{
  "$type": "site.standard.document",
  "bskyPostRef": {
    "cid": "bafyreighlvdmtclcla55x23h2sat5zu5lpmek5j2jxxy25rznwtnnetf4q",
    "uri": "at://did:plc:ha7wpngv4f2qwrk5hta4ktbb/app.bsky.feed.post/3mjgb56hfyv22"
  },
  "coverImage": {
    "$type": "blob",
    "ref": {
      "$link": "bafkreicnyd32wgl5dl6stqnbfugmq5d5w6lolsxum62r6y7cd64m7xoc3u"
    },
    "mimeType": "image/jpeg",
    "size": 128750
  },
  "path": "/bears/2026/04/13/former-bears-assistant-and-nearly-head-coach-dave-mcginnis-dies-at-74",
  "publishedAt": "2026-04-14T00:19:51.109Z",
  "site": "https://chicago.suntimes.com",
  "textContent": "<p>Dave McGinnis, the longtime Bears assistant coach whose botched head-coaching hire led matriarch Virginia McCaskey to replace her own son as team president, died Monday at 74.</p><p></p><p>McGinnis was the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"_blank\" >Bears</a>’ linebackers coach from 1986-95, mentoring, among others, Mike Singletary, Otis Wilson and Wilber Marshall. He became the Cardinals’ defensive coordinator in 1996 and was the Bears’ first choice to replace head coach Dave Wannstedt when he was fired in January 1999.</p><p></p><p>After the <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2022/1/18/22889969/bears-mccaskey-track-record-odds-they-get-coach-gm-right-bill-polian-george-mccaskey\" target=\"_blank\" >Bears</a> interviewed five candidates, they sent out a press release and scheduled a news conference to welcome McGinnis as the Bears’ 12<sup>th</sup> head coach — only McGinnis had never agreed to a contract. The news conference was delayed, then canceled. Disturbed by the unusual process and upset by contract terms that he considered below the industry standard, McGinnis left Halas Hall and never accepted the Bears’ job. The team apologized.</p><p></p><p>The Bears hired Dick Jauron the next day. Three weeks later, Virginia McCaskey decided to replace Michael McCaskey as president with vice president of operations Ted Phillips, who negotiated contracts for the team. It marked the first time in Bears history that someone outside of the Halas and McCaskey families held the president title.</p><p></p><p>Michael McCaskey became chairman of the Bears board of directors, where he remained until 2011.</p><p></p><p>In 2018, McGinnis told the Talk of Fame Network that he woke up at his hotel on the second day of his Bears job interview and was “announced as the head coach before I had even been offered the job.\" He said that when he drove to Halas Hall to find out what was going on, he heard a WGN-720 AM news report that said he’d be introduced as head coach at 11 a.m.</p><p></p><p>McGinnis became an NFL head coach eventually, taking over the Cardinals on an interim basis in 2000 and going 17-40 over four seasons.</p><p></p><p>He became the Titans’ linebackers coach in 2003 and stayed until 2011 before following head coach Jeff Fisher to St. Louis. He served as the assistant head coach at both spots.</p><p></p><p>He spent the nine years as a color analyst for the Titans’ radio broadcasts. He was admitted to a Nashville hospital March 4 and was visited by friends and former players in recent days, according to the Titans.</p><bsp-list-loadmore class=\"PageListH\" data-module data-hide-authors=\"true\" data-hide-categories=\"true\" data-hide-dates=\"true\" data-show-loadmore=\"true\" ><a class=\"AnchorLink\" id=\"list-bc0001\" name=\"list-bc0001\"></a><div class=\"PageList-header\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title-wrap\" > <div class=\"PageList-header-title\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" target=\"{borderColor=#dfdfdf, pageNumber=1, inverseColors=false, footerBgColor=#000000, bodyFont=font-3, showListNumbers=false, imagePositionHorizontal=null, rteBodyFont=font-3, headerBottomBorderColor=#111010, titleUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, subTitle=null, stickyHeader=true, listTitleColor=#000000, tableCellBorderColor=#ccd1d5, items=[{type=Image, description=[{items=[The investigation comes amid increasing federal scrutiny of the amount of money fans are paying to watch sports on television.]}], url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/nfl/2026/04/09/nfl-under-federal-investigation-for-potential-anticompetitive-practices-justice-department, _styledTemplate=null, anchorId=promo-ed0000, imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, target=null, primaryMediaType=null, authors=[{authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/associated-press, bio=[{items=[The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Its teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting.]