Former Beers great and Super Bowl champion Steve “Mongo” McKimmel announced on Friday that he was battling amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
McMichael said he has been diagnosed with ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) at the beginning of 36 months, and is currently without the use of his arms and hands.
He said, ‘I will not go among the public anymore. … you’re not going to see me out for appearances, hell I can’t even sign my name, and everyone is speculating ‘Where’s McMichael, what’s wrong with that? ” McMichael said via WGN9. “I’m telling everyone here that I have ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease, so I’m not going to be a public figure.”
McMichael was diagnosed with ALS in January and a second opinion from the Mayo Clinic confirmed the diagnosis. McMichael is currently using a customized wheelchair provided by Bears.
Following McMichael’s retirement from football in 1994, he spent time with World Championship Wrestling between 1995 and 1999, eventually joining the villain and the iconic For Horseman.
ALS is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the nerves and spine. Several NFL players have faced ALS, including Steve Gleason and the late great Dwight Clarke.
McMichael is a College Football Hall of Famer and has won the Super ‘Balls 20’ as the anchor of the legendary ’85 Bears.
Originally drafted by the Patriots in 1980, he spent 13 seasons with Chicago before finishing his career with the Packers.
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