Mike Ditka, one of football’s most recognizable figures and a former Eagles tight end, has died at 86.
The announcement came from the Ditka family, who said in a statement, “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka. 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.”
Jarrett Payton also posted on social media, writing, “It’s with a heavy heart that I’m sharing the Ditka family has announced the passing of Mike Ditka this morning.
Da Coach. Hall of Famer.
The heartbeat of the ’85 Bears and a Super Bowl champion. Chicago won’t be the same.
Prayers to Diana and the family.
RIP, Coach. 🐻⬇️
Here’s… pic.twitter.com/NUDfwsjaNH”
Ditka’s name is forever tied to the Chicago Bears, where he first played from 1961 to 1966 before returning as head coach from 1982 to 1992. He guided the 1985 Bears, who went 15-1 and rolled past the Patriots 46-10 in the Super Bowl.
That team gave up just 12.4 points per game in the regular season and featured Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, and six Pro Bowl or First-Team All-Pro defenders: Richard Dent, Otis Wilson, Steve McMichael, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary, and Dave Duerson. Wilber Marshall was a beast and so was free safety Gary Fencik.
Buddy Ryan ran the defense, built the 46 scheme, and later took it to Philadelphia as head coach in 1986.
Before all of that, Ditka had a stop in Philadelphia. He played for the Eagles in 1967 and 1968 after arriving in a trade, appearing in 20 games and catching 39 passes for 385 yards and four touchdowns.
He was also a Pennsylvania native, born in Pittsburgh, where he starred in baseball, basketball, and football for the Panthers. Ditka was the fifth pick in the 1961 NFL Draft, and Pitt retired his No. 89 jersey in 1997.
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