The NFL has lost a legend, as Hall of Famer Mike Ditka has died at the age of 86. Jarrett Payton shared the devastating news on 104.3 The Score.
At the time of writing this, the cause of death is unknown. Payton shared that he had received a phone call, and the news of the death was hitting him hard. They were still waiting for the press release.
According to Payton, Ditka’s family released a statement saying:
“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 was selected as the No. 5 overall draft pick in 1961, and went on to spend six years with the Chicago Bears. In that time, he totaled 316 receptions and 34 touchdowns before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1967. He spent two years there before moving to the Dallas Cowboys, where he remained until 1972, when he retired.
Ditka was a two-time NFL champion. He also became the first tight end to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and had a slew of other titles to his name.
After retiring, he stuck with the Cowboys, serving initially as an assistant coach under Tom Landry. It was there that he made it clear that he wanted to return to the Chicago Bears, writing to owner George Halas and landing the position of head coach in 1982, leading to the Bears winning Super Bowl XX in 1985.
While Ditka was fired in 1992 from the Bears, he continued to coach in the NFL, moving to the New Orleans Saints in 1997, but he couldn’t replicate the Bear’s success.
Ditka had two heart attacks in his lifetime, one of those in 1988 when he was serving as the Bears head coach. In 2012, he suffered a minor stroke. The NFL feels Ditka’s loss, and thoughts are with his family.
More to come as the story is still developing.