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{{short description|American football player, coach, and commentator (born 1939)}}
{{use American English|date=October 2025}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2019}}
{{infobox gridiron football biography
| name           = Mike Ditka
| image          = Mike Ditka 2008 NFL Experience 48-DPA-02 01 02 08 (cropped).jpg
| image_size     =
| alt            = 
| caption        = Ditka in 2008
| number         = 89, 98
| position       = [[Tight end]]
| birth_date     = {{Birth date and age|1939|10|18}}
| birth_place    = [[Carnegie, Pennsylvania]], U.S.
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height_ft      = 6
| height_in      = 3
| weight_lb      = 228
| high_school    = [[Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School|Aliquippa]] <br> ([[Aliquippa, Pennsylvania]])
| college        = [[Pittsburgh Panthers football|Pittsburgh]] (1958–1960)
| draftyear      = 1961
| draftround     = 1
| draftpick      = 5
| afldraftyear   = 1961
| afldraftround  = 1
| afldraftpick   = 8
| pastteams      =
* [[Chicago Bears]] ({{NFL Year|1961|1966}})
* [[Philadelphia Eagles]] ({{NFL Year|1967|1968}})
* [[Dallas Cowboys]] ({{NFL Year|1969|1972}})
| pastcoaching   =
* Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|1973|1981}}) <br> Assistant head coach & special teams coordinator
* Chicago Bears ({{NFL Year|1982|1992}}) <br> Head coach
* [[New Orleans Saints]] ({{NFL Year|1997|1999}}) <br> Head coach
| highlights     = ; As a player
* [[List of Super Bowl champions|Super Bowl champion]] ([[Super Bowl VI|VI]])
* [[List of NFL champions (1920–1969)|NFL champion]] ([[1963 NFL Championship Game|1963]])
* [[National Football League Rookie of the Year Award|NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year]] (1961)
* 2× First-team [[All-Pro]] ([[1963 All-Pro Team|1963]], [[1964 All-Pro Team|1964]])
* 3× Second-team All-Pro ([[1962 All-Pro Team|1962]], [[1965 All-Pro Team|1965]]–[[1966 All-Pro Team|1966]])
* 5× [[Pro Bowl]] ([[1962 Pro Bowl|1961]]–[[1966 Pro Bowl|1965]])
* [[NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
* [[NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team]]
* [[Chicago Bears#Retired numbers|Chicago Bears No. 89]] retired
* [[Chicago Bears#Top 100 greatest Bears of all-time|100 greatest Bears of All-Time]]
* [[List of unanimous All-Americans in college football|Unanimous All-American]] ([[1960 College Football All-America Team|1960]])
* 2× First-team All-Eastern ([[1959 All-Eastern football team|1959]], [[1960 All-Eastern football team|1960]])
* [[Pittsburgh Panthers football#Retired numbers|Pittsburgh Panthers No. 89]] retired
; As a coach
* 2× Super Bowl champion ([[Super Bowl XII|XII]], [[Super Bowl XX|XX]])
* 2× [[AP NFL Coach of the Year Award|AP NFL Coach of the Year]] (1985, 1988)
| statlabel1     = [[Reception (gridiron football)|Receptions]]
| statvalue1     = 427
| statlabel2     = Receiving yards
| statvalue2     = 5,812
| statlabel3     = Receiving [[touchdown]]s
| statvalue3     = 43
| regular_record = {{Winning percentage|121|95|record=y}}
| playoff_record = {{Winning percentage|6|6|record=y}}
| overall_record = {{Winning percentage|127|101|record=y}}
| pfr            = DitkMi00
| pfrcoach       = DitkMi0
| HOF            = mike-ditka
| CollegeHOF     = 1795 
}}

'''Michael Keller Ditka''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|ɪ|t|k|ə}} {{respell|DIT|kə}}; born '''Michael Dyczko'''; October 18, 1939) is an American former professional [[American football|football]] player, coach, and television commentator. During his playing career, he was [[UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year|UPI NFL Rookie of Year]] in 1961, a five-time [[Pro Bowl]] selection, and a six-time [[All-Pro]] tight end with the [[Chicago Bears]], [[Philadelphia Eagles]], and [[Dallas Cowboys]] in the [[National Football League]] (NFL); he was inducted into the [[College Football Hall of Fame]] in 1986 and the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]] in 1988. Ditka was the first tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in his rookie season.

