Who is Misty McMichael? Meet the wife of NFL legend Steve McMichael
Steve McMichael's wife, Misty McMichael, stood by him for 24 years. The late NFL legend, nicknamed Mongo, married her in 2001, and they had one daughter. When Steve got ALS in 2021, she advocated for his induction into the Hall of Fame and said at the 2024 NFL Honours:
He's amazing. In football, especially, but in everything he does, he's amazing. He's the most awesome football player I've ever seen.
Source: Getty Images
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Key takeaways
- Steve McMichael met Misty in Texas in the late 1990s after switching to a wrestling career in World Championship Wrestling.
- The couple welcomed their daughter, Macy Dale, in 2008.
- Misty became Mongo's primary caretaker and representative at public events during his battle with ALS, a disease that claimed his life in April 2025.
Misty McMichael's profile summary
Full name | Misty Davenport McMichael |
Date of birth | August 31, 1970 |
Age | 55 years old (as of November 2025) |
Place of birth | Texas |
Husband | Steve 'Mongo' McMichael (2001 to 2025) |
Children | Daughter Macy Dale McMichael |
Social media |
Misty and Steve McMichael had a chance meeting in Texas
Steve McMichael's wife was raised in South Texas. She crossed paths with the former Chicago Bears defensive tackle in 1998 while hanging out with her friends at Pearl's Oyster Bar in Austin.
The couple shared in their March 2022 interview with The Athletic that Mongo's first words were, "I don't know what you think, but you can't have me." The pair would become inseparable until his death.
McMichael had retired from the NFL a few years earlier in 1994 and was dominating on the professional wrestling circuit. Despite his on-field achievements, Misty did not know who he was when they met. In an August 2005 interview with the Chicago Tribune, the late NFL star said meeting her was the best thing to happen to him.
I trusted her with my psyche right off. We had to [comb] through a lot of stuff. She saved my life.
Source: Original
Misty and Steve McMichael's marriage
Steve proposed to Misty in 1999 during a trip to Venice, Italy. The couple exchanged vows on March 24, 2001, at the Barton Creek Country Club in Austin, Texas.
Steve was previously married to his first wife, former wrestler and actress Debra Marshall, for 13 years. They tied the knot in February 1985 and divorced in October 1998.
Misty had also been divorced from her first husband. She was still working for her ex-husband's brother, who owned a stripogram in Texas, when she met Steve.
Source: Instagram
Misty and Steve McMichael had one daughter
Steve and Misty welcomed their first and only child, Macy Dale McMichael, on January 22, 2008. The NFL star was 50 years old at the time and had wanted to be a father for several years.
The couple revealed in their April 2008 interview with the Daily Herald that they had been trying to become parents for two years. Misty praised the Chicago Bears legend for being a great dad.
Source: Instagram
Misty pushed for McMichael's induction into the Hall of Fame
Steve was one of the NFL's best defensive tackles in the 1980s. He was a cornerstone in the Chicago Bears' dominant 1985 Super Bowl XX-winning defence. His wife, Misty, campaigned to have him immortalised in Canton, and her efforts paid off.
Mongo was officially selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 8, 2024, as a member of the Class of 2024 alongside fellow Bears stars Julius Peppers and Devin Hester. An elated Misty told Fox 32 Chicago at the time:
I feel vindicated. I feel just very, very happy for him because this is his life's dream, and he's worked so hard his whole life for this. And when he could no longer speak for himself, I was honoured and privileged to speak for him. And I'm just happy my voice was louder than his, and I can't believe that!
McMichael was enshrined on August 3, 2024, at a ceremony held in Canton, Ohio. Due to Steve's battle with ALS, the Hall of Fame delegation brought him the Gold Jacket and Bronze Bust at his home in Homer Glen, Illinois. His sister, Kathy, delivered a speech on his behalf in Canton.
Source: Getty Images
Misty supported Steve through his ALS battle
The Super Bowl champion was diagnosed with ALS in late 2020. He announced the devastating news in an April 2021 interview with the Chicago Tribune, saying that was not how he envisioned his life would end.
He was awarded the ALS Courage Award from the Les Turner ALS Foundation in September 2021. Misty chose to become Mongo's primary caregiver at their home in Homer Glen after an Illinois hospital suggested he be taken to a nursing home.
In their 2022 interview with The Athletic, Steve praised his wife for being the best nurse. He also admitted that he initially asked her to help him die, but she chose to keep him alive longer.
McMichael passed away on April 23, 2025, several hours after his family announced that he had been taken into hospice care. He was 67.
Source: Getty Images
Steve McMichael left a $1 million estate
Misty Michael's net worth is unknown, but her husband's estate was estimated to be $1 million at the time of his death, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Much of his wealth went into his ALS treatment and care, which is costly.
The family started a GoFundMe where they raised over $200,000. They raised more money through charity fundraisers. Steve's former NFL team, the Chicago Bears, also chipped in to lessen the financial burden.
Source: Getty Images
Conclusion
Steve McMichael's wife, Misty McMichael, has lived up to her wedding vows, standing by his side until his death. She continues to be actively involved in raising awareness of ALS while keeping Mongo's unforgettable legacy alive.
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Briefly.co.za highlighted facts about Troy Polamalu's wife, Theodora Holmes. She is the younger sister of former NFL tight end Alex Holmes, who played college football at USC with Troy.
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Source: Briefly News
