| Mike Ditka | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Position(s): Tight End / Head Coach |
Jersey #(s): 89 |
| Born: October 18, 1939 Carnegie, Pennsylvania |
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| Career Information | |
| Year(s): 1961–1972 | |
| NFL Draft: 1961 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5 | |
| College: Pittsburgh | |
| Professional Teams | |
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As Player As Head Coach |
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| Career Stats | |
| Receptions | 427 |
| Receiving Yards | 5,812 |
| Touchdowns | 43 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
| Career Highlights and Awards | |
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|
| Pro Football Hall of Fame | |
| College Football Hall of Fame | |
Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. In American football, each team has 11 players on the field at one time The tight end ( TE) is a position in American football on the Offensive team. For the coaching strategy game see NFL Head Coach. A head coach is a professional who is responsible for the overall actions of In team Sports the squad number, shirt number, jersey number, sweater number, or uniform number is the Number Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Carnegie is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. In an organised Sports league, a season is the portion of one Year in which regulated Games of the sport are in session The 1961 NFL season was the 42nd Regular season of the National Football League. The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd Regular season of the National Football League. The NFL Draft is an annual Sports draft in which NFL teams select newly-eligible players for their rosters The 1961 National Football League Draft took place on December 27–28 1960 This is a List of Athletic Conferences of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA and National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a non-sectarian coeducational independent state-related, "public" research University The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The 1961 NFL season was the 42nd Regular season of the National Football League. The 1966 NFL season was the 47th Regular season of the National Football League, and the season after which was played Super Bowl I, though it was The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 1967 NFL season was the 48th Regular season of the National Football League. The 1968 NFL season was the 49th Regular season of the National Football League. The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC in the National The 1969 NFL season was the 50th Regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger. The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd Regular season of the National Football League. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd Regular season of the National Football League. The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd Regular season of the National Football League. The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans Louisiana. The 1997 NFL season was the 78th Regular season of the National Football League. The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. In American football, a reception is part of a play in which a Forward pass from behind the line of scrimmage is received (caught by a player in bounds A touchdown is the primary method of scoring in American and Canadian football. In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the All-star game of the National Football League (NFL The National Football League 75th Anniversary All-Time Team was chosen by a selection committee of media and league personnel in 1994. Super Bowl XX was an American football game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans Louisiana to Super Bowl XII was an American football game played on January 15, 1978 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans Louisiana Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans Louisiana to decide The 1963 National Football League Championship Game was played on December 29 1963 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job From 1955 - 1996 The United Press International gave out two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to NFL-NFC (born October 18, 1939, in Carnegie, Pennsylvania) also known as Iron Mike Ditka or Da Coach, is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Events 1009 - The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, a Christian church in Jerusalem, is completely destroyed by the Fatimid Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Carnegie is a borough in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States and is part of the Pittsburgh Metro Area. American football, known in the United States and Canada simply as football, is a competitive Team sport known for mixing strategy with The National Football League ( NFL) is the largest professional American football league. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for 3 years. The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans Louisiana. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach. Thomas R "Tom" Flores (born March 21, 1937 in Fresno California) is a retired American football Quarterback and coach professional American football, the Super Bowl is the Championship game of the National Football League (NFL Ditka was the only individual to participate in the last two Chicago Bears' championships, as a player in 1963 and as head coach in 1985. The 1963 NFL season was the 44th Regular season of the National Football League. The 1985 NFL season was the 66th Regular season of the National Football League.
Contents |
Early life and college
Mike's childhood name was Mike Dyczko. His father was one of three brothers of a Ukrainian [1] family in the coal mining and steel manufacturing area in Western Pennsylvania. Ukrainians (Українці Ukrayintsi,) are an East Slavic Ethnic group primarily living in Ukraine, or more broadly— Citizens The name Dyzcko was too much of a tongue-twister in Carnegie, PA. , where Mike was born on October 18, 1939, so the family name was changed to Ditka. [2] in the Pittsburgh area town of Carnegie, Pennsylvania and grew up in nearby Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. Aliquippa is a city in Beaver County Pennsylvania, and is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area In elementary school, he was enrolled at St. Titus School, located on Franklin Avenue and Sycamore Street in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.
