NFL Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, who won the Super Bowl as both player and coach, dies at 86

From the Newshound archive · first published 9 October 2026.

Mike Ditka's family announced his death on Friday, calling him "the heart of our family" and noting that "the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears' Super Bowl XX championship team." Ditka was one of only two people in NFL history to win a league title as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach. He transformed the tight-end position before taking the Bears' 1985 squad — widely regarded as having the greatest defence in NFL history — to their only championship.

Nicknamed 'Iron Mike', Ditka was the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, enshrined in 1988.

The 1985 Bears were so dominant and outrageous they recorded a rap video, 'The Super Bowl Shuffle', before backing it up with the title.

His No. 89 jersey will be the last the Bears ever retire, the club confirmed in 2013.