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, jobTitle=[], _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, name=[{items=[AP]}], media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/d1/88/7112e7cfa94944d87224e36ff8ff/ap-icon-512x512-0.png, width=512, height=512}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/d1/88/7112e7cfa94944d87224e36ff8ff/ap-icon-512x512-0.png, width=512, height=512}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=ap-icon-512x512-0.png}]}], wordCount=720, media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/f0/59/ccecadff4286bfc6af8478e21e32/ap26089693281367.jpg, width=7408, height=4941}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/f0/59/ccecadff4286bfc6af8478e21e32/ap26089693281367.jpg, width=7408, height=4941}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=In this Aug. 13, 2021, file photo, an NFL logo is displayed on a goal post pad during an NFL preseason football game between the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions in Detroit.}], ampLink=null, timestamp=1775767401000, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/nfl, category=[{items=[NFL]}], audio=[], audioDuration=null, title=NFL under federal investigation for anticompetitive practices as TV costs rise, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, publishDate=April 09, 2026 03:43 PM}, {type=Image, anchorId=promo-ed0001, _styledTemplate=null, title=To be the next Russell Wilson (or better), Caleb Williams must build on 4th-quarter wizardry, imageAlignment=null, media=[{image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a3/48/9b30fff748028160eb3ec5c495c1/bears-260111-111.jpg, width=6587, height=4393}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=BEARS-260111-111.jpg, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a3/48/9b30fff748028160eb3ec5c495c1/bears-260111-111.jpg, width=6587, height=4393}}], authors=[{media=[{ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=patrick-finley-0.jpg, narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a8/3e/6853c67f16af2c0c2ea207670528/patrick-finley-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/a8/3e/6853c67f16af2c0c2ea207670528/patrick-finley-0.jpg, width=512, height=512}}], authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/patrick-finley, bio=[{items=[Patrick Finley covers the Bears and the NFL for the Sun-Times after previous stops in Arizona, Florida and California.]}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, name=[{items=[Patrick Finley]}], jobTitle=[{items=[Chicago Bears reporter]}]}], category=[{items=[Bears]}], target=null, primaryMediaType=null, timestamp=1775728860000, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, isFeatured=true, ampLink=null, description=[{items=[Titans coach Robert Saleh compared Williams to Wilson, a future Hall of Famer, last week.]}], publishDate=April 09, 2026 05:01 AM, audio=[], audioDuration=null, wordCount=761, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/04/09/bears-quarterback-caleb-williams-russell-wilson-ben-johnson-fourth-quarter-wizardry-expand-robert-saleh-jeff-hafley-nfl}, {type=Image, authors=[{authorPageUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/associated-press, name=[{items=[AP]}], media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/d1/88/7112e7cfa94944d87224e36ff8ff/ap-icon-512x512-0.png, width=512, height=512}, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/d1/88/7112e7cfa94944d87224e36ff8ff/ap-icon-512x512-0.png, width=512, height=512}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=ap-icon-512x512-0.png}], ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, jobTitle=[], _template=/author/byline/AuthorByline.hbs, bio=[{items=[The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Its teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting.]}]}], wordCount=480, anchorId=promo-ed0002, _styledTemplate=null, media=[{narrowImage={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/28/7e/999278f5ba404e65f2125c267599/mcmichael-2.JPG, width=2400, height=1600}, ampLink=null, _styledTemplate=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, image={src=https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/28/7e/999278f5ba404e65f2125c267599/mcmichael-2.JPG, width=2400, height=1600}, alt=Steve McMichael speaking to the media in 2016 at a celebration of the Bears’ championship team.}], imageAlignment=null, isFeatured=false, description=[{items=[McMichael died last year after a four-year battle with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that can only be diagnosed after death.]