Countdown to Kickoff… 89 Days Until Chicago Bears Kickoff

Mike Ditka the player (Photo via Sports Illustrated)

I decided to do a countdown to the Chicago Bears season opener on September 8th versus the Cincinnati Bengals.  Thanks to one of my followers on Twitter @Beneiserle, I decided to combine the countdown with a roster preview of sorts.

We’re Mike Ditka days away from kickoff!  This could have been a breakdown of Matt Spaeth, but since he departed the team, the Bears decided to hang #89 from the proverbial rafters.  No other Bear will wear the number of the great Mike Ditka.  While most of us relate to Ditka as gum throwing, sideline tantrum throwing, Super Bowl winning head coach of the Beloved, he was quite the accomplished tight end before his coaching career.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of watching Da Coach before he was Da Coach, check out this clip on the 100 greatest players of all time, a list where Ditka ranked #59 overall.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZUaZXqC1pCI

Ditka was on the cutting edge, back in the day.  He was the first real pass-catching tight end of the era.

Other notable 89’s include Matt Spaeth, who will be the last Bear to wear the number, Dustin Lyman, Ryan Wetnight.

We’re 89 days away from kickoff.  Are you ready???