It is with heavy hearts and folded steel chairs that we say goodbye to one of the most unique double-threat legends in sports history: Steve “Mongo” McMichael has passed away at the age of 67 following a courageous four-year battle with ALS.
Known to football fans as part of the Super Bowl XX-winning Chicago Bears and to wrestling fans as a wild card in a suit on WCW commentary before later joining the Four Horsemen, Mongo didn’t just play the game—he body slammed it and then barked at it with a Texas drawl.
The news broke Wednesday afternoon after McMichael was admitted to hospice care. Reports confirmed he had been removed from a ventilator in the ICU earlier in the day. It was WGN’s Jarrett Payton who shared the news with the public on X (formerly Twitter), writing:
“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.”
Mongo the Gridiron Enforcer:
Before clotheslines and clobberin’, McMichael was a cornerstone of one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history—the 1985 “Monsters of the Midway.” A relentless defensive tackle with the Chicago Bears, he struck fear into quarterbacks and post-game buffets alike. In 2024, the NFL rightfully recognized his legacy, inducting him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mongo the Wrestler (and Chaos Enthusiast):
Mongo’s post-NFL career saw him charge headfirst into WCW in the mid-90s. First on commentary (where he famously winged it like an uncle at a wedding toast), and later in the ring where he somehow managed to win the WCW United States Championship in 1997 by defeating Jeff Jarrett. A man of many talents—some polished, some wildly improvised—Mongo was never boring.
As a member of the Four Horsemen, he brought unpredictability to a faction built on finesse and fury. While Mongo’s ring work often divided fans, his charisma was as undeniable as his three-piece suits and flying tackles.
The Final Years:
After being diagnosed with ALS in 2021, McMichael withdrew from the public spotlight but remained a symbol of toughness and heart. Even as his condition worsened, including a MRSA battle and blood transfusions earlier in 2024, the wrestling and NFL communities rallied around him with tributes, fundraisers, and outpourings of love.
Rest in Power, Mongo.
You tackled life, piledrove expectation, and made being unfiltered an art form. From Soldier Field to the squared circle, you were a force of nature wrapped in shoulder pads and southern charm.
Heaven just got its own Four Horseman.