}], target=null, title=Former Bears great Steve McMichael diagnosed with CTE after death, category=[{items=[Bears]}], primaryMediaType=null, timestamp=1775569111000, categoryUrl=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears, ampLink=null, url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/04/07/former-bears-great-steve-mcmichael-diagnosed-with-cte-after-death, audio=[], audioDuration=null, _template=/page/promo/PagePromo.hbs, publishDate=April 07, 2026 08:38 AM}], relatedListFont=font-1, hideAuthors=true, tertiaryTextColor=#6c6c6c, buttonHoverTextColor=#ffffff, tableFont=font-1, carouselAutoPlay=false, pullQuoteIcon=[{image=null, narrowImage=null, _template=/image/Image.hbs, alt=null}], pageCount=6862, promoTitleFont=font-2, _styledTemplate=/page/list/PageListH.hbs, ctaButtonText=[], primaryTextColor=#2a2a2a, buttonTextColor=#ffffff, linkTextColor=#1a1a1a, hideTitles=false, footerLinkColor=#ffffff, pagination=[{body=[Next Page], href=?p=2, _template=/link/Link.hbs, contentId=null, pianoSectionSlug=null, target=null}], carouselSpeed=null, buttonHoverBgColor=#a91d23, rteHeadingFont=font-1, secondaryColor=#656565, hideCategories=true, _template=/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs, font3=Arial, font4=Source-serif-4, ctaUrl=null, count=20586, hideImage=false, suppressPagination=true, footerLinkHoverColor=#d3242c, hideAudioPlayback=false, description=[], showSecondItemMedia=false, listColumns234=null, footerTextColor=#ffffff, title=Latest on the Bears, headerSecondaryBgColor=#000000, primaryTextColorInverse=#ffffff, titleColor=null, ampLink=null, listHeaderPosition=null, hideDescriptions=false, showActionBar=true, linkHoverColor=#d3242c, buttonBgColor=#d3242c, ctaTarget=null, anchorId=list-bc0001, promoButtonText=null, backgroundColor=null, headerSecondaryTextColor=#ffffff, listTitleFont=font-2, headlineFont=font-1, promoDescriptionFont=font-3, primaryColor=#d3242c, slimFooter=false, hideHeadline=false, hideDates=true, headerBorderColor=#e9e9e9, ratingCardFont=font-1, titleTarget=null, tableCaptionColor=#626262, mobileCarousel=false, tableEvenRowsBgColor=#f9f8f3, containerTitleFont=font-2, listBorderColor=#dfdfdf, defaultArticleLeadStyle=standard, _parentFiles=[/page/list/includes/PageList-header.hbs]}\">Latest on the Bears</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items\" data-with-borders data-list-loadmore-items> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"NFL under federal investigation for anticompetitive practices as TV costs rise\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/nfl/2026/04/09/nfl-under-federal-investigation-for-potential-anticompetitive-practices-justice-department\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/3e3e98f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7381x4941+0+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F59%2Fccecadff4286bfc6af8478e21e32%2Fap26089693281367.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6bea53c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7381x4941+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F59%2Fccecadff4286bfc6af8478e21e32%2Fap26089693281367.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"In this Aug. 13, 2021, file photo, an NFL logo is displayed on a goal post pad during an NFL preseason football game between the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions in Detroit.\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6bea53c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/7381x4941+0+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Ff0%2F59%2Fccecadff4286bfc6af8478e21e32%2Fap26089693281367.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/nfl\" >NFL</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/nfl/2026/04/09/nfl-under-federal-investigation-for-potential-anticompetitive-practices-justice-department\" >NFL under federal investigation for anticompetitive practices as TV costs rise</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">The investigation comes amid increasing federal scrutiny of the amount of money fans are paying to watch sports on television.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1775767401000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/associated-press\" >AP </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"720\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"To be the next Russell Wilson (or better), Caleb Williams must build on 4th-quarter wizardry\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/04/09/bears-quarterback-caleb-williams-russell-wilson-ben-johnson-fourth-quarter-wizardry-expand-robert-saleh-jeff-hafley-nfl\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b370bfe/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6563x4393+24+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa3%2F48%2F9b30fff748028160eb3ec5c495c1%2Fbears-260111-111.