Mike Ditka, Hall of Fame player and Super Bowl-winning Bears coach, dies at 86
publishers 40articles 41first reported 9 Oct, 15:03 UTCdeveloping since 9 Oct · 10 editionstop 25 #19
Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame tight end who later coached the Chicago Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX, has died at 86, his family announced Friday. No cause of death was given.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend,” his family said, remembering Ditka as “the heart of our family.”
The Bears selected Ditka fifth overall in the 1961 NFL draft. Known as “Iron Mike,” he helped transform tight end from a position focused primarily on blocking into a major receiving role. He earned Rookie of the Year honors, made five Pro Bowls and helped Chicago win the 1963 NFL championship. He later played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, winning a Super Bowl with Dallas after the 1971 season.
After retiring as a player, Ditka joined Tom Landry’s coaching staff in Dallas before returning to Chicago as head coach in 1982. He led the Bears to five consecutive NFC Central titles and the Super Bowl XX championship following the 1985 season, when Chicago fielded one of the NFL’s most dominant defenses. He coached the team through 1992.
Ditka was inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame and Pro Football Hall of Fame. The Bears retired his No. 89 jersey in 2013. After coaching, he worked as a television personality and advocated for improved medical and retirement benefits for former players.
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