(The Center Square) – Pro Football Hall of Famer and Chicago Bears legend Mike Ditka has died at the age of 86. Ditka’s family released a statement Friday to announce his passing.
“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,” the statement said.
Ditka played for the Bears from 1961 to 1966 and was a member of Chicago’s 1963 NFL championship team. He later played for Philadelphia and Dallas and caught a touchdown pass in the Cowboys’ victory over Miami in Super Bowl VI. His playing career earned him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
The Bears retired his jersey No. 89 in 2013.
Ditka returned to Chicago as head coach of the Bears from 1982 to 1992, winning Super Bowl XX in 1986, following a 15-1 season. He coached the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999.
The Carnegie, Penn. native was a first team All American at Pitt. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and University of Pittsburgh Athletics Hall of Fame in 2018.
In addition to working as a broadcaster and appearing in numerous commercials, Ditka was rumored to be considering a run for U.S. Senate in 2004. In July of that year, however, he announced that he would not seek the Republican nomination.
Then state Sen. Barack Obama later won the election, paving the way for his successful presidential run in 2008.