A three sport star at Aliquippa High School, he was recruited by Notre Dame, Penn State, and Pitt. Aliquippa Senior High School is located in the city of Aliquippa in Beaver County Pennsylvania. The University of Notre Dame du Lac (or simply Notre Dame) (ˌnoʊtɚˈdeɪm is a private Roman Catholic Research university located in The Pennsylvania State University (commonly known as Penn State) is a state-related, land-grant, space grant public research University The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a non-sectarian coeducational independent state-related, "public" research University The Aliquippa High team doctor, Dr. John L. Miller had taken him to Pitt games and encouraged him to attend Pitt. Ditka played for the University of Pittsburgh from 1958-1960, where he also became a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a non-sectarian coeducational independent state-related, "public" research University Sigma Chi ( ΣΧ) is one of the largest and oldest all-male college Greek-letter social fraternities and a Secret society. He started all 3 seasons and is widely considered one of the best tight ends in college football history. The tight end ( TE) is a position in American football on the Offensive team. In addition to playing tight end, he also served as the team's punter. He led the team in receiving in all three of his seasons with them and was a first team selection on the College Football All-America Team in his senior year. The College Football All-America Team is an honor given annually to the best American College football players at their respective positions In 1986, he was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame. The College Football Hall of Fame, located in South Bend Indiana, USA is a hall of fame and museum devoted to College football.
Ditka would also become the first of many athletes from Aliquippa or adjacent Hopewell Township, Pennsylvania (which uses an Aliquippa mailing address) to have success in the NFL. Hopewell Township is a township in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States. Other notable Aliquippa/Hopewell natives that followed Ditka into the NFL include Tony Dorsett, Sean Gilbert, and Ty Law. Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett (born April 7, 1954 in Rochester Pennsylvania) is a former American football Running back Sean Gilbert (born April 10, 1970 in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania) is a former professional American football Defensive lineman Tajuan "Ty" Law (born February 10, 1974 in Aliquippa Pennsylvania) is an American football Cornerback, currently a free Current New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, Buffalo Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny, and free agent cornerback Josh Lay also hail from the area. The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. A cornerback ( CB) (also referred to as a corner) is a positional role played by a member of the defensive team in American and Canadian Darrelle Shavar Revis (born July 14, 1985, in Aliquippa Pennsylvania) is a cornerback for the New York Jets. The Buffalo Bills are a professional American football team based in the Buffalo New York Metropolitan area, playing seven of their home games in the suburb This article relates to Sports. For the Vietnam War bombing raids see Operation Linebacker and Operation Linebacker II. Paul Michael Posluszny (born October 10, 1984 in Butler Pennsylvania) commonly known as "Poz", is an American football Josh Bernard Lay (born September 8, 1982) is an American football cornerback that is currently a free-agent
He has 4 children with his first wife Marge: Mike, Mark, Megan, and Matt. He divorced Marge in 1973 and married his second wife Diana in 1977. Also Mike Ditka is a study subject upon many people such as for biographies and summaries.
