Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end and the coach of the Chicago Bears' only Super Bowl championship team, has died at the age of 86, his family announced on Friday. Ditka's long list of accomplishments includes being a member of both the College and Pro Football Hall of Fame, the 1961 NFL Offensive Player of the Year and a two-time NFL Coach of the Year. His No. 89 has been retired by the Bears.
"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka," his 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." Ditka led the Bears to the 1963 NFL title and later helped the Cowboys capture their first title at the end of the 1971 season.
He caught a touchdown pass from Roger Staubach during Dallas' 24-3 win over Miami in Super Bowl VI. After retiring as a player, Ditka joined Tom Landry's staff as the Cowboys' special teams coach. He won a second Super Bowl in that role at the end of the 1977 season.
In 1982, Ditka returned to Chicago to become the Bears' coach. Just three years after landing the job, Ditka helped lead the Bears to an 18-1 record that concluded with a 46-10 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl XX. Ditka coached the Bears for 11 years before getting into broadcasting in 1993.
He briefly returned to the sidelines with the Saints in 1997. His tenure in New Orleans is largely remembered for trading each of the team's 1999 NFL Draft picks to Washington in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick. The Saints used that pick to draft Ricky Williams, the reigning Heisman Trophy Winner.
Ditka returned to broadcasting following his run in New Orleans but has kept a low profile in recent years. In 2020, he was at the Super Bowl as part of the NFL's 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
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