Mike Ditka, Hall of Famer and Bears Coach, Dies at 86
The legendary NFL figure led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl XX victory in 1986.
Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame NFL player and coach who led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl XX championship, has died at the age of 86. His family announced his passing in a statement.
"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka," the statement read. "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."
The statement concluded, "Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever."
Ditka was a prominent figure in the NFL for decades. As a player, he was an All-Pro tight end and a key member of the 1963 NFL Championship team. His coaching tenure with the Bears, from 1982 to 1992, is most remembered for the dominant 1985 team that culminated in a Super Bowl victory in early 1986.