He was an NFL champion with the 1963 Bears and is a three-time [[Super Bowl]] champion, playing on the Cowboys' [[Super Bowl VI]] team, winning as an assistant coach for the Cowboys in [[Super Bowl XII]], and coaching the Bears to victory in [[Super Bowl XX]]. He has been named to the NFL's 75th- and 100th-Anniversary All-Time Teams.

As a head coach for the Bears from 1982 to 1992, he was twice both the [[NFL Coach of the Year Award#AP NFL Coach of the Year|AP]] and [[NFL Coach of the Year Award#UPI NFL Coach of the Year|UPI NFL Coach of Year]] (1985 and 1988). He also was the head coach of the [[New Orleans Saints]] from 1997 to 1999.

Ditka and [[Tom Flores]] are the only people to win a Super Bowl as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach.<!-- Please do not edit [[Tony Dungy]] here. He did not win a Super Bowl as an assistant coach. Please see this talkpage. --> Ditka, Flores, [[Gary Kubiak]], and [[Doug Pederson]] are also the only people in modern NFL history to win a championship as head coach of a team for which they played previously.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Draper |first=Kevin |date=February 8, 2016 |title=Gary Kubiak Was Actually the Third Person to Win The Super Bowl Coaching the Same Team He Played For |url=http://deadspin.com/gary-kubiak-was-actually-the-third-person-to-win-the-su-1757718771 |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Deadspin.com}}</ref> Ditka is the only person to participate in both of the last two Chicago Bears' league championships, as a player in 1963 and as head coach in 1985.

In 2020, Ditka became the owner of the [[X League (women's football)|X League]], a women's tackle football league that was originally the Lingerie Football League.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/bears/mike-ditka-becomes-owner-x-league-womens-tackle-football-league|title=Mike Ditka Becomes Owner X League Women's Tackle Football League|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=July 15, 2020 }}</ref>

He is known by the nickname "'''Iron Mike'''", which he has said comes from his being born and raised in a [[iron and steel industry in the United States|steel]] town in [[Pennsylvania]].<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Getting Down and Dirty with 'Da Coach'|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=75|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=October 1995|pages=114–116}}</ref>

== Early life ==

Ditka was born Michael Dyczko, on October 18, 1939, in [[Carnegie, Pennsylvania]], near [[Pittsburgh]], the oldest child of Charlotte (Keller) and Mike Ditka Sr.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19981115ditka9.asp|title=Obituary: Mike Ditka: Aliquippa resident, father of Saints coach|publisher=Old.post-gazette.com|access-date=January 16, 2015|archive-date=October 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151018013117/http://old.post-gazette.com/regionstate/19981115ditka9.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref> He grew up in nearby [[Aliquippa, Pennsylvania|Aliquippa]]{{r|price20110131}} with siblings Ashton, David, and Mary Ann. His father, a welder, was one of three brothers of a Polish<ref name="roots">{{Cite web |date=October 9, 2013 |title=Ditka putting name on Polish sausage |url=http://abc7chicago.com/archive/9281089/ |access-date=October 9, 2013 |publisher=ABC 7 Chicago}}</ref> and [[Ukrainians|Ukrainian]]<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/tradition/hof-ditka.asp |title=Mike Ditka page on |publisher=Chicagobears.com |access-date=September 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071220123238/http://www.chicagobears.com/tradition/hof-ditka.asp |archive-date=December 20, 2007 |url-status=dead  }} Quote from article: "Mike's childhood name was Mike Dyzcko. His father was one of three brothers of a Ukrainian family in the coal-mining and steel-manufacturing area in Western Pennsylvania"</ref> family in the coal-mining and steel-manufacturing area in [[Western Pennsylvania]]. His ancestry on his mother's side is Irish and German.<ref name="bookref1">{{cite book|last1=Othello Harris|first1=George Kirsch|last2=Claire Nolte|title=Encyclopedia of Ethnicity and Sports in the United States|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|year=2000|location=Westport, Connecticut|page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofet0000unse_u6f6/page/132 132]|isbn=0-313-29911-0|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofet0000unse_u6f6/page/132}}</ref> Others in his hometown found it hard to pronounce the name Dyczko, so the family name was changed to "Ditka".<ref name="autogenerated1" /> Ditka attended St. Titus School.

