Top Stories · October 9, 2026
Mike Ditka, legendary NFL player and coach, dies at 86
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Mike Ditka, the Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and Super Bowl-winning coach of the 1985 Chicago Bears, died at the age of 86. His passing was announced by his family through a formal statement and initially shared by Jarrett Payton, son of the late Bears legend Walter Payton. Ditka is remembered for his extensive career as a player for the Bears, Eagles, and Cowboys, as well as his coaching tenures with the Bears and New Orleans Saints. He is celebrated as a transformative figure in Chicago sports history and for his 'no-nonsense' persona.
Mike Ditka, the Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and Super Bowl-winning coach of the 1985 Chicago Bears, died at the age of 86. His passing was announced by his family through a formal statement and initially shared by Jarrett Payton, son of the late Bears legend Walter Payton. Ditka is remembered for his extensive career as a player for the Bears, Eagles, and Cowboys, as well as his coaching tenures with the Bears and New Orleans Saints. He is celebrated as a transformative figure in Chicago sports history and for his 'no-nonsense' persona.