Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame NFL player and coach who became an icon in the city of Chicago, has passed away. He was 86.
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Jarrett Payton, son of NFL Hall of Famer Walter Payton, announced the news on Friday on social media. He shared a statement from the Ditka family but did not provide a cause of death.
"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka," Ditka's family said in a statement.
"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."
The NFL is deeply saddened by the passing of Hall of Fame coach and tight end, Mike Ditka.
Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/H9cMGPc8ln
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2026
A Pennsylvania native, Ditka broke into the NFL as the fifth overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft. He landed with the Chicago Bears and kicked off a Hall of Fame career.
The big tight end earned Pro Bowl honors as a rookie while catching 56 passes for 1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns. This set a record for the most receiving yards by a rookie tight end, one that stood until Brock Bowers surpassed it in 2024.
Ditka spent six seasons with the Bears while earning Pro Bowl honors five times. He earned First-Team All-Pro honors in both 1963 and 1964. He helped Chicago win the Super Bowl to close out the 1963 season.
The Pennsylvania native headed home in 1967. He joined the Philadelphia Eagles and kicked off a two-year tenure with the team. He then moved to the Dallas Cowboys in 1969. He spent four seasons with the Cowboys and won a Super Bowl at the end of the 1971 season.
Ditka's playing career ended after the 1972 season, but he remained in the NFL. In fact, he went on to make a bigger impact as a coach.
"Iron Mike" entered the coaching ranks in 1973. He joined the Dallas Cowboys as a special teams/receivers coach, and he held this position for nine seasons while winning a Super Bowl as an assistant coach.
Ditka earned his first head coaching opportunity in 1982. He took over the Bears and kicked off a very successful 11-year tenure. He led the team to an overall record of 106-62, which included seven seasons with at least 10 wins.
The 1985 season served as the highlight of his Bears tenure. The team went 15-1 during the regular season before defeating the Giants and Rams in the NFC playoffs. The Bears then faced off with the Patriots in Super Bowl 20 and scored a dominant 46-10 win.
Ditka is one of only two people in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach. Tom Flores is the only other person to achieve this feat.
Ditka, a two-time Coach of the Year, spent the final three seasons of his coaching career with the New Orleans Saints (1997-99). He led the team to a 15-33 record.
The veteran coach left the sidelines after the 1999 season. He continued to entertain fans while providing analysis.
"We are deeply saddened by the passing of legendary and treasured Chicago Bear and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka," the Bears said in a statement.
"Mike's impact on the Chicago Bears organization, over decades as a player, coach, and proud icon and ambassador for our organization, is immeasurable. His integral role in bringing world championships to our city and our franchise, both as a player and as our coach, established prominence and excellence at a world-class level, but also created a lifetime of cherished memories in the hearts and minds of Bears fans that will last for generations."
