Mike Ditka

"Iron Mike" Ditka, born on October 18, 1939, a legendary football name, excelled as a revolutionary tight end and a famously intense head coach. A Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame inductee, Ditka's impact on the sport is undeniably linked with grit and championship football.

The iconic Mike Ditka, primarily known for his dominant years as a tight end with the Chicago Bears, wearing NFL Jersey Number 89, also made significant contributions to the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. His aggressive style and pass-catching prowess redefined the tight end position. As a head coach, he famously led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl victory and later helmed the New Orleans Saints, leaving an indelible mark.

A member of both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and College Football Hall of Fame, Mike Ditka's career spanned multiple successful eras. Before his NFL stardom and coaching career, he was a standout for the Pitt Panthers. His legacy includes championships as a player with the Bears and Cowboys, and most notably, as the fiery head coach of the dominant 1985 Chicago Bears.

COLLEGE CAREER:

Mike Ditka was a phenomenal three-sport athlete at the University of Pittsburgh, where he starred for the Pitt Panthers football team from 1958 to 1960, wearing NCAAF Jersey Number 89. He played as a two-way end, excelling on offense, defense, and as a punter. In his senior year (1960), Ditka was a unanimous All-American and finished sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting, an exceptional achievement for a lineman. His outstanding collegiate performance led to his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame, and the University of Pittsburgh retired his Number 89 jersey.