Within days of the interview, Andrew

Elias Fernandez, a construction worker who lost his job last year, sleeps with his family in the living room of a friend’s house, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)Elias Fernandez, a construction worker who lost his job last year, sleeps with his family in the living room of a friend’s house, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Thursday, Feb. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Juan Fernandez reaches up to touch a bouquet of flowers given by a vendor to his stepsister Morena Vallejo as a birthday gift, while accompanying their father to search for recyclable items to sell, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)Juan Fernandez reaches up to touch a bouquet of flowers given by a vendor to his stepsister Morena Vallejo as a birthday gift, while accompanying their father to search for recyclable items to sell, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Feb. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)Elias Fernandez, center, and his son Juan hold onto to their containers as they wait in line to receive free food from a soup kitchen in the Carlos Mugica neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Elias Fernandez, center, and his son Juan hold onto to their containers as they wait in line to receive free food from a soup kitchen in the Carlos Mugica neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)Elias Fernandez loads a bathtub onto his recycling cart while his son Juan sits in a car seat, both items they found on the side of the road while on their recycling rounds, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Elias Fernandez loads a bathtub onto his recycling cart while his son Juan sits in a car seat, both items they found on the side of the road while on their recycling rounds, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Jan. 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

Elias Fernandez, right, celebrates his 28th birthday at a friend’s house where he and his family are staying, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, March 2, 2025.(AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)“It’s a cruel irony that the Bears’ Ironman succumbed to this dreaded disease,”

. “Yet Steve showed us throughout his struggle that his real strength was internal, and he demonstrated on a daily basis his class, his dignity and his humanity. He is at peace now. We offer our condolences to Misty, (daughter) Macy, the rest of Steve’s family, his teammates, and countless friends and fans of a great Bear.”Pro Football Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said in a statement: “Steve McMichael told everyone he would fight ALS with the same tenacity he showed for 15 seasons in the National Football League. And he did just that. Everyone who played with or against Steve shares the same opinion: No one battled longer or harder from the snap until the whistle than Steve the player.”

Soon after his career ended, McMichael got involved with wrestling.In April 1995, he was in Lawrence Taylor’s corner at the WWF’s WrestleMania when the New York Giants great met Bam Bam Bigelow. Later that year, he started with WCW as a commentator.