Bears Hall of Famer McMichael Diagnosed with CTE

Researchers find former defensive star suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 6:30pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the violent collision of a football tackle, rendered in a cubist style using overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange.A cubist interpretation of the physical toll of professional football, as former players continue to grapple with the neurological aftermath of repeated head impacts.Boston Today

Hall of Famer Steve McMichael, a standout defensive player for the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears, has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma often found in former NFL players.

Why it matters

McMichael's diagnosis highlights the ongoing concerns around the long-term effects of concussions and head injuries in professional football, with many former players developing debilitating neurological conditions like CTE, Parkinson's, and ALS later in life.

The details

The Concussion & CTE Foundation announced that McMichael, 64, was found to have CTE, a progressive brain disease caused by repeated blows to the head. McMichael played 13 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Bears, and was a key part of the team's dominant 1985 defense that won the Super Bowl.

  • Steve McMichael played for the Chicago Bears from 1980 to 1993.
  • The Concussion & CTE Foundation announced McMichael's CTE diagnosis in April 2026.

The players

Steve McMichael

A Hall of Fame defensive tackle who played 13 seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Chicago Bears, and was a key member of the Bears' dominant 1985 Super Bowl-winning defense.

Concussion & CTE Foundation

A non-profit organization dedicated to researching and raising awareness about chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and other neurodegenerative diseases affecting former athletes.

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The takeaway

McMichael's CTE diagnosis underscores the urgent need for the NFL and medical community to continue researching the long-term neurological impacts of head injuries in football and develop better prevention and treatment protocols to protect player health and safety.