Legendary Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka has died at the age of 86.

The Ditka family announced Mike’s death in a statement provided to Jarrett Payton, the son of Bears icon Walter Payton:

“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka. While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family. Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever.

“With love and gratitude, The Ditka Family.”

Ditka is one of the most successful players who made the transition into coaching in NFL history. He had a 12-year playing career from 1961 to 1972 with the Bears, Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles.

During his first season, Ditka set an NFL rookie tight end record with 1,076 receiving yards. The mark stood until 2024 when Brock Bowers of the Las Vegas Raiders surpassed it.

Ditka’s 12 touchdown catches in 1961 remain the most for a rookie tight end. He won an NFL championship with the Bears in 1963 and Super Bowl VI with the Cowboys during the 1971 season.

After retiring as a player in March 1973, Ditka immediately went into coaching as an assistant with the Cowboys on Tom Landry’s staff. He remained in Dallas for nine seasons before the Bears hired him as their head coach in 1982.

The Bears went 11-14 in Ditka’s first two seasons before hitting their stride in 1984. They had a run of five consecutive seasons with double-digit wins, highlighted by the iconic 1985 team that went 15-1 en route to the only Super Bowl victory in franchise history.

Boasting one of the great defenses of all time, the ’85 Bears led the league in fewest points allowed during the regular season. They followed it up by allowing just 10 total points across three playoff wins.

Ditka spent 11 seasons as head coach in Chicago. He spent four years away from the sidelines before returning for a three-year stint as head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999.

In 14 total seasons as an NFL head coach, Ditka put together a 121-95 record and seven playoff appearances. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.

The Bears retired Ditka’s No. 89 jersey during the 2013 ceremony in a game against the Cowboys.