Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame tight end who led the Chicago Bears to Super Bowl XX glory in 1986, has died at the age of 86.
American football has lost one of its most iconic figures. Mike Ditka, the fiery Hall of Famer who won championships as both a player and a head coach, has died at 86.
Ditka changed the way the tight end position was played. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1961, he was named Rookie of the Year and quickly became a nightmare for defenders, combining punishing blocking with real receiving threat. He helped the Bears to the 1963 NFL title, earned multiple Pro Bowl selections, and later won a Super Bowl ring with the Dallas Cowboys. In 1988 he became the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His biggest legacy came from the sideline. Ditka took over as Bears head coach in 1982 and built a tough, defence-driven side in his own image. The 1985 Bears were a cultural phenomenon, dominating the league on their way to Super Bowl XX, where they crushed the New England Patriots 46-10 to bring Chicago its first title of the Super Bowl era.
Ditka later had a stint as head coach of the New Orleans Saints, but his name will always be tied to Chicago. Blunt, competitive and unmistakable in his trademark sunglasses and moustache, he remained one of football's most recognisable personalities long after he left the touchline.
Tributes are expected to pour in from across the NFL for a man who shaped the sport as a player, a coach and a character.