Ditka attended [[Aliquippa Junior/Senior High School|Aliquippa High School]], where he was a three-sport star under head coach [[Press Maravich]]. While at Aliquippa High School, the team doctor, John L. Miller, took Mike and other players to [[Pitt Panthers football|Pitt football]] games and encouraged them to play for Pitt. Ditka is quoted as saying, "Doc Miller patched me up many times". Ditka hoped to escape his hometown's manufacturing jobs by attending college with a football scholarship. Initially planning to become a dentist,<ref name=price20110131>{{cite news|last=Price|first=S.L.|title=The Heart Of Football Beats In Aliquippa|url=http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&title=Over+five+decades+of+economic+decline+and+racial+conflict%2C+-+01.31.11+-+SI+Vault&urlID=445388322&action=cpt&partnerID=289881&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1181210%2Findex.htm|access-date=February 6, 2011|newspaper=Sports Illustrated|date=January 31, 2011|archive-date=September 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180927085619/http://cnnsi.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?expire=&title=Over+five+decades+of+economic+decline+and+racial+conflict%2C+-+01.31.11+-+SI+Vault&urlID=445388322&action=cpt&partnerID=289881&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsportsillustrated.cnn.com%2Fvault%2Farticle%2Fmagazine%2FMAG1181210%2Findex.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> he was recruited by three [[NCAA Division I]] teams: [[Notre Dame Fighting Irish football|Notre Dame]], [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Penn State]], and Pitt.

==College career==
[[file:Ditka1960Crop Owl61pg183.jpg|thumb|Ditka playing for [[Pitt Panthers football|Pitt]] in 1960]]
Ditka played [[college football]] for [[Pitt Panthers football|Pitt]] from 1958 until 1960, and was a three-sport athlete, also playing [[college baseball|baseball]] (outfielder) and [[college basketball|basketball]] (forward) for the [[Pitt Panthers]].<ref name=PittRetiredJersey>{{cite web|title=Pitt Retired Jerseys: #89 Mike Ditka|url=http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-footbl/ditkaretiredjersey.html|publisher=[[University of Pittsburgh]]|access-date=December 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131011003314/http://www.pittsburghpanthers.com/sports/m-footbl/ditkaretiredjersey.html|archive-date=October 11, 2013}}</ref> He also was an intramural [[scholastic wrestling|wrestling]] champion at Pitt, and a member of [[Sigma Chi]] fraternity.

He started on the football team all three seasons, leading the team in receiving in each, while also serving as a linebacker, defensive end, and punter. As a sophomore, he led the team with 18 receptions for 252 yards and averaged 42.5 yards per punt. He had one touchdown reception (tied for second on the team).

As a junior, he led the team with 16 receptions for 249 yards and four receiving touchdowns. He also averaged 38.3 yards per punt.

As a senior, he was named a team captain, while leading the team with 11 receptions for 229 yards and two receiving touchdowns. He was a [[List of unanimous college football All-Americans|unanimous first-team selection]] on the [[College Football All-America Team]] as a two-way end. He finished his college career with 45 catches for 730 yards and seven touchdowns.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mike-ditka-1.html |title=Mike Ditka College Stats | access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref>

In 1986, Ditka was enshrined in the [[College Football Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Bryant Inducted Into Hall Of Fame|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11212867/bryant_inducted_into_hall_of_fame/|access-date=May 24, 2017|work=Logansport Pharos-Tribune|agency=United Press International|date=December 10, 1986|page=14|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> In 1997, his 89 jersey number was retired by the University of Pittsburgh at halftime of the game against the [[Miami Hurricanes football|University of Miami]]. In 2018, he was inducted into the inaugural 16-member class of the University of Pittsburgh Athletics Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pittscriptforlife.com/sports/2019/6/14/hall-of-fame-class-of-2018.aspx|title=Hall of Fame: Class of 2018|work=University of Pittsburgh LifeStyle|date=September 7, 2018|access-date=March 24, 2019|archive-date=September 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921134737/https://pittscriptforlife.com/sports/2019/6/14/hall-of-fame-class-of-2018.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Playing career==
=== Chicago Bears ===
[[File:8X10A 1961 Chicago Bears o-line practice 1.jpg|thumb|Ditka (far left) with the [[1961 Chicago Bears season|1961 Chicago Bears]] offensive line]]
[[File:Mike ditka topps card.jpg|thumb|Ditka's 1963 Topps card]]
Ditka was selected by the Chicago Bears fifth overall in the [[1961 NFL draft]], while the [[Houston Oilers]] drafted him eighth overall in the first round of the [[1961 AFL draft]]. He signed with the Bears and his presence was immediately felt. In his first season, Ditka had 58 receptions, introducing a new dimension to a [[tight end]] position that had previously been dedicated to blocking. He also scored 12 receiving touchdowns, which was the most by a Bears rookie.<ref name="Ditka infographic" /> His success earned him [[UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year|Rookie of the Year]] honors. He continued to play for the Bears for the next five years, earning a [[Pro Bowl]] trip each season.

