Steve “Mongo” McMichael, a football veteran who put together a Hall of Fame sporting career before having a stint in professional wrestling, has passed away after a years-long battle with ALS, the NFL confirmed Wednesday. He was 67.
Born in Houston, Texas, McMichael would spend his youth playing numerous sports before settling on football. His excellence as a defensive tackle in high school allowed him to receive numerous college scholarships – he remained in his home state to play as a Longhorn at the University of Texas at Austin.
He would become an acclaimed Longhorn and later be brought into the College Football Hall of Fame, but his greatness as a player is best known for his one-and-a-half decade as a player in the NFL.
After a year with the New England Patriots, McMichael would join the Chicago Bears in 1981, a team he would become most closely tied to due to his decade-long career wearing their jersey. His time with the squad included a win at Super Bowl XX and a pair of First-team All-Pro awards.
During his playing career, he would adopt the nickname “Mongo,” a title taken from a character in the 1974 film “Blazing Saddles.” McMichael retired from the sport in 1994, leaving behind a career which earned him a Pro Football Hall of Fame induction last year.
McMichael would take up a career in professional wrestling a year later. After sitting ringside at Wrestlemania XI, rooting for fellow footballer Lawrence Taylor as he took on Bam Bam Bigelow, McMichael signed a deal to work for WCW.
McMichael would wrestle more than 150 matches for WCW from 1996 to 1999, including a stint as part of the Four Horsemen. His time with the promotion featured a brief reign as the WCW United States Heavyweight Champion.
Ric Flair, who shared the ring with McMichael more than a dozen times, issued his condolences on Wednesday.
“An Amazing Athlete And Human Being!” he wrote on X. “I Have The Fondest Memories Working With Him, And This Is An Extremely Heartbreaking Loss For Me! I Love You Mongo! You Fought One Hell Of A Battle!”
In 2021, McMichael was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a disease which causes loss of muscle control. The disease is fatal and remains without a cure. He was reportedly expected to be moved into hospice care on Wednesday before his passing was announced.
McMichael is survived by his wife, Misty, and their daughter, Macy.
