The Chicago Bears lost one of the most beloved sports legends in city history Friday — and the team didn’t hold back when it came to honoring Da Coach.
“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. We extend our love, prayers, and heartfelt condolences to the Ditka family, and join all Bears fans in deep sadness and reverence as we remember and honor Mike Ditka.”
With Bears flags at half staff at Halas Hall, the loss of Ditka hung heavy in and around Soldier Field.
“As far as I’m concerned, Coach Ditka is the gold standard in terms of this place,” Head Coach Ben Johnson told reporters Friday. “I mean, he’s a legend around here as a player, as a coach. His impact is still being felt to this day. And as as the head coach of the Bears, I I feel humbled to be in that same chair that he was once in.”
Known widely for his career with the Chicago Bears, and for being the leader of the team’s 1985 Super Bowl championship team, “Da Coach” died at the age of 86, his family announced in a statement Friday.
“It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka,” the statement read. “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.”
Ditka’s passing comes as the Bears prepare to take on their biggest rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Sunday. And they’re hoping for a win in one of the most storied rivalries in NFL history — especially now.
“We certainly started off the week just talking about the history of our team and the Packers as well and just how far back that goes. And so it’s a cool opportunity for our guys to write another chapter in this long story that’s gone on between these two organizations. But we’ll certainly – whether that’s this afternoon or tomorrow morning – we’ll talk about Coach Ditka as a team.”
Even the Packers released a statement after news broke of the loss.
“We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and the entire Chicago Bears organization,” the team wrote on social media. “One of the fiercest competitors in NFL history, Mike helped define the intensity and tradition of the Packers-Bears rivalry, the oldest in professional football. He embodied the toughness and passion that have made the rivalry one of the most storied in all of sports. While he was a formidable opponent, his contributions to the game and to a rivalry that has meant so much to both franchises will always be respected and remembered by the Green Bay Packers.”
Ditka is being remembered widely as one of the greatest sporting legends the city of Chicago has ever known.
His most famous season with the team came as a coach in 1985, when the Bears went 15-1 and then steamrolled through the playoffs, thrashing the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX for their first and only Super Bowl championship in team history.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Ditka “epitomized football over so many years.”
“He brought intensity, authenticity, an an unmistakable personality to everything he did,” Goodell said. “As a Hall of Fame player, Super Bowl-winning coach with his beloved and iconic Bears, and as a broadcaster, Mike served as an ambassador for the game and inspired generations of fans.”
Other Chicago sports teams also remembered Ditka, even outside of football.
“We join the Bears and the city of Chicago in remembering the legendary Mike Ditka. Thank you for the memories, Coach,” the Cubs wrote on X.
The White Sox followed, offering their condolences and saying “he will be greatly missed.”
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
