AP
Ditka Football
FILE - Former Chicago Bears player and coach Mike Ditka speaks at a news conference, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2009, 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, 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.
