Chicago Bears great Mike Ditka dies at 86

His family announced the Hall of Famer's death on Friday.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 32m1 min read

RIP Bears great Mike Ditka Via @BNightengale on X

What happened: Chicago Bears icon Mike Ditka has died at the age of 86. The Ditka family confirmed the news of his passing on Friday morning.

Why it matters: Known universally as 'Da Coach', he remains a central pillar of the franchise's history. Ditka won a championship with the organization as a player in 1963 and later led the 1985 team to a Super Bowl victory.

What to watch: The organization and the league are expected to formally honor his legacy.

Sources

@BNightengale 2026-10-09T15:28:26.290752+00:00

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