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Mike Ditka, the quintessential Chicago Bear, dies at 86
Compiled Oct 9
What happened
Mike Ditka died at age 86, according to a family statement announced Friday.
The detail
He won NFL titles both as a player and as head coach of the Chicago Bears.
The detail
As a Bears coach, his 1985 team won Super Bowl XX, beating the New England Patriots 46-10.
The detail
He was a Hall of Fame tight end who helped revolutionize the position alongside Baltimore's John Mackey.
How it unfolded
as a child: Ditka was born in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Aliquippa near steel and coal industries. · 1961: Selected fifth overall by Bears owner George Halas in the NFL draft. · 1963: Won the NFL Championship with the Chicago Bears. · 1966: Left Chicago to play briefly for Philadelphia and Dallas. · 1973: Became an assistant coach under Tom Landry with the Dallas Cowboys for eight seasons. · 1982: Returned to Chicago as head coach of the Bears. · 1999: Ended coaching career with the New Orleans Saints after a 3-13 season.
By the numbers
86 age at death · 5th 1961 NFL Draft position · 46-10 Super Bowl XX score · 10 years as Bears head coach · 3-13 1999 Saints record