BOSTON — Hall of Fame defensive lineman Steve McMichael has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

McMichael, a defensive tackle, died last year at 67 after a five-year fight with ALS. His wife said the key member of the dominating defense that helped the 1985 Chicago Bears win the Super Bowl pledged his brain to research to help understand the link between CTE and ALS.

CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in athletes in contact sports, combat veterans and others exposed to repetitive head trauma. It can only be diagnosed after death.

Deceased QB had .167 level

BOULDER, Colo. — Colorado quarterback Dominiq Ponder had a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit for driving under the influence when he died in a single-car crash, according to the autopsy report from the Boulder County Coroner’s Office.

The 23-year-old Ponder was killed in a single-car crash early on March 1 when he lost control on a curve and hit a guardrail. The car struck an electrical line pole and rolled down an embankment. Ponder’s blood alcohol level was .167, according to the autopsy report.

The limit is 0.08. There is a lower limit, of .05, for driving while ability impaired.

Elsewhere:

n TCU and football coach Sonny Dykes agreed to a contract extension after back-to-back 9-4 seasons. The private Big 12 school does not disclose contract terms, but his previously extended deal went through the 2028 season. The multiyear agreement Friday would take Dykes at least a couple of years past that. Dykes is 36-17 in his four seasons with the Horned Frogs, who set a school record for wins while going 13-2 and making the College Football Playoff at the end of his 2022 debut season. The Frogs will open this season against North Carolina in Ireland on Aug. 29.

The Associated Press