NFL career
Player
The Bears drafted Ditka in the 1961 NFL Draft. The 1961 National Football League Draft took place on December 27–28 1960 His presence was immediately felt. In his first season, Ditka had 56 receptions, introducing a new dimension to a tight end position that had previously been dedicated to blocking. His success earned him Rookie of the Year honors. From 1955 - 1996 The United Press International gave out two annual Rookie of the Year Awards to NFL-NFC He continued to play for the Bears for the next five years, earning a Pro Bowl trip each season. In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the All-star game of the National Football League (NFL He played on the 1963 NFL championship team. The 1963 NFL season was the 44th Regular season of the National Football League. Many of the players from that team, including Ditka, were drafted by assistant coach George Allen, a future Hall of Famer, who was then in charge of the Bears drafts. Ditka was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1967, where he spent two seasons, before being shipped off to the Dallas Cowboys in 1969. The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 1967 NFL season was the 48th Regular season of the National Football League. The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference (NFC in the National The 1969 NFL season was the 50th Regular season of the National Football League, and the last one before the AFL-NFL Merger. He spent four seasons with the Cowboys, highlighted by a touchdown reception in the Cowboys' 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami Florida Metropolitan Area. Super Bowl VI was an American football game played on January 16, 1972, at Tulane Stadium in New Orleans Louisiana to decide
In 1988[3], his fearsome blocking and 427 career receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns earned him the honor of being the first tight-end ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 1988 NFL season was the 69th Regular season of the National Football League. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the Hall of fame of the National Football League (NFL Ditka also scored 2 touchdowns on offensive fumble recoveries, tying 7 other players for the most in NFL history. In 1999, he was ranked number 90 on The Sporting News' list of the 100 Greatest Football Players. The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. Sporting News (previously The Sporting News, and known colloquially as TSN) is an American -based Sports
Coach
Retiring after the 1972 season, Ditka was immediately hired as an assistant coach by Cowboys' head coach Tom Landry. The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd Regular season of the National Football League. Thomas Wade Landry ( September 11, 1924 – February 12, 2000) was an American football player and coach Ditka spent nine seasons as an assistant coach with the Cowboys. During his tenure, the Cowboys made the playoffs eight times, won six division titles and three NFC Championships, including the one preceding their Super Bowl victory in 1977. The 1977 NFL season was the 58th Regular season of the National Football League.
Chicago Bears
In 1982, Chicago Bears founder George Halas personally sought out Ditka to take over the head coaching reins, and reverse what had been a mostly dreary performance by the team in the years since Halas retired as head coach. The 1982 NFL season was the 63rd Regular season of the National Football League. George Stanley Halas Sr ( February 2 1895 &ndash October 31 1983) nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr Reversing the Bears' pitiful record of only two winning seasons in the previous nineteen, Ditka led the Bears to six NFC Central titles and three trips to the NFC Championship. The NFC Championship Game is one of the two Semi-final matches of the National Football League the largest professional American football league in the United Ditka's coaching career hit its pinnacle on January 26, 1986 with a 46-10 trouncing of the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. Events 1340 - King Edward III of England is declared King of France. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The New England Patriots, commonly called the " Pats " by sports writers and fans are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston Super Bowl XX was an American football game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans Louisiana to The Louisiana Superdome, often informally referred to simply as the New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America Football commentators widely regard the 1985 Bears defense as one of the best ever, which was masterminded by defensive coordinator, Buddy Ryan, with little oversight from Ditka. Buddy Ryan (born James David Ryan on February 17, 1934) is a former American football coach In an unusual gesture, following the Bears Super Bowl victory, Ryan, as well as Ditka, was carried off the field by team members. He said that his greatest regret about that Super Bowl was not calling a running play for Walter Payton to score a touchdown. In addition, the 1985 Chicago Bears are one of the few teams who consistently challenge the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins for the unofficial title of the "Greatest NFL Team of All-Time. The 1972 NFL season was the 53rd Regular season of the National Football League. The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami Florida Metropolitan Area. " [4][5] The NFL Network "America's Game" rated the 1985 Bears as the second best super bowl champion ever.
Buddy Ryan left in 1986 to become the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. When asked if he was happy Ryan was gone, Ditka replied he was not happy but "elated. " In 1986, 1987 and 1988, the Bears won the Central Division title and finished each year with either the best or second best record in the NFC. However, all three teams lost in the playoffs at home. Ditka suffered a heart attack during the 1988 season and was expected to miss much of the season, but was on the sidelines as an "advisor" the next week and back in full charge the week after.
The Bears started 4-0 in 1989, but a series of last second losses eventually led to a complete meltdown at the end of the season as the Bears finished 6-10. The Bears rallied to win a weak Central Division in 1990 and make the playoffs as a wildcard in 1991, but were eliminated convincingly in the early rounds. After dropping to 5-11 in the 1992 season, the Bears fired Ditka. The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd Regular season of the National Football League.
