Bears legend and Hall of Famer Steve McMichael passes away following a prolonged battle with ALS; tributes flood in after his death.

 Chicago Bears legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve McMichael passed away on Wednesday after a long battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).

Jarrett Payton, the son of Bears great Walter Payton, confirmed McMichael's death on social media Wednesday evening, a news that was later verified by the NFL. Earlier that day, McMichael had been transferred to hospice care following a hospital visit that resulted in a stay in intensive care.

"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," Payton wrote.

Affectionately known as "Mongo," McMichael was a five-time All-Pro defensive tackle who played 13 of his 15 NFL seasons with the Bears. He was a crucial member of the 1985 Bears defense, which powered the team to its only Super Bowl victory.

Diagnosed with ALS in 2021, McMichael, 67, struggled with the disease's progression. ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative illness that gradually erodes nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, affecting movement, speech, eating, and breathing, and ultimately leading to death.

McMichael, who lost control of his limbs and speech in the early stages of the disease, had been bedridden for several years, according to the Chicago Tribune.

His emotional induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame occurred remotely during the 2024 ceremony in Canton, Ohio, with McMichael’s family and former teammates like Mike Singletary and Richard Dent by his side. His Hall of Fame bust, with his signature flowing hair, was revealed bedside in his home.

McMichael, a beloved Chicago figure, was known for his larger-than-life personality, which fit perfectly with the 1985 Bears’ dynamic roster. A third-round pick out of Texas in 1980, McMichael's career with the Bears spanned from 1981 to 1993. He was named All-Pro every season from 1984 to 1988 and again in 1991. He anchored a Bears defense that helped the team secure six NFC Central titles from 1984 to 1990. Over his career, McMichael recorded 95 sacks, 847 tackles, and 13 forced fumbles across 213 games.

Former Bears head coach Mike Ditka hailed McMichael as one of the toughest players he ever coached, a sentiment that captured the essence of McMichael’s matchless intensity on the field.

After retiring from football in 1994, McMichael remained an active part of the Chicago community. He owned a restaurant, Mongo McMichaels, in Romeoville and coached an Indoor Football League team. In a lighter moment, McMichael became the first person ejected from a Chicago Cubs game after performing a song during the seventh-inning stretch.

A fixture at local fundraisers and events, McMichael was a regular at Chicago Police Department charity initiatives, often donning a kilt to participate in pub crawls benefiting first responders.

Tributes to McMichael have poured in from all corners of the sports world since his passing.