into expressive brushstrokes.The posthumous CTE diagnosis of NFL legend Steve McMichael underscores the urgent need for more research into the long-term neurological impacts of contact sports.Chicago Today

Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Steve McMichael has been posthumously diagnosed with stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease often found in those who played contact sports. McMichael, who died in 2025 at age 67 after a 5-year battle with ALS, was a key member of the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl championship team and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024. His wife Misty hopes that sharing his CTE diagnosis will raise awareness of the connection between CTE and ALS, which NFL players are more than four times more likely to develop compared to the general population.

Why it matters

The diagnosis of CTE in Steve McMichael, a prominent former NFL player, highlights the ongoing issue of brain injuries in contact sports and the need for further research into the links between CTE and other neurodegenerative diseases like ALS. McMichael's brain donation aims to spur new investigations that could lead to better prevention, detection, and treatment for athletes suffering the long-term effects of repetitive head trauma.

The details

After his death in 2025, Steve McMichael's brain was examined by the Concussion & CTE Foundation, which found that he had stage 3 (out of 4) chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative brain disease linked to repetitive head injuries, often found in those who played contact sports like football. McMichael, a 5-time All-Pro defensive tackle, played 13 of his 15 NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears, including as a key member of their famed 1985 Super Bowl championship team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024, just a year before his death at age 67 following a 5-year battle with ALS.

  • Steve McMichael died in April 2025 at age 67.
  • McMichael was diagnosed with stage 3 CTE posthumously in 2026.

The players

Steve McMichael

A former Chicago Bears defensive tackle who was a 5-time All-Pro and key member of the Bears' 1985 Super Bowl championship team. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2024 and died in 2025 at age 67 after a 5-year battle with ALS.

Misty McMichael

The wife of Steve McMichael, who donated his brain to inspire new research into the link between CTE and ALS.

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What they’re saying

“By sharing Steve's diagnosis, we want to raise awareness of the clear connection between CTE and ALS. Too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and diagnosed with CTE after death. I donated Steve's brain to inspire new research into the link between them.”

— Misty McMichael, Wife of Steve McMichael

What’s next

The Concussion & CTE Foundation plans to conduct further research on the link between CTE and ALS using Steve McMichael's donated brain tissue.

The takeaway

The posthumous CTE diagnosis of NFL Hall of Famer Steve McMichael underscores the urgent need for more research and awareness around the long-term neurological impacts of contact sports. McMichael's brain donation aims to spur new investigations that could lead to better prevention, detection, and treatment for athletes suffering the effects of repetitive head trauma.