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b473659/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6563x4393+24+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa3%2F48%2F9b30fff748028160eb3ec5c495c1%2Fbears-260111-111.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"BEARS-260111-111.jpg\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/b473659/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6563x4393+24+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fa3%2F48%2F9b30fff748028160eb3ec5c495c1%2Fbears-260111-111.jpg\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/04/09/bears-quarterback-caleb-williams-russell-wilson-ben-johnson-fourth-quarter-wizardry-expand-robert-saleh-jeff-hafley-nfl\" >To be the next Russell Wilson (or better), Caleb Williams must build on 4th-quarter wizardry</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">Titans coach Robert Saleh compared Williams to Wilson, a future Hall of Famer, last week.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1775728860000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/patrick-finley\" >Patrick Finley </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"761\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageListH-items-item\"><div class=\"PagePromoB\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-media\"><a class=\"Link\" aria-label=\"Former Bears great Steve McMichael diagnosed with CTE after death\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/04/07/former-bears-great-steve-mcmichael-diagnosed-with-cte-after-death\" ><picture data-crop=\"medium-4x3\"> <source type=\"image/webp\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6f3d973/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2390x1600+5+0/resize/490x328!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F28%2F7e%2F999278f5ba404e65f2125c267599%2Fmcmichael-2.JPG\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <source width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-srcset=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8d0cf7c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2390x1600+5+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F28%2F7e%2F999278f5ba404e65f2125c267599%2Fmcmichael-2.JPG\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" srcset=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" /> <img class=\"Image\" alt=\"Steve McMichael speaking to the media in 2016 at a celebration of the Bears’ championship team.\" width=\"490\" height=\"328\" data-src=\"https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8d0cf7c/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2390x1600+5+0/resize/490x328!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2F28%2F7e%2F999278f5ba404e65f2125c267599%2Fmcmichael-2.JPG\" data-lazy-load=\"true\" src=\"data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIzMjhweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=\" > </picture> </a></div> <div class=\"PagePromoB-content\"> <div class=\"PagePromo-category\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears\" >Bears</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-title\"> <a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/bears/2026/04/07/former-bears-great-steve-mcmichael-diagnosed-with-cte-after-death\" >Former Bears great Steve McMichael diagnosed with CTE after death</a> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-description\">McMichael died last year after a four-year battle with chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease that can only be diagnosed after death.</div> <div class=\"PagePromo-byline\"><div class=\"PagePromo-date\"> <bsp-timestamp data-timestamp=1775569111000 data-promo=\"true\"> <template data-date-tpl>[month] [day], [year], [hour]:[minute][ampm] [timezone]</template> <span data-date> </span> </bsp-timestamp><span class=\"dot\"></span></div> <div class=\"PagePromo-author\"> <span>By </span><strong><a class=\"Link\" href=\"https://chicago.suntimes.com/authors/associated-press\" >AP </a></strong> </div> <div class=\"PagePromo-readingTime\"> <span class=\"dot-divider\"></span> <svg class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-icon\"> <use xlink:href=\"#icon-clock-reading\"></use> </svg> <span class=\"PagePromo-readingTime-text\"> <bsp-time-to-read data-article-word-count=\"480\"></bsp-time-to-read> read </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=\"PageList-footer\"> </div> </bsp-list-loadmore><p></p>",
  "title": "Former Bears assistant — and nearly head coach — Dave McGinnis dies at 74",
  "updatedAt": "2026-04-14T00:30:42.026Z"
}