Ditka Football
FILE - In this Oct. 16, 1966, file photo, Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka (89) is tackled after a pass reception during an NFL football game against the Green Bay Packers at Wrigley Field in Chicago.
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Mike Ditka, who personified the toughness and grit of Chicago in a Hall of Fame career as a player and coach of the Bears and the leader of arguably the most dominant team in NFL history, has died. He was 86. Nicknamed “Iron Mike” as a player, Ditka helped revolutionize the tight end position. He was the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He moved to the sidelines and took over as Chicago’s coach. His 1985 team featured one of the game’s most dominant defenses ever. After retiring as a coach, Ditka became a restaurateur and TV personality.