He was awarded NFL Coach of the Year honors in 1985 and 1988 by the Associated Press, The Sporting News, and Pro Football Weekly. The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job The 1985 NFL season was the 66th Regular season of the National Football League. The 1988 NFL season was the 69th Regular season of the National Football League. The Associated Press ( AP) is an American News agency. The AP is a Cooperative owned by its contributing Newspapers radio Sporting News (previously The Sporting News, and known colloquially as TSN) is an American -based Sports Pro Football Weekly (sometimes shortened to PFW) is a popular American Sports Magazine, founded in 1967 that covers the National
Ditka was noted for making headlines regardless of what happened on the field. In 1983, he broke his wrist after punching a locker in an angry halftime tirade. The 1983 NFL season was the 64th Regular season of the National Football League. In 1985, he was arrested and convicted of DWI after returning from a game with San Francisco[6]. The 1985 NFL season was the 66th Regular season of the National Football League. Drunk driving is the act of operating and/or driving a Motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or Drugs to the degree that mental and In the midst of a very successful 1988 season, Ditka suffered a heart attack, but bounced back quickly. The 1988 NFL season was the 69th Regular season of the National Football League. Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply On another occasion in 1987, he threw an enormous piece of chewing gum at a San Francisco 49ers fan who had heckled and thrown a drink at him during a Monday night match-up[7]. The 1987 NFL season was the 68th Regular season of the National Football League. The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team Monday Night Football ( MNF) is a Live television broadcast of the National Football League. In 2007, a popular YouTube video showed 9 minutes worth of "highlights" from Ditka's various press conferences during the late 1980s as he jousted with reporters and (on occasions) passing fans; included were rants in which he shouted to one heckler "See that, that's your IQ buddy - ZERO!" and one instance when a reporter noted that Ditka seemed upset. A visibly furious Ditka responded without making eye contact, "I've never been upset in my life".
New Orleans Saints
In 1997, he returned to coach the New Orleans Saints, which he refers to as the "three worst years" of his life. The 1997 NFL season was the 78th Regular season of the National Football League. The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans Louisiana. Ditka was roundly criticized for the trading of all of the team's 1999 draft picks (plus their first round draft pick in 2000) to the Washington Redskins in order to move up in the draft and select Texas RB Ricky Williams. The 1999 National Football League Draft amateur college selection procedure known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting The 2000 National Football League Draft was held on April 15 and April 16 2000 The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team based in the Washington D Errick Lynne Williams Jr (born May 21, 1977 in San Diego, California) is an American football Running back for the The trade was further mocked because of a magazine cover in which Ditka posed with Williams, who was wearing a wedding dress. Over a total of 14 seasons as a head coach, Ditka amassed a regular season record of 121-95-0 and a postseason record of 6-6.
Broadcaster
After his dismissal from the Bears in 1992, Ditka took a broadcasting job with NBC, working as an analyst on NFL Live and as a color commentator for many other NBC broadcasts. The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd Regular season of the National Football League. The NFL on NBC is the brand given to NBC Sports coverage of National Football League games until 1998 when NBC lost the NFL American See also NFL on NBC GrandStand (1975-1976 The first official NFL on NBC pregame show was called GrandStand, a program that From the 2000 to the 2001 season he was a studio analyst on The NFL Today on CBS Sports. The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The 2001 NFL season was the 82nd regular season of the National Football League. The NFL Today is also the name of the Radio show that corresponds with the television show CBS Sports is a division of CBS which airs many of the sports telecasts in the United States. He is currently a commentator on ESPN's NFL Live and CBS Radio-Westwood One's Monday Night Football pregame show. