Steve McMichael

Two-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XX champion who anchored the Chicago Bears' defense for over a decade.

Stephen Douglas McMichael (October 17, 1957 – April 23, 2025), known by nicknames 'Mongo', 'Ming', and 'Ming the Merciless', was an American professional football player and wrestler. A defensive tackle for 15 NFL seasons, he played primarily for the Chicago Bears after being selected by the New England Patriots in the 1980 draft. He joined the Bears as a free agent, becoming a starting defensive tackle who helped the team win Super Bowl XX. During his tenure, he earned two Pro Bowl selections and four All-Pro honors. His career included a 101-game start streak until 1990, leading the team with 11½ sacks in 1988 and recording 108 tackles in 1989. He concluded his football career with the Green Bay Packers in 1994 before transitioning to wrestling.

Quick Facts

Position: Defensive tackle
Born: 17 October 1957
Birthplace: Houston, Texas, U.S.
Died: 23 April 2025
Place of death: Joliet, Illinois, U.S.
High school: Freer (Freer, Texas)
College: Texas (1975–1980)
Draft year: 1980

Lore & Background

McMichael's NFL journey began at Freer High School, where he lettered in six sports, though baseball was his preference; as a catcher, he batted .450 in his senior year, attracting interest from the St. Louis Cardinals and Cincinnati Reds. After choosing the University of Texas at Austin, he played defensive tackle for the Longhorns from 1976 to 1979, earning consensus first-team All-American honors in his final season and serving as defensive MVP at the 1979 Hula Bowl.

Drafted by the Patriots in the third round (73rd overall) of the 1980 NFL draft, he was cut before his second season but signed with the Bears. He led the team with 11½ sacks in 1988 and recorded 108 tackles in 1989. A defining moment occurred in a 1991 game against the New York Jets; with the Bears down 13–6, he forced a Blair Thomas fumble recovered at the New York 36, setting up Jim Harbaugh's game-tying touchdown and eventual overtime victory. Coach Mike Ditka later stated McMichael was the toughest player he had ever coached.

Reader's Guide

McMichael's path to fame began with a unique childhood in Houston; his parents separated before his second birthday, and he adopted the surname McMichael from his mother's husband, E.V. McMichael, though his birth surname remains unreported. He attended Freer High School before moving to the University of Texas, where he was an All-Southwest Conference choice in 1978 and 1979 and team MVP in 1979. In 2007, he became the head coach of the Chicago Slaughter in the Continental Indoor Football League, a role he held until 2013. He also ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Romeoville, Illinois. His health declined after an ALS diagnosis in 2021; on April 23, 2025, he was moved into hospice care and passed away the same day at age 67. Before his final days, he remained a regular presence on Chicago sports radio and owned a restaurant in the southwest suburbs of Chicago named after him.

Did You Know?

McMichael batted .450 as a catcher in his senior year of high school, garnering attention from MLB teams before choosing football.
In 1997, he lost his United States Heavyweight Championship to Curt Hennig.
His sister Kathy delivered his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction speech in August 2024 after he was selected for the class of 2024.