He played on the [[1963 Chicago Bears season|1963 NFL championship team]]. Many of the players from that team, including Ditka, were drafted by assistant coach [[George Allen (American football coach)|George Allen]], a future Hall of Famer, who was then in charge of the Bears' drafts. During the season, against the [[History of the Los Angeles Rams|Los Angeles Rams]], Ditka tied [[Harlon Hill]]'s franchise record for the most receiving touchdowns in a game with four.<ref name="Ditka infographic">{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Infographic-Iron-Mike-Ditka/9a243f4c-d8d6-485e-b7ef-5c05419785f6|title=Infographic: Iron Mike Ditka|work=[[Chicago Bears]]|date=December 8, 2013|access-date=December 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211085350/http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Infographic-Iron-Mike-Ditka/9a243f4c-d8d6-485e-b7ef-5c05419785f6|archive-date=December 11, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ditka ranks first among tight ends and fourth in Bears history with 4,503 yards, fifth in both receptions (316) and touchdown catches (34).<ref name="Number retired">{{cite web|last=Mayer|first=Larry|url=http://www.chicagobears.com/news/article-1/Bears-to-retire-Mike-Ditka's-number/c18079df-94dd-47ea-a68d-06a6eb0a2c24|title=Bears to retire Mike Ditka's number|publisher=[[Chicago Bears]]|date=May 24, 2013|access-date=May 24, 2013}}{{Dead link|date=January 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

In 1962, he started all 14 games, making 58 receptions (tied for the team lead) for 904 yards (led the team) and five receiving touchdowns (led the team). In 1963, he led the team with 59 catches for 794 yards and eight touchdowns.

In 1964, he was second on the team with 75 receptions for 897 yards and five touchdowns. The next year, he posted 36 receptions (second on the team), 454 receiving yards (third on the team), and two receiving touchdowns (tied for fourth on the team).

In 1966, he registered 32 receptions (second on the team), 378 yards (third on the team) and two touchdowns (tied for second on the team). Ditka was also noted for decking football fan Felix Carbajal, who had run onto the playing field late in a week 2 31&ndash;17 loss to the Rams at the [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]] on September 16.<ref>{{cite news|author=Royko, Mike|url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1994-08-19-1994231195-story.html|title=Grid fan's rush to glory bashed by mighty Ditka|work=Chicago Daily News|date=September 20, 1966|access-date=June 12, 2020}}</ref> He had played out his option that season after not being able to reach a contract agreement with Bears' owner/head coach [[George Halas]].

On February 8, 1967,  ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that just before the [[AFL–NFL merger]], Ditka had signed a $300,000 contract with a $50,000 [[signing bonus]] with the Houston Oilers, the team that owned his AFL draft rights.<ref>{{cite news
| last = Anderson
| first = Dave
| date = February 8, 1967
| title = Ditka, Bears' End, Jumps To Oilers
| newspaper = The New York Times
| page = 27
| url = https://www.nytimes.com/1967/02/08/archives/ditka-bears-end-jumps-to-oilers-made-deal-before-merger-then-played.html
| access-date = February 11, 2023
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=February 8, 1967 |title=Ditka 'Obligated' To Houston Oilers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-times-ditka-obligated-to-hou/158080230/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=The Tampa Times |pages=8 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name="manholecovers">{{cite news|author=Sons, Ray|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2016/1/21/18557674/1985-bears-coverage-ditka-sees-himself-in-team-s-rebels |title=Ditka sees himself in team's rebels|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=January 21, 1986|access-date=June 12, 2020}}</ref>

