Chicago Bears icon Steve McMichael is in the midst of a tough battle with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

McMichael revealed the extent of his condition to Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune. He told Wiederer he struggles with mobility and must be fed and bathed by his wife, Misty. “Mongo” has also lost anywhere between 50 to 60 pounds.

The Super Bowl champion said he wants to be open about his condition because he wants the public to understand why he won't be very visible going forward:

“I want everybody to realize why they’re no longer going to see me around,” McMichael told Wiederer.

It is a sad state of affairs for one of the most outspoken personalities of a Chicago Bears defense that practically ruled the football world in the 1980s.

McMichael was a critical piece of that defensive unit, making a pair of All-Pro teams in 1985 and 1987 as the team's most imposing interior force. He had at least seven or more sacks in eight separate seasons, finishing with 10 or more sacks three times. The Houston native was also named Second Team All-Decade in the 1980s by Pro Football Reference.

McMichael acknowledged things are quite a bit different than they used to be:

“I know what it feels like to go in the weight room and do a set of three with 725 pounds on the squat rack,” McMichael said, via Wiederer. “Now? When I get up and try to move? It feels like I’m doing 1,000 (bleeping) pounds. And it’s just exhausting straining that hard. That’s what my world is now.”

But while McMichael's physical state has been deteriorating, former teammates like Gary Fencik told Wiederer he continues to maintain a positive attitude and take the challenge head-on.

For his part, McMichael said he is grateful for the visits and kind words from former teammates. But it has been a difficult journey for the Bears legend, who once seemed capable of putting the world on his shoulders.