Football Greats - Mike Ditka

Michael Keller Ditka, Jr., known simply as Mike Ditka, is a former coach and player in the NFL, as well as a television commentator for the sport. He is most well known for his position as head coach of the Chicago Bears and is one of only two men to have ever won the Superbowl as a player, assistant coach, and head coach (along with Tom Flores). He was also the only person involved in both of the two championships the Bears had in the current incarnation of the game, as a player in 1963 and head coach in 1985.

Born October 18, 1939, in a suburb of Pittsburgh called Aliquippa, Ditka played for the University of Pittsburgh from 1958 to 1960, starting all three of the seasons and labeled one of the best tight ends in college football history. He also punted for the team. His performance earned his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986.

Ditka was drafted by the Chicago Bears after college, and he made a huge impact on the team in his rookie year, making 56 receptions and earning the Rookie of the Year award. He continued to play with the Bears for five seasons following, each year being elected to the ProBowl. In 1967, Ditka was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles, spent two seasons there, and then headed to the Dallas Cowboys in 1969, where he played for four seasons and aided in their Superbowl VI victory.

Ditka retired from football in 1972 and was immediately hired as an assistant coach for the Cowboys by head coach Tom Landry. For nine seasons, he held that position, sending the Cowboys to the playoffs eight times, and winning six division titles. In 1982, the founder of the Bears, George Halas, persuaded Ditka to take the head coaching position for his floundering team. In the previous nineteen years, the Bears had posted only two winning seasons; however, Ditka turned the team around, leading them to six NFC Central titles and three NFC Championship games. In 1986, he led the team to an amazing Superbowl victory over the New England Patriots in Superbowl XX.

Fired from the Bears after the 1992 season, he returned to coaching with the New Orleans Saints in 1997, which he feels were three of the worst years of his life. In between, he worked as an analyst and broadcaster for NBC. He is also an owner of Arena Football team the Chicago Rush.

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