=== Philadelphia Eagles ===
On April 26, 1967, Ditka was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles along with a 1968 fourth-round pick (#106-Alan Bush), in exchange for quarterback [[Jack Concannon]]. The transaction was intended to fill roster vacancies created by the retirements of Eagles' tight end [[Pete Retzlaff]] and Bears' quarterback [[Rudy Bukich]].<ref name="ditkaconcannon">{{cite web | url=https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/cgi-bin/illinois?a=d&d=DIL19670427.2.67&e=-------en-20--1--img-txIN--------- |title=Halas Trades Mike Ditka| date=April 27, 1967 | access-date=June 14, 2020}}</ref> His Oilers contract was transferred to the Eagles and Ditka was able to keep his $50,000 bonus to avoid any legal conflicts.<ref>{{cite news |date=April 27, 1967 |title=Mike Ditka Gets $50,000; For Nothing |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-amarillo-globe-times-mike-ditka-gets/158080302/ |access-date=June 12, 2020 |work=The Amarillo Globe-Times |pages=16 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> His time as a Bears player bitterly came to an end with a parting shot in which he stated that Halas "threw nickels around like manhole covers."<ref name="manholecovers"/> He wore number 98 in his first season with the Eagles, while only playing in nine games with four starts because of injuries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DitkMi00.htm|title=Mike Ditka Stats|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com}}</ref> Ditka was outplayed by tight end [[Jim Kelly (tight end, born 1942)|Jim Kelly]], registering 26 receptions for 274 yards and two touchdowns.

In 1968, he changed his jersey number back to his usual 89. He appeared in 11 games with six starts, and his statistics were below tight end [[Fred Hill (American football)|Fred Hill]]. He posted 13 receptions for 111 yards and two touchdowns.

=== Dallas Cowboys ===
On January 28, 1969, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for wide receiver [[Dave McDaniels]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/espn/page2/story?page=list/050418/draftdays&num=0 |publisher=ESPN |author=Merron, Jeff |title=The strangest NFL draft moments |date=April 18, 2005 |access-date=June 12, 2020}}</ref> [[Pettis Norman]] ended up being named the starting tight end, but Ditka still was able to play in 12 games with four starts, while making 17 receptions for 268 yards and three touchdowns.

In 1970, he remained a reserve player behind Norman. He appeared in 14 games, while tallying eight receptions for 98 yards and no touchdowns. The Cowboys reached their first Super Bowl, losing 13–16 against the [[Baltimore Colts]], by way of a field goal scored with five seconds left in regulation time.

In 1971, he was a backup player behind [[Billy Truax]], appearing in 14 games with four starts. He set the franchise record for tight ends with 30 receptions in a season, while also compiling 360 receiving yards, one touchdown, and three kickoff returns for 30 yards. His highlight was a touchdown reception in the Cowboys' 24–3 victory over the [[Miami Dolphins]] in [[Super Bowl VI]].

In 1972, he was named the starter at tight end, after Truax was limited by off-season knee surgery. He started all 14 games, posting 17 receptions for 198 yards and one touchdown, while alternating in some passing situations with rookie [[Jean Fugett]].

On March 1, 1973, Ditka announced his retirement as a player, opening the door for him to be named the Cowboys wide receiver assistant coach under head coach [[Tom Landry]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=1973-03-02 |title=Mike Ditka Will Retire |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/york-daily-record-mike-ditka-will-retire/158080365/ |access-date=2024-10-29 |work=York Daily Record |page=52 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> At the time, his 427 receptions were the most by a tight end in NFL history.

