Mike Ditka has died at 86, his family announced Friday morning. He won championships with the Bears as both a player and head coach.
A Pro Football Hall of Famer, Ditka joined Chicago as the fifth overall pick in the 1961 NFL draft after playing at the University of Pittsburgh. The tight end was named NFL Rookie of the Year and made the Pro Bowl in each of his first five seasons.
Ditka helped the Bears win the 1963 NFL championship, leading the team that season with 59 catches for 794 yards and eight touchdowns. He spent six of his 12 NFL playing seasons in Chicago and later coached the franchise to a Super Bowl title. The team offered condolences to his family and recalled his decades with the organization as a player, coach and ambassador.
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