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to This article is about the radio group for the radio network see CBS Radio Network. Westwood One ( is an American Radio network. It is based in New York City, and it was previously managed by CBS Radio, the Radio Monday Night Football ( MNF) is a Live television broadcast of the National Football League. On his radio show, Coach Ditka is called "America's Coach" by well known sidekick Jim Gray. Jim Gray is an American Sportscaster. He has previously worked as a reporter with NBC Sports and CBS Sports. Beginning in 2006 Ditka appeared on a Seattle radio program; "Groz with Gas" on 950 KJR-AM Seattle, on Thursday afternoons with Dave Grosby and Mike Gastineau. KJR (950 AM, "Sports Radio 950 KJR" is an all-sports Radio station based in Seattle Washington, owned by Clear Channel Communications Ditka regularly appears on Chicago radio station ESPN 1000 (WMVP-AM), often broadcasting on Thursday mornings from one of his eponymous restaurants along with ESPN 1000 mid-morning hosts Mark Silverman and Tom Waddle, a former Bears player under Ditka. WMVP (1000 AM) is the Callsign of a commercial radio station in Chicago Illinois, USA. Gregory "Tom" Thomas Waddle (born February 20 1967 in Cincinnati Ohio) is a former American football Wide receiver
Ditka served as color commentator for ESPN's September 10, 2007 broadcast of Monday Night Football, alongside Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to Monday Night Football ( MNF) is a Live television broadcast of the National Football League. Mike Greenberg (born August 6, 1967 in New York, New York) is a television anchor television show host radio host for ESPN Michael Louis "Mike" Golic (born December 12, 1962 in Willowick Ohio) is a co-host of ESPN Radio 's Mike and Mike in the [1] The "three Mikes" make up ESPN's second MNF broadcasting team; the first team consists of Mike Tirico, Ron Jaworski, and Tony Kornheiser. ESPN, originally an acronym for Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, is an American Cable television network dedicated to Michael Jonathon Tirico (born December 13, 1966) is the lead broadcaster for ESPN 's presentation of Monday Night Football, and for Ronald Vincent "Jaws" Jaworski (born March 23, 1951 in Lackawanna, New York) is a former American football Quarterback Anthony Irwin Kornheiser (born July 13, 1948) is an American sportswriter and former columnist for The Washington Post, as well
Notable about Ditka as a color-commentator is that while he is immortalized and beloved in Chicago, he hasn't forgotten his Pittsburgh-area roots, often picking the Steelers to win (even though Ditka has no ties to the organization in any form), even if the Steelers are heavy underdogs in their matchups. Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States.
Other ventures
In 1991, Ditka cooperated with Accolade to produce the computer game Mike Ditka's Ultimate Football. Events Notable releases Namco releases Star Blade, Super World Stadium, Solvalou Accolade was a Video game developer and publisher of the 1980s and 1990s
In 1995, Ditka starred as a Football coach in a Full Motion Video Game called "Quarterback Attack", released for the Sega Saturn, PC and 3DO. Full motion video based games, usually abbreviated as FMV-based games, are Video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV -quality movie or Quarterback Attack was the first and only quarterback-only football game for the Sega Saturn and 3DO. The is a 32-bit Video game console that was first released on November 22 1994 in Japan, May 11 1995 in North America
Ditka has also done guest spots and cameos on shows from L.A. Law to Saturday Night Live, and Third Rock from the Sun. LA Law is an American television Legal drama that ran from 1986 to 1994. Saturday Night Live ( SNL) is a weekly late-night 90-minute American Sketch comedy / Variety show based in New York City 3rd Rock from the Sun is an Emmy Award -winning American sitcom that aired from 1996 until 2001 on NBC. In 2005, Mike Ditka portrayed himself in the comedy Kicking & Screaming. The year 2005 in film involved some significant events Releases of sequels took place with movies like The Devil's Rejects, Cheaper Kicking & Screaming is a 2005 Comedy film, directed by Jesse Dylan starring Will Ferrell.
Ditka is also one of the owners of the Chicago Rush, an Arena Football Team. The Chicago Rush is a team in the Arena Football League. They began play as a 2001 expansion team The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league. After the Rush's victory at ArenaBowl XX, Ditka could be seen celebrating on the field. ArenaBowl XX, held on Sunday June 11, 2006, was played to determine the Championship of the 2006 season of the Arena Football League
In January 2007, Ditka used the Super Bowl return of the Chicago Bears as a platform to promote efforts by many early NFL players trying to raise money to former NFL players in need of money and medical assistance. Angry at the wealthy NFL ignoring the players that helped to create the league, Ditka and other former players have since been attempting to raise money, in the words of Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure, "for guys who made this league and built it on their backs, their knees, their legs and now they're all broken down and they can't even get a decent pension. "[8]
Ditka was a sponsor of Consort hair spray for men.
Ditka is a FOTS (Friend of the Show) on Team 1380's The Morning After in St. Louis.
