Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame tight end who became one of the NFL’s most recognizable coaches and guided the 1985 Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl title, has died at 86.
Ditka’s football legacy stretched across eras and roles. He was the first tight end ever elected to the Hall of Fame, and he later became the face of a Bears team that played with the kind of edge and swagger that matched his own.
In 11 seasons in Chicago, he went 106-62 and reached the playoffs seven times. The 1985 Bears, in particular, are still remembered as one of the greatest defensive teams the sport has seen, and their run ended with a Super Bowl win in New Orleans.
"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka," the Ditka family said in a statement. "While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family.
Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever. With love and gratitude, The Ditka Family."
Before becoming a sideline fixture, Ditka built his reputation as a player. The No. 5 overall pick in 1961, he played 12 NFL seasons, including six with the Bears, two with the Philadelphia Eagles and four with the Dallas Cowboys. A five-time Pro Bowler, he finished with 5,812 receiving yards on 427 catches.
His time with the New Orleans Saints never reached the same heights. From 1997 through 1999, Ditka coached the team for three seasons, and his most notable moment there came with the Ricky Williams trade, when the Saints sent eight draft picks to Washington to move up and select the running back at No. 5 in 1999.
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