Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff: 89 Days with Mike Ditka
By Peter Jurich
Ditka's life after being Chicago Bears head coach
The Bears under Ditka were never quite able to match the results from the 1985 season, although they had a real shot in both '84 and '86, but helped bring the franchise that drafted him back to supreme relevance within the league. In 1992, after a decade as the team's head coach, Ditka was fired following a 5-11 season.
After a five-year gap, Ditka was hired as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 1997, where he stayed for three seasons, amassing 15 total wins. Ditka was fired in 2000 and has since stepped away from the coaching role. However, Ditka has remained close to the game of football, serving recently as an ESPN football personality, appearing on Sunday Countdown and Monday Night Football. Ditka's Bears jersey was retired on December 9, 2012, at Soldier Field during the halftime of a Monday Night bought versus the Dallas Cowboys, where Ditka was also serving as an analyst for the game.
Ditka's number 89 jersey was also retired by the University of Pittsburgh in 1997, following his 1986 enshrinement into the College Football Hall of Fame. Ditka was also nominated to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
Next. Braxton Jones trajectory. Braxton Jones career trajectory with Bears. dark
As a Chicago Bears player, Ditka enjoyed a legendary career, logging over 4,500 total yards across six seasons with 34 touchdowns. During this span, Ditka started in all 84 of the team's possible regular season games and won one NFL Championship. The tight end is currently fifth all-time in Bears' career receiving yards and is fourth in receiving touchdowns. As a coach, Ditka's 112 wins are second best, only behind legendary coach George Halas, and won the only Super Bowl in franchise history.