The iconic Chicago Bears coach and former player, Mike Ditka, has sadly passed away at the age of 86 years old.
During his playing days, Ditka was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl champion. His accomplishments on the football field led him to be the first ever tight end to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Following his playing career, he became a legend as the head coach of the Chicago Bears. He led what’s considered one of the all-time-great teams – the 1985 Bears – to a Super Bowl title, and his career coaching record was 121-95. Ditka was known for his high-energy and temper-fueled coaching style… and critics could say what they wanted about how he coached, but it worked.
His family released this statement earlier today announcing his passing:
“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.”
Such a sad loss.
While many knew him from his football playing or coaching days, his persona became larger than life, and led Ditka to have an impact on pop culture as well. The sweater-mustache-sunglasses look is still worn by Bears fans in the stands to this day, and the former Chicago coach was never afraid to get in on the joke.
Making a cameo in the famous Super Fans sketch on Saturday Night Live, and playing himself in the 2005 comedy Kicking and Screaming proved that to be true.
Though his coaching career puttered out in New Orleans, it had little to no impact on how beloved of a figure he was. The city of Chicago would always welcome Ditka with open arms, and he returned the favor by opening up a number of restaurants in the Windy City.
He was just the kind of guy that was easy to market. That’s why he often starred in TV commercials, and wasn’t too big time to market and endorse things like wine, sausages and most fittingly, cigars. Ditka also dropped into plenty of TV shows – like Cheers, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and even Entourage.
All that to say that, as serious as Mike Ditka took football, and as great of a player and coach as he was, his life transcended the football world. That’s why so many people out there – football fans or not – are taking this loss so hard. The world truly lost an icon, and he seemed to always be providing iconic moments, wherever he happened to be.
I’ll leave you with some of the most incredible – and hilarious – moments of Mike Ditka:
Mike Ditka’s Legendary “Take Me Out To The Ballgame” Performance
Mike Ditka’s Starring Role in the 2005 comedy Kicking and Screaming
Mike Ditka Finally Makes Cameo In Recurring Super Fans SNL Sketch
RIP Coach.