Politics
In July 2004, Ditka, a self-described "ultra-ultra-ultra conservative", [2] was reportedly considering running against Democrat Barack Obama for an open seat in the U.S. Senate for Illinois in the 2004 Senate election. July 2004: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September The Democratic Party is one of two major Political parties in the United States, the other being the Republican Party. The United States Senate is the Upper house of the bicameral United States Congress, the Lower house being the House of Representatives The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. The United States Senate election 2004 was an election for one-third of the seats in the United States Senate which coincided with the re-election of George The seat was being vacated by Peter Fitzgerald, a Republican, and Republican nominee Jack Ryan withdrew from the race amid controversy at the end of June, leaving the Republicans in a bind. Peter Gosselin Fitzgerald (born October 20, 1960) is the former junior United States Senator from Illinois, having served from 1999&ndash Jack Ryan (born circa 1960 is a Republican from the state of Illinois who was forced to withdraw from the 2004 United States Senate race due to an alleged Local and national political leaders, from Illinois Republican Party Chair Judy Baar Topinka to Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Sen. George Allen, whose father by the same name was an assistant coach with the Bears in the 1960s when Ditka played, met with Ditka in an effort to persuade him to fill the spot on the ticket. Judy Baar Topinka (born January 16, 1944) was the Illinois State Treasurer (from 1995-2007 and former chairman of the Republican Party George Felix Allen (born March 8 1952 is a former Republican United States Senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the son of former George Herbert Allen ( April 29, 1918 – December 31, 1990) was an American football coach in the NFL and
On July 14, however, Ditka announced he would not seek the nomination, citing personal and business considerations (his wife was against the run and he operates a chain of restaurants)[9]. Events 1223 - Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father Philip II of France. Barack Obama went on to defeat former ambassador Alan Keyes in the November 2004 election. Alan Lee Keyes (born August 7 1950
See also
References
- ^
- ^ Mike Ditka page on ChicagoBears.com
- ^ http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/years.html
- ^ Greatest NFL Teams of All Time
- ^ (blacklisted link)
- ^ Ditka's Defense Falters
- ^ http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DEED81738F934A25751C1A961948260 Ditka Cuts Interviews
- ^ Ditka joins fight for older players
- ^ http://www.local6.com/news/3532156/detail.html
External links
- Mike Ditka Biography at www.bearshistory.com
- Mike Ditka player page at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
- Mike Ditka's own restaurant in Chicago
- Gallery of Mike Ditka football cards
| Preceded by Rick Venturi |
New Orleans Saints Head Coaches 1997–1999 |
Succeeded by Jim Haslett |
| Preceded by Neill Armstrong |
Chicago Bears Head Coaches 1982–1992 |
Succeeded by Dave Wannstedt |
| Preceded by Bill Walsh |
Super Bowl Winning Head Coaches Super Bowl XX, 1986 |
Succeeded by Bill Parcells |
| Persondata | |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ditka, Mike |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Ditka, Michael Keller, Jr. Bill Swerski's Superfans was a recurring sketch about Chicago sports fans on the American Sketch comedy program Rick Venturi is a former Head coach at Northwestern University and longtime NFL assistant known for his defense. The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans Louisiana. James Donald "Jim" Haslett (born December 9, 1955 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is an American football coach who currently For the astronaut see Neil Armstrong. Neill Ford Armstrong (born March 9, 1926 in Tishomingo Oklahoma The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. Dave Wannstedt (born May 21, 1952 in Baldwin Pennsylvania) is the current Head coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers William Ernest "Bill" Walsh ( November 30 1931 &ndash July 30 2007) was an American head football coach of the Coaches with multiple Super Bowl wins The following NFL head coaches have won multiple Super Bowls Super Bowl XX was an American football game played on January 26, 1986 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans Louisiana to Bill Parcells (born Duane Charles Parcells August 22, 1941 in Englewood New Jersey) is the current Executive Vice President of Football ; Mike Dyczko; Iron Mike Ditka; Da Coach |
| SHORT DESCRIPTION | former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach |
| DATE OF BIRTH | October 18, 1939 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Carnegie, Pennsylvania |
| DATE OF DEATH | |
| PLACE OF DEATH | |
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