Steve McMichael’s family has good news on the Chicago Bears legend’s health.
Known as “Mongo” by the Bears fanbase, McMichael, who has ALS, was hospitalized in an Illinois intensive care unit on Thursday night with sepsis and pneumonia.
The sepsis is gone, but he is still battling pneumonia, his family said Saturday.
“Steve will be in the ICU for a few more days on IV antibiotics to clear this infection. He also has some fluid in his lungs which he is being treated for as well,” his wife Misty McMichael said from the hospital, according to multiple reports.
“He’s as feisty as ever. Our Mongo is back! Please keep the prayers coming.”
McMichael, diagnosed with ALS in 2021, had a do-not-resuscitate order set until Thursday, which was then renegotiated, according to ABC7 in Chicago.
On Thursday night, he told his doctor that he felt he needed to be taken to the hospital, voiding the DNR order, and while waiting for the ambulance to arrive, he went unconscious.
Once at the hospital, McMichael was put on IV antibiotics to help clear the infections, and he woke up Friday morning around 7 a.m.
“Steve is living to see the day he is finally enshrined. His resilience is unmatched, just like his play on the field of the sport he still loves,” Betsy Shepherd, his publicist and friend of 23 years told Fox32. “I was fortunate enough to visit Steve on Friday afternoon and he even cracked a smile.
“I want Team Mongo to know that their support is truly helping Steve through this difficult time in his life.”
McMichael was a defensive tackle for Chicago for 13 seasons, where he earned two All-Pro selections and was an essential part of the team’s defensive line in its 1985 Super Bowl victory over the Patriots.
McMichael also holds multiple franchise records, including playing in 191 consecutive games played from 1981 to 1993.
He’s also second on the franchise’s all-time sack list with 92.5.
McMichael was also a pro wrestler and a member of the famous Four Horseman faction in WCW.
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