Eagles

RIP to NFL Great and Former Eagle Mike Ditka

By Kevin Kinkead

Published: Oct 9th, 2026 · 11:30 AM EDT

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Mike Ditka died at the age of 86:

It’s with a heavy heart that I’m sharing the Ditka family has announced the passing of Mike Ditka this morning.
Da Coach. Hall of Famer. The heartbeat of the ’85 Bears and a Super Bowl champion. Chicago won’t be the same.
Prayers to Diana and the family.
RIP, Coach. 🐻⬇️

Here’s… pic.twitter.com/NUDfwsjaNH

— Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) October 9, 2026

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka. 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. Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever. With love and gratitude, The Ditka Family.”

Ditka is known for his time with the Chicago Bears, first as a player from 1961 to 1966 and then as head coach from 1982 to 1992. He was in charge of the Bears’ 15-1 squad in 1985 that hammered the Patriots 46-10 in the Super Bowl and allowed just 12.4 points per game during the regular season. That Bears team had Walter Payton, Jim McMahon, and six Pro Bowl or First-Team All-Pro defensive players in Richard Dent, Otis Wilson, Steve McMichael, Dan Hampton, Mike Singletary, and Dave Duerson. Wilber Marshall was a beast and so was free safety Gary Fencik. That group was run by defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan, who famously built the 46 defense and brought it to Philadelphia as head coach in 1986.

Does the younger generation of Eagles fans know that Ditka played for the Birds? He was here in 1967 and 1968, a tight end acquired via trade, and played 20 games in which he caught 39 passes for 385 yards and four touchdowns. Then he finished his playing career with the Cowboys and coached there as an assistant before returning to Chicago.

Ditka was also a PA guy, a Pittsburgh native who played baseball, basketball, and football for the Panthers. He was the 5th pick in the 1961 NFL Draft and his #89 jersey was retired by Pitt back in 1997.

RIP to one of the all-time football greats.