Rest In Peace Coach Ditka
-
Attyla
- Posts: 52,595
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 4:31 pm
- Has given High Fives: 1246 times
- Received High Fives: 2983 times
-
Attyla
- Posts: 52,595
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 4:31 pm
- Has given High Fives: 1246 times
- Received High Fives: 2983 times
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.
-
raider_kin
- Posts: 4,294
- Joined: Mon Sep 21, 2015 8:01 am
- Has given High Fives: 2737 times
- Received High Fives: 1180 times
RIP legend, vaya con Dios
- These users gave a High Five to the author raider_kin for the post:
- Reno Hightower
-
Reno Hightower
- Posts: 3,047
- Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2024 4:59 pm
- Has given High Fives: 733 times
- Received High Fives: 1158 times
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.
- These users gave a High Five to the author Reno Hightower for the post (total 2):
- Willmark, raider_kin
-
Willmark
- Posts: 14,790
- Joined: Wed Dec 04, 2013 2:27 pm
- Location: Keeper of THE COIN!
- Has given High Fives: 1092 times
- Received High Fives: 1009 times
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.
- These users gave a High Five to the author Willmark for the post:
- Reno Hightower
-
mstrbass2000
- Posts: 2,086
- Joined: Sat Mar 07, 2026 10:49 am
- Has given High Fives: 763 times
- Received High Fives: 1006 times
-
Oaktownonly
- Posts: 3,706
- Joined: Sat Nov 01, 2014 9:32 am
- Has given High Fives: 428 times
- Received High Fives: 414 times
-
RunOverByHubbard
- Posts: 13,328
- Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2013 9:09 am
- Location: 88 miles NE of the Coliseum
- Has given High Fives: 135 times
- Received High Fives: 727 times
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.
-
RaiderandBulldog
- Posts: 16,314
- Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2015 3:18 pm
- Location: Fresno Ca
- Has given High Fives: 209 times
- Received High Fives: 435 times
I miss him being on ESPN’s NfL coverage but he was too old school for them
-
Atlasffa
- Posts: 13,110
- Joined: Sun May 01, 2016 7:41 am
- Location: Just Win Baby!
- Has given High Fives: 182 times
- Received High Fives: 744 times
RIP Coach. You left it all on the field and football is better for it.
- These users gave a High Five to the author Atlasffa for the post (total 2):
- RaiderandBulldog, raider_kin
-
RaiderandBulldog
- Posts: 16,314
- Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2015 3:18 pm
- Location: Fresno Ca
- Has given High Fives: 209 times
- Received High Fives: 435 times
- These users gave a High Five to the author RaiderandBulldog for the post (total 3):
- Atlasffa, SkullCrusher, Willmark
-
RaiderandBulldog
- Posts: 16,314
- Joined: Mon Sep 14, 2015 3:18 pm
- Location: Fresno Ca
- Has given High Fives: 209 times
- Received High Fives: 435 times
-
Attyla
- Posts: 52,595
- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2014 4:31 pm
- Has given High Fives: 1246 times
- Received High Fives: 2983 times
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.
-
Rabidraider
- Posts: 2,703
- Joined: Fri Oct 27, 2023 4:45 pm
- Has given High Fives: 1864 times
- Received High Fives: 1150 times
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...