UPDATED: WCW Alumnus & NFL Great Steve McMichael Passes Away At 67

UPDATE: Steve “Mongo” McMichael, the NFL great who transitioned to a wrestling career with WCW in the 1990s, has passed away. The NFL announced on Wednesday that McMichael had died. As previously noted, McMichael was taken off a ventilator in the ICU and transferred to a hospice care facility earlier. He was 67.

McMichael had a legendary career in the NFL, playing 13 seasons with the Chicago Bears and playing a crucial role in their 1985 Super Bowl run. He played one more season with the Green Bay Packers before retiring from the sport in 1994. Once he retired, he made an appearance at WrestleMania X in the corner of Lawrence Taylor for his match with Bam Bam Bigelow, then joined WCW first as a color commentator and then in the ring.

McMichael’s first foray into the ring saw him team with fellow NFL alumnus Kevin Greene in a feud with Ric Flair and Arn Anderson. McMichael turned on Green during the match and joined the Four Horseman. He would go on to feud with the Dungeon of Doom and then Jeff Jarrett, who he later tagged with.

McMichael would eventually be kicked out of the Horseman and saw his wife Debra leave him for Jarrett, but got his revenge when he won the WCW United States Championship at Clash of the Champions XXXV in August of 1997. He would eventually lose the title to Curt Hennig and continued to compete with the company for a couple of years, feuding with The Flock, the British Bulldog and more. His final match was in March of 1999.

McMichael made a return appearance to wrestling at TNA Bound For Glory 2008, where he refereed the Monster’s Ball match that saw Beer Money defend the TNA World Tag Team Championships against Abyss and Matt Morgan, LAX, and Team 3D.

On behalf of 411, our condolences to the family, friends and many, many fans of Mr. McMichael. He will be missed.

ORIGINAL: WCW alumnus Steve “Mongo” McMichael is entering hospice care, according to a new report. WJTV reports that the Pro Football Hall of Famer, who joined WCW in 1995, is being removed from a ventilator in the ICU and transferred to a hospice care facility. A rep for McMichael, who was diagnosed with ALS in January of 2021, confirmed the news in an email to the AP.

McMichael is a former WCW United States Champion and an alumnus of the Four Horsemen. He appeared ringside for Lawrence Taylor’s match at WrestleMania X and refereed the Monster’s Ball Match at TNA Bound For Glory 2008.

On behalf of 411, our best wishes to McMichael and his family.