Grant Stern (@grantstern):Few athletes transcend sports to become a cultural icon like Coach Ditka did. The 1985 Bears were truly a magical team, who beat the Patriots, but not the Dolphins. Who doesn’t love Da Bears Super-fans from SNL? For that reason people tend to forget he defined the position of Tight End in the NFL, becoming the first player inducted into the Hall of Fame at his position. He won an NFL championship and Super Bowl as a player before winning again as a coach. And I’m not prone to writing tributes to the folks on other teams than my own, but he was a legend. As a kid, he and that team really defined football to me in so many ways. Rest in Peace Mike Ditka.

2026.10.09 15:23

Few athletes transcend sports to become a cultural icon like Coach Ditka did. The 1985 Bears were truly a magical team, who beat the Patriots, but not the Dolphins. Who doesn’t love Da Bears Super-fans from SNL? For that reason people tend to forget he defined the position of Tight End in the NFL, becoming the first player inducted into the Hall of Fame at his position. He won an NFL championship and Super Bowl as a player before winning again as a coach. And I’m not prone to writing tributes to the folks on other teams than my own, but he was a legend. As a kid, he and that team really defined football to me in so many ways. Rest in Peace Mike Ditka.