Jim McMahon: ‘Mongo' never quit. And neither will I, in advocating for pain relief.
Chicago lost a legend last week. I lost a brother.
Bears great Steve 'Mongo' McMichael wasn't just a teammate during our Super Bowl run. He was a once-in-a-generation personality — fearless, funny and fiercely loyal. Whether it was on the field, in the wrestling ring or in a quiet moment with his family, Mongo brought everything he had to the table.
When he was diagnosed with ALS — one of the cruelest, most unforgiving diseases out there — none of us were surprised to see him fight it with the same intensity he brought to every quarterback he ever chased down. But that didn't make it any easier to watch.
ALS strips away everything slowly and relentlessly. It started with Steve's grip, then moved to his ability to eat, speak and eventually breathe on his own. The pain, the discomfort, the exhaustion — it's something no one should have to endure. And yet, Steve endured it all with grit, grace and heart.
And through it all, he found relief and even some peace. Not from pharmaceuticals, but from something the public still doesn't fully understand: hemp.
Now, let me be clear — I'm not talking about the cheap stuff you see behind the counter at gas stations. I'm talking about carefully produced, high-quality hemp-derived products. Since Steve's diagnosis, we began digging into the science and looking for help. Liquid delta-8 products became a game-changer in Steve's care.
These products eased his pain. They improved his mood. They brought a level of comfort that opioids simply couldn't — and without the haze, the dependency or the risk. The doctors told us Steve had maybe two to five years. But he kept fighting well beyond that. And I genuinely believe these hemp products played a major role in that extension — not just of time but of dignity.
This wasn't about getting high. It was about staying human.
When Steve felt better, we all felt better. His family, his nurses, his fans — nobody wants to see a man suffer like that. These products gave him some relief, and they gave us all a little breathing room during the most brutal moments of his journey. What made the actual difference in Steve's physical and emotional well-being were those hemp products.
And yet, right now, lawmakers across the country are working to ban or severely restrict access to the very products that helped Steve. They're doing it under the false assumption that these compounds are dangerous or recreational-only. That's just not true.
This outdated view does real harm. It ignores the science. It erases the stories of families like mine. And worst of all, it removes a vital option for people living through hell, just because the political conversation hasn't caught up with the reality on the ground.
There's a way forward. We can have a well-regulated cannabis market and a safe, responsible hemp market. Regulation doesn't have to mean prohibition. It should mean quality control, proper labeling, transparency — the things any consumer deserves, especially when their health is on the line.
I co-founded Project Champion to advocate for that kind of future. Not just for former athletes like Steve and me, but for veterans, seniors, caregivers, and anyone looking for a natural, nonaddictive way to feel better.
Steve believed in this fight. He supported this mission. And now that he's gone, I'm going to carry it forward.
Let's be honest about what's at stake. This isn't about culture wars or politics. It's about compassion, about options and about common sense. It's about giving people tools that help — especially when everything else has failed.
Mongo never quit. Neither will I. And neither should we.
Rest easy, my brother. Your fight isn't over. We've got it from here.
Jim McMahon, quarterback for the 1985 Super Bowl-winning Bears, played in the NFL for 15 seasons. McMahon considers medical cannabis a 'godsend' for the football-related injuries that have plagued him. He is co-founder of advocacy group Project Champion, along with NFL greats Ricky Williams and Kyle Turley, and co-founder of Revenant, a line of cannabis products.
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