Chicago Bears Pro Bowler Steve McMichael diagnosed with CTE after ALS death

Posthumous study shows NFL star had Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy

Apr. 7, 2026 at 7:57pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a football player's body broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in navy, green, and orange, conceptually representing the neurological damage caused by repetitive head trauma in contact sports.The fractured, geometric portrait of a former NFL star's body reflects the devastating neurological impacts of a career in professional football.Homer Glen Today

Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle Steve McMichael, a key member of the Chicago Bears' Super Bowl XX championship team, has been posthumously diagnosed with Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). McMichael died in 2025 at age 67 after a five-year battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.

Why it matters

This case highlights the growing body of research linking repetitive brain trauma from contact sports like football to the development of CTE and other neurodegenerative diseases like ALS. McMichael's diagnosis underscores the need for continued study and awareness around the long-term health impacts on professional athletes.

The details

Researchers at the Boston University CTE Center made the CTE diagnosis after McMichael's death. His wife Misty said she wanted to share the diagnosis to raise awareness about the clear connection between CTE and ALS, noting that too many NFL players are developing ALS during life and being diagnosed with CTE after death. According to the center's director, Dr. Ann McKee, about 6% of people with CTE also have ALS.

  • Steve McMichael died on April 23, 2025 at the age of 67 after a five-year battle with ALS.
  • McMichael was posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in a ceremony from his home in 2024 while bedridden in the advanced stages of ALS.
  • The Concussion & CTE Foundation announced McMichael's CTE diagnosis on April 7, 2026.

The players

Steve McMichael

A Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle who was a key member of the Chicago Bears' Super Bowl XX championship team, playing 13 of his 15 NFL seasons in Chicago. He set a Bears record by playing in 191 consecutive games from 1981 to 1993 and is second on the team's all-time sacks list with 92.5.

Misty McMichael

The wife of Steve McMichael who shared his CTE diagnosis to raise awareness about the connection between CTE and ALS.

Dr. Ann McKee

The director of the Boston University CTE Center, which made the posthumous CTE diagnosis for Steve McMichael.

Dr. Chris Nowinski

The co-founder and chief executive of the Concussion & CTE Foundation, which announced McMichael's CTE diagnosis.

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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

“There is strong evidence linking repetitive brain trauma and ALS.”

— Dr. Ann McKee, Director, Boston University CTE Center

“Steve McMichael was known for his strength, toughness, and larger-than-life presence, but his final act was to give a piece of himself back to the sports community so we might have a chance to save ourselves.”

— Dr. Chris Nowinski, Co-founder and CEO, Concussion & CTE Foundation

What’s next

Researchers at the Boston University CTE Center plan to continue studying the link between CTE and ALS, using McMichael's donated brain to further their work.

The takeaway

This case highlights the urgent need for more research, awareness, and action around the long-term neurological impacts of contact sports like football. McMichael's posthumous CTE diagnosis underscores the devastating toll that repetitive head trauma can take, even on elite athletes, and the importance of protecting player health and safety.