If you didn’t know, former Chicago Bears’ tight end, coach and figurehead, Mike Ditka turned 80 this past week. Here’s a quick look back on the career of “Da Coach”.
Fans everywhere were wishing Mike Ditka a happy birthday this past week. One of the most popular players and coaches in the history of the Chicago Bears franchise.
He came to the Bears as a first-round draft pick, fifth overall in the 1961 NFL Draft. Incidentally, he was also taken by the Houston Oilers, eighth overall, in that AFL draft. Luckily, he went with the Bears.
Ditka had a wildly successful career in Chicago, especially in his first year. He managed to score 12 touchdowns and was even named Rookie of the Year in the NFL. Ditka’s success continued as he went to the Pro Bowl for the next five years which was the number of years he remained with the Bears. Ditka was also a key member of that Bears’ team that won the 1963 NFL Championship.
Iron Mike went on to play with the Philadelphia Eagles, for two years and then the Dallas Cowboys. He played four years with the Cowboys and even got to play in a Super Bowl versus the Miami Dolphins.
Ditka began his coaching career in 1972 as a member of Tom Landry’s staff in Dallas. He was a part of that staff for nine seasons winning a Super Bowl in the process.
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The way he got into coaching the Chicago Bears is interesting. Ditka wrote a letter to Bears’ owner George Halas telling him that when he was ready, he would like to come and be the head coach of the Bears. At the end of the 1981 season, the Bears were without a coach and Halas was looking for one. So, he hired Ditka.
He didn’t disappoint.
Ditka got the Bears to the Super Bowl in the 1985-86 season. We all remember that team well. They cruised on through the season and on into the playoffs. There, they dominated right up to the very end.
But Ditka and company couldn’t get back to the Super Bowl. Buddy Ryan, the Bears’ defensive coordinator left, injuries happened and soon the Bears found themselves on the outside looking in.
And that wasn’t good for Ditka.
The Bears fired Ditka, but he showed up as the Saints head coach in 1997. His tenure in New Orleans was not a good one and he was fired there as well.
Ditka went on to become a broadcaster, television pitchman and one of the Bears’ greatest advocates. He entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and had his number retired by the Bears in 2013.
I am sure that we wish one of the greatest Bears of all, Ditka, a happy 80th birthday, and many more!
Happy birthday, coach!