Ex-Chicago Bear, Mayor Candidate Steve McMichael Has ALS: Report

ROMEOVILLE, IL— Former Chicago Bears defensive tackle and one-time Romeoville mayoral candidate Steve "Mongo" McMichael confirmed to the Chicago Tribune that he has been diagnosed with ALS.

McMichael, 63, played on the Bears for 12 years as one of their star defensive starters. He played a final season for the Green Bay Packers before ending his sports career with four years as a professional wrestler.

In 2013, McMichael ran for mayor of Romeoville. Despite a celebrity endorsement from Mike Ditka, McMichael lost to John Noak amidst claims of breaking election law and refusing to engage Noak in a debate.

McMichael also teamed up with Stavros "Steve" Spandonitis to open Mongo McMichaels, a sports bar and restaurant in Romeoville. The business is currently raising money to help pay for the McMichael's treatments. There is no known cure for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. The condition targets a patient's nervous system and blocks communication from the brain to the muscles.

"I promise you, this epitaph that I’m going to have on me now? This ain’t ever how I envisioned this was going to end," McMichael told the Chicago Tribune on Friday.

In addition to sports fame and political dabbling, McMichael played in a cover band with some of his former Bears team. The Chicago Six often stopped in the suburbs to sing rock songs at alumni nights or small concerts.

McMichael is second in Chicago Bears history in sacks and third in tackles.