Since revealing his diagnosis, McMichael decided that he will no longer be in the public eye.
“I’m not going to be out in the public any more…you’re not going to see me out doing appearances, hell I can’t even sign my name any more, and everybody’s going to be speculating ‘Where’s McMichael, what’s wrong with him?” McMichael told WGN. “I’m here to tell everyone I’ve been diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, so I’m not going to be a public figure any more.”
McMichael played 15 years in the NFL and spent 13 seasons with the Bears. He was drafted out of Texas in 1980 by the New England Patriots before signing with the Bears in 1981.
Since revealing his diagnosis, McMichael decided that he will no longer be in the public eye.
“I’m not going to be out in the public any more…you’re not going to see me out doing appearances, hell I can’t even sign my name any more, and everybody’s going to be speculating ‘Where’s McMichael, what’s wrong with him?” McMichael told WGN. “I’m here to tell everyone I’ve been diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig’s Disease, so I’m not going to be a public figure any more.”
McMichael played 15 years in the NFL and spent 13 seasons with the Bears. He was drafted out of Texas in 1980 by the New England Patriots before signing with the Bears in 1981.
Steve ‘Mongo’ McMichael is suddenly in a vicious fight against ALS. ‘This ain’t ever how I envisioned this was going to end,’ the Chicago Bears great says.
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Brace yourself. This is not the Steve McMichael you’re used to seeing, this gaunt 63-year-old man propped up on an elevated chair in the corner of his kitchen and struggling with basic movement. It just doesn’t compute.
This isn’t the McMichael whom Chicago has known over the last 40 years as a Chicago Bears great, a rollicking presence wherever he goes, an entertainer who fills whatever room he’s in with his imposing stature, booming voice and larger-than-life personality.
Former Bears defensive lineman Steve McMichael announced Friday he has been diagnosed with ALS.
McMichael, 63, played more than a decade with the Bears from 1981-93. He was an All-Pro in 1985 and 1987, winning Super Bowl XX as a member of one of the greatest defenses in NFL history. I m glad in my life I never held back anything, McMichael told WGN s Jarrett Payton. I went at it full bore and did a lot of things in my life.
McMichael was first diagnosed in January before receiving a second opinion. He said Friday he will end his usual public appearances due to the diagnosis, including his work with ESPN Radio in Chicago.
At this time next week, we’ll be discussing the Chicago Bears’ first first-round pick since taking Roquan Smith in the 2018 NFL Draft. That is, of course, unless the Bears trade out of the first round.
• Speaking of Roquan Smith, he won the Ed Block Courage Award. It’s always neat to see really good players win awards that honor things they do off the field.
• It will soon be time to pivot to the future when talking about Smith. More specifically, Smith’s long-term future with the team. I see that ESPN’s Jake Trotter reports the Browns are picking up he fifth-year option on Baker Mayfield’s deal. The first overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft will make $18.858 million on the fifth year of his rookie deal. If you’ll recall, this class of rookies is the first wherein the fifth-year option is fully guaranteed. In other words, teams can’t do what the Bears did with Leonard Floyd and pick up a player’s fifth-year option, only to cut him before that option seaso