NFL Hall of Famer Steve McMichael Posthumously Diagnosed with Stage 3 CTE
NFL Hall of Famer and former Chicago Bears player Steve McMichael has been posthumously diagnosed with Stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) by researchers at Boston University's Concussion and CTE Foundation. The diagnosis was announced a year after McMichael's passing due to complications from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
His brain also tested positive for severe CTE and ALS, prompting researchers to highlight a potential link between repetitive brain trauma and the neurodegenerative disease.
"His brain also tested positive for severe CTE and ALS, prompting researchers to highlight a potential link between repetitive brain trauma and the neurodegenerative disease."
Diagnosis Details
Steve McMichael, a member of the 1985 Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears team, was diagnosed with Stage 3 of four chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The findings were presented by researchers at Boston University's Concussion and CTE Foundation following McMichael's death a year prior from complications related to ALS.
Connecting CTE and ALS
Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, confirmed that McMichael's brain exhibited severe CTE along with ALS, specifically noting the presence of TDP-43 inclusions in his brainstem and spinal cord.
Dr. McKee stated that there is strong evidence suggesting a link between repetitive brain trauma and ALS. She noted that approximately 6% of individuals within Boston University's brain bank who were diagnosed with CTE also had ALS.
Misty McMichael, Steve McMichael's wife, donated his brain for research. She shared the diagnosis publicly to raise awareness of the connection between CTE and ALS among former NFL players and to encourage further study into this link.
McMichael's Career and Head Trauma
McMichael played in the NFL for 15 years. Throughout his college and professional football career, he sustained numerous hits to the head. Medical experts identify repeated head trauma as a cause of CTE.
Broader Implications and Ongoing Concerns
Dr. Chris Nowinsky, CEO of the Concussion and CTE Foundation, described CTE as a progressive degenerative brain disease that can lead to dementia.
He reported that CTE has been diagnosed in 90% of the 400 NFL players studied by the foundation and in nearly all former NFL players who developed ALS. Dr. Nowinsky added that CTE is not exclusive to professional athletes, with diagnoses also occurring in college and high school athletes.
Concerns regarding brain safety extend to other sports due to the risk of concussions from repeated head impacts, such as headers in soccer. The issue of brain safety has gained increased attention over the past decade, driven in part by high-profile cases involving NFL players diagnosed with CTE. The Concussion and CTE Foundation plans to honor McMichael at an upcoming fundraiser event.