Passing of Mike Ditka

[DLJBSP]

CHICAGO — Mike Ditka, the iconic Pro Football Hall of Famer known as "Iron Mike" and "Da Coach," has died at the age of 86.

 

His family announced his passing on Friday, October 9, 2026, remembering him as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend who was "the heart of our family" and will be missed beyond measure. He is survived by his wife, Diana, and his family.

 

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 as a tight end, Ditka left an indelible mark on the NFL both on the field and from the sideline. As head coach, he led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl XX championship and holds the distinction of being the first person in league history to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach.

[Qapla]

Seems he was not alone:

Maggie Johnson, Clint Eastwood’s first wife, dies at 94

• Legendary Bears coach Mike Ditka dies
• Michael Kearns, actor and AIDS activist, dies
• Bill Harris, who helped kidnap Patty Hearst in 1974, dies at 81
• Eva Marie Saint, who won Oscar for ‘On the Waterfront,’ dies at 102
• Dennis Franchione, who coached at TCU, Alabama, Texas A&M, dies at 75

[Shawnster]