Schaumburg native Chris Mueller to miss rest of Chicago Fire season due to pericarditis

Chicago Fire forward/midfielder Chris Mueller announced Thursday that he is battling pericarditis and will miss the rest of the season.

The Schaumburg native has not played in 2025, being listed as out “not due to injury.”

According to mayoclinic.org, “Pericarditis is swelling and irritation of the thin, saclike tissue surrounding the heart. This tissue is called the pericardium. Pericarditis often causes sharp chest pain. The chest pain occurs when the irritated layers of the pericardium rub against each other.”

“It’s been quite a battle, but I just wanted to clear the air with you guys,” Mueller said in a video released on the club’s X (Twitter) account.

Mueller said he was diagnosed in the preseason. He will be going on the season-ending injured list.

“It’s not something that’s going to affect my long-term health. I will be back out there eventually. It’s just taking a little time and it’s been a difficult one for me to take. It’s been hard. It’s felt like it’s out of my control,” he said.

Mueller said he appreciates the support he’s gotten from his teammates, coaches and the Fire front office during this emotional roller coaster he’s been on the past six or seven months.

“It’s been killing me to be out here on the sidelines for as long as I have been,” Mueller said. “A lot of people have been asking questions, but I just felt like it was time to come out and be honest and say what has been going on.”

Mueller, 28, has not been a stranger to health issues. missed much of the 2023 season due to hip surgery. He played 27 games in 2024, starting 15 with 0 goals and 3 assists.

He is signed through the current season with a club option for 2026. He joined the Fire for the 2022 season after being drafted by Orlando City followed by brief stint in the Scottish Premier League with Hibernian. He has 2 goals in 2 appearances for the U.S. national team.