A Bears legend is gone
Mike Ditka has died at the age of 86. His family announced his death to the media on Friday. A former tight end and later head coach of the Chicago Bears, he leaves behind the image of a man who left his mark on the NFL on the field and on the sideline.
“It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend,” his family said in a statement. It adds that while the world knew him as a Hall of Famer and the leader of the Bears’ Super Bowl XX champions, those closest to him knew him first as the heart of the family.
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A pioneer at his position
Picked fifth overall by Chicago in the 1961 draft, Ditka made an immediate impact. He became the first tight end in history to top 1,000 yards in a season, doing it in his rookie year, which earned him the league’s rookie of the year award.
The recognition came in 1988. That year he entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame, becoming the first tight end to be inducted.
1985: the Bears’ season
Named Bears head coach in 1982, Ditka led Chicago to the playoffs seven times in 11 seasons. The peak came in 1985: a 15-1 regular season, then a Super Bowl won 46-10 over the New England Patriots.
He later coached the New Orleans Saints for three seasons in the late 1990s, without matching that success. After leaving the sideline, he worked as a television analyst for NBC and ESPN.
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