Trump Calls Mike Ditka 'A Tough Cookie' After Learning of His Death

President Donald Trump on Friday described the late Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka as "a great guy" and "a winner" after being informed of the Hall of Famer's death.

"Oh, he did? He was a great guy. He was with me all the way. He was tough," Trump said on the South Lawn before departing for Syracuse. "Mike Ditka — that's a sad one."

Trump added, "He was great. He was a big supporter of mine, and he was a winner. He was a tough cookie."

Ditka, who coached the iconic 1985 Chicago Bears team to a Super Bowl XX title, had publicly supported Trump during the 2016 election.

His family announced his death on Friday morning in a statement that read, "It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka." The statement continued, "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."

Ditka was a prominent figure in the NFL as both a player and a coach. As a player, he was drafted by the Bears in 1961 and became the first modern receiving tight end. He won an NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award, earned five consecutive Pro Bowl selections, and was selected to five All-Pro teams. He played for the Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys, winning the 1963 NFL championship with Chicago and Super Bowl VI with Dallas.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. As a coach, Ditka led the Chicago Bears from 1982 to 1992, earning NFL Coach of the Year honors in 1985 and 1988. He also coached the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999. His coaching tenure with the Bears culminated in a Super Bowl victory following the 1985 season.