Super Bowl champion Steve McMichael, who died last year, revealed to have CTE

Pro Football Hall of Famer and Super Bowl champion Steve McMichael, who died past twelvemonth astatine 67 aft a five-year conflict pinch ALS, has been posthumously diagnosed pinch chronic traumatic encephalopathy, amended known arsenic CTE.

The Concussion & CTE Foundation announced that McMichael was diagnosed pinch shape 3 CTE. CTE tin only beryllium diagnosed aft death.

McMichael revealed he had ALS successful 2021, and pledged his encephalon to beryllium studied upon his death, according to Chris Nowinski, co-founder and CEO of nan Concussion & CTE Foundation.

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Steve McMichael of nan Chicago Bears runs a play during a crippled against nan Dallas Cowboys successful Chicago, Illinois, connected Dec. 29, 1991. The Cowboys hit nan Bears 17-13. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

"Too galore NFL players are processing ALS during life and diagnosed pinch CTE aft death," his wife, Misty McMichael, said successful a connection released by nan foundation. "I donated Steve’s encephalon to animate caller investigation into nan nexus betwixt them."

CTE is simply a degenerative encephalon disease that has been recovered successful athletes successful interaction sports, combat veterans, and others exposed to repetitive caput trauma. It has been known to origin convulsive temper swings, impulsive behavior, and depression.

ALS affects nervus cells successful nan encephalon and spinal cord, causing nonaccomplishment of musculus control.

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Misty McMichael, woman of 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Steve McMichael, poses pinch his bust during nan enshrinement ceremonial astatine Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium successful Canton, Ohio, connected Aug. 3, 2024. Steve McMichael was incapable to be owed to illness. (Charles LeClaire/USA TODAY Sports)

According to a 2021 study by nan Harvard Medical School and nan Boston University CTE Center, NFL players are much than 4 times much apt to create ALS than different men. Dr. Ann McKee, head of nan Boston University CTE Center, said astir 6% of individuals pinch CTE successful nan encephalon slope besides person ALS, besides known arsenic Lou Gehrig’s disease.

"There is beardown grounds linking repetitive encephalon trauma and ALS," McKee said.

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Steve McMichael smiles during nan Chicago Bears training campy successful Lake Forest, Illinois, connected Aug. 28, 1990. (Charles Cherney/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service)

McMichael, who was inducted into nan Pro Football Hall of Fame successful 2024, was a cardinal personnel of nan Chicago Bears' Super Bowl winning play successful 1985. McMichael spent 13 seasons of his profession pinch nan Bears, racking up 847 mixed tackles and 91 sacks successful 191 games pinch Chicago.

McMichael played successful nan NFL for 15 seasons, spending his rookie play pinch nan New England Patriots, his adjacent 13 pinch nan Bears, and his last 1 pinch nan Green Bay Packers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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