=== Hall of Fame ===
In 1988,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballhof.com/players/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070117183402/http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/years.html|url-status=dead|title=Pro Football Hall of Famers &#124; Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site|archivedate=January 17, 2007|website=profootballhof.com}}</ref> his blocking and 427 career receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns earned him the honor of being the first tight end inducted into the [[Pro Football Hall of Fame]].<ref name="Number retired" /> Ditka also scored two touchdowns on offensive fumble recoveries, tying seven other players for the most in NFL history. In [[1999 NFL season|1999]], he was ranked number 90 on ''[[The Sporting News]]'''s list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

==NFL career statistics==
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="3"| Legend
|-
| style="background:#ffe6bd; width:3em;"|
| Won the [[NFL championship]]
|-
| style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em"|
| Won the [[Super Bowl]]
|-
| '''Bold'''
| Career high
|}

===Regular season===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Receiving
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="1"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum
|-
! [[1961 NFL season|1961]] !! [[1961 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 56 || '''1,076''' || '''19.2''' || '''76''' || '''12''' || 0 || – || – || – || – || 2
|-
! [[1962 NFL season|1962]] !! [[1962 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 58 || 904 || 15.6 || 69 || 5 || 0 || – || – || – || – || '''4'''
|-
! [[1963 NFL season|1963]] !! style="background:#ffe6bd; width:3em;"|[[1963 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 59 || 794 || 13.5 || 63 || 8 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! [[1964 NFL season|1964]] !! [[1964 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || '''75''' || 897 || 12.0 || 34 || 5 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 2
|-
! [[1965 NFL season|1965]] !! [[1965 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 36 || 454 || 12.6 || 44 || 2 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 1
|-
! [[1966 NFL season|1966]] !! [[1966 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 32 || 378 || 11.8 || 30 || 2 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! [[1967 NFL season|1967]] !! [[1967 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 9 || 6 || 26 || 274 || 10.5 || 25 || 2 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! [[1968 NFL season|1968]] !! [[1968 Philadelphia Eagles season|PHI]]
| 11 || 6 || 13 || 111 || 8.5 || 18 || 2 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! [[1969 NFL season|1969]] !! [[1969 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
| 12 || 4 || 17 || 268 || 15.8 || 51 || 3 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! [[1970 NFL season|1970]] !! [[1970 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
| '''14''' || 0 || 8 || 98 || 12.3 || 26 || 0 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! [[1971 NFL season|1971]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em"|[[1971 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
| '''14''' || 4 || 30 || 360 || 12.0 || 29 || 1 || '''2''' || '''2''' || '''1.0''' || '''11''' || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1972 NFL season|1972]] !! [[1972 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
| '''14''' || '''14''' || 17 || 198 || 11.6 || 26 || 1 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DitkMi00.htm Career]
! 158 !! 118 !! 427 !! 5,812 !! 13.6 !! 76 !! 43 !! 2 !! 2 !! 1.0 !! 11 !! 0 !! 9
|}

===Postseason===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team
! colspan="2"| Games
! colspan="5"| Receiving
! colspan="5"| Rushing
! colspan="1"| Fumbles
|-
! GP !! GS !! Rec !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Att !! Yds !! Avg !! Lng !! TD !! Fum
|-
! [[1963 NFL Championship Game|1963]] !! style="background:#ffe6bd; width:3em;"|[[1963 Chicago Bears season|CHI]]
| 1 || 1 || 3 || 38 || '''12.7''' || 15 || 0 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! [[1969-70 NFL playoffs|1969]] !! [[1969 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
| 1 || 0 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! [[1970-71 NFL playoffs|1970]] !! [[1970 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
| '''3''' || 0 || 1 || 5 || 5.0 || 5 || 0 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! [[1971-72 NFL playoffs|1971]] !! style="background:#afe6ba; width:3em"|[[1971 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
| '''3''' || '''3''' || '''5''' || '''51''' || 10.2 || '''21''' || '''1''' || '''1''' || '''17''' || '''17.0''' || '''17''' || 0 || 0
|-
! [[1972-73 NFL playoffs|1972]] !! [[1972 Dallas Cowboys season|DAL]]
| 2 || 2 || 2 || 13 || 6.5 || 9 || 0 || 0 || – || – || – || – || 0
|-
! colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DitkMi00.htm Career]
! 10 !! 6 !! 11 !! 107 !! 9.7 !! 21 !! 1 !! 1 !! 17 !! 17.0 !! 17 !! 0 !! 0
|}

==Coaching career==
Retiring after the 1972 season, Ditka was immediately hired as an assistant coach by Landry. Ditka spent nine seasons as an assistant coach with the Cowboys. During his tenure, the Cowboys made the playoffs eight times, won six division titles, three NFC championships, and a [[Super Bowl XII|Super Bowