Chicago Bears Legend Mike Ditka Dies at 86

Mike Ditka, the legendary Chicago Bears player and coach who led the franchise to its only Super Bowl championship, has died at 86, according to reports citing a statement from his family.

Ditka will forever be remembered as the coach of the legendary 1985 Chicago Bears, a team that dominated the NFL and demolished the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX.

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Mike Ditka Led the 1985 Chicago Bears to Super Bowl Glory

Bears founder George Halas hired him as coach in 1982, and he took the team to the playoffs seven times in 11 seasons, including three NFC Championship Games.

Before coaching, Ditka was a star tight end the Bears drafted fifth overall in the 1961 NFL Draft. He went on to win NFL Rookie of the Year and was the first tight end in league history to record a 1,000-yard receiving season. Ditka was also the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Why Mike Ditka Will Always Be "Da Coach" in Chicago

For generations of Bears fans, Mike Ditka wasn't just the coach who won a Super Bowl. He was the face of Chicago football, and it's hard to imagine a Bears conversation where "Da Coach" won't still come up.

You won't have to look far to find someone in the Rockford area with a great Ditka memory. Years ago, Ditka joined a group of former players who came to Rockford for a meet-and-greet and question-and-answer session.

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Remembering the Day Mike Ditka Visited Rockford

I got to meet him that day, and I remember him getting a little grouchy because it was taking too long to take our picture. The best and probably funniest part: the dang picture came out blurry.

Looking back now, it's a fitting memory of Mike Ditka. Even when he wasn't coaching, you still knew who you were dealing with.