A quick post to mark the passing of a Chicago legend, Mike Ditka who passed away today, October 9, 2026 at the age of 86.
Ditka, the only coach to lead the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl victory in 1985, epitomized the Chicago Bears’ style of football, and also in many ways the toughness of Chicago itself. As a player he’s credited with basically reinventing the position of tight end. He carried his rough and tumble approach to the game into his coaching days.
As a youngster who lived no where near Chicago growing up, Ditka, along with Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers were players that made me a fan of the Monsters of the Midway. Of course once I moved to Chicago those early boyhood admirations became more entrenched.
Rest in peace, Coach.
Bear Down.
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