Rest In Peace Coach Ditka
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Attyla
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Attyla
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86 years old. I know someone who played for him on the scab teams. He actually got a game ball after one of those games.
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raider_kin
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RIP legend, vaya con Dios
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Reno Hightower
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I am sorry to hear this.
I always had a lot of respect for Iron Mike. His generation made the NFL what it is and he redefined the TE position. His NFL playing career was often overlooked because he was such a larger than life presence on the sidelines. He literally put up Tecmo Bowl stats in the 1960's when three yards and a cloud of dust was the norm.
This sucks. It's part of life but it sucks.
I always had a lot of respect for Iron Mike. His generation made the NFL what it is and he redefined the TE position. His NFL playing career was often overlooked because he was such a larger than life presence on the sidelines. He literally put up Tecmo Bowl stats in the 1960's when three yards and a cloud of dust was the norm.
This sucks. It's part of life but it sucks.
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- Willmark, raider_kin
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Willmark
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Coach Mike was an absolute legend and a monster of a TE.
Football feels smaller with his passing. He represented a time before it was the business it is now.
Football feels smaller with his passing. He represented a time before it was the business it is now.
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mstrbass2000
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Oaktownonly
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RunOverByHubbard
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You are right -- most everyone knows him as Coach Ditka but do not know how great of a tight end he was. He and John Mackey (Colts) made the position what it is today. RIP Coach Ditka.Willmark wrote: Fri Oct 09, 2026 9:05 am Coach Mike was an absolute legend and a monster of a TE.
Football feels smaller with his passing. He represented a time before it was the business it is now.
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RaiderandBulldog
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I miss him being on ESPN’s NfL coverage but he was too old school for them
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Atlasffa
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RIP Coach. You left it all on the field and football is better for it.
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RaiderandBulldog
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RaiderandBulldog
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Attyla
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I admired the guy. From his playing days to his coaching days. Well, until he tried in NO. That was a mistake.
But there is no doubt he championed his guys. When the NFL was put on notice during the CTE investigation. Iron Mike testified for the players. Ditka urged the league to take responsibility for player concussions and help former players who are struggling with dementia, depression, and alcoholism tied to their playing careers, while acknowledging that football is a massive billion-dollar industry that needs better safety protocols and strict penalties for hits to the head.
There was a lot of greatness in the man. Rest well, sir.
But there is no doubt he championed his guys. When the NFL was put on notice during the CTE investigation. Iron Mike testified for the players. Ditka urged the league to take responsibility for player concussions and help former players who are struggling with dementia, depression, and alcoholism tied to their playing careers, while acknowledging that football is a massive billion-dollar industry that needs better safety protocols and strict penalties for hits to the head.
There was a lot of greatness in the man. Rest well, sir.
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Rabidraider
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The most famous instance of a team trading their entire draft for a running back occurred during the 1999 NFL Draft, when New Orleans Saints head coach Mike Ditka traded all of the team's remaining picks to select Texas running back Ricky Williams.
Epic trade...not good but epic...
RIP Mike...
Epic trade...not good but epic...
RIP Mike...