Ditka Football
FILE - In this Jan. 26, 1986, file photo, Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka is carried off the field by Steve McMichael, left, and William Perry after the Bears defeated the New England Patriots 46-10 in NFL football's Super Bowl XX in New Orleans. Willie Gault (83) and Maury Buford (8) join the celebration.
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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, then 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, as well as a forceful advocate for improved medical and retirement benefits for former players.
