Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, the legendary coach of the 1985 Bears, has died. He was 86.
Via ESPN, Ditka’s family announced his passing on Friday morning.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka,” Ditka’s family said. “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.”
An Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, native who played college football at Pitt, Ditka was the first tight end to be inducted into the Hall of Fame. As a rookie in 1961, he was the first tight end in NFL history to generate 1,000 receiving yards in a season.
As a player, Ditka was a member of the Bears’ 1963 NFL Championship team. He also played for the 1970 Cowboys, who won Super Bowl V.
After a 12-year playing career, Ditka joined the Cowboys as an assistant coach. In 1982, he became the head coach of the Bears.
Ditka became a larger-than-life figure in Chicago, and beyond. He oozed football, and his temperament matched the intensity of the game.
The Bears fired Ditka after the 1992 season. He became head coach of the Saints in 1997. He negotiated the famous Ricky Williams trade, in which the Saints gave up all of their 1999 draft (and another first-rounder) to get the Heisman Trophy winner from Texas.
Ditka also worked for NBC and ESPN, as an analyst.
We extend our condolences to Ditka’s family, friends, players, colleagues, and to the Bears and their fans.