Mike Ditka, Hall of Fame tight end and coach of the 1985 Bears, dies at 86

Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame tight end whose intensity helped define the Chicago Bears, has died at 86. His family announced his death on Friday, Oct. 9, in a statement. No cause was given in the family statement reported by the Associated Press. Ditka’s influence began before “Da Coach.” Drafted by Chicago in 1961, he became one of the NFL’s first receiving threats at tight end, a position then often used chiefly for blocking. He played for the Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, finishing with 427 catches, 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns. He was selected to five Pro Bowls and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. He returned to Chicago as head coach in 1982. The high point came with the 1985 Bears, who went 18–1 and beat New England 46–10 in Super Bowl XX. Ditka became the first person to win an NFL championship as a player, assistant coach and head coach. The team’s mix of a historically dominant defense and outsized personalities made it one of the league’s most memorable champions; its “Super Bowl Shuffle” video became part of the season’s enduring cultural footprint. Ditka’s playing résumé also included a 1963 NFL championship with Chicago and a Super Bowl win as a Dallas assistant. After leaving the Bears in 1992, he coached the New Orleans Saints before moving into broadcasting. He also used his public profile to advocate for better health and retirement benefits for former players. His legacy was larger than a championship season or a sideline persona: as a player, he helped change what teams expected from the tight end, and as a coach he became inseparable from Chicago’s landmark 1985 team. The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s career profile and the AP’s obituary provide more detail. Sources: [Associated Press](https://apnews.com/article/74ce49079f324ca0a9fa8e61857783fb) · [Pro Football Hall of Fame](https://www.profootballhof.com/players/mike-ditka) Photo: Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan present a Bears jersey to President Barack Obama at the White House in 2011, at a ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the 1985 championship team. Official White House photo by Pete Souza, public domain, via [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mike_Ditka_presents_President_Barack_Obama_with_his_Own_Chicago_Bears_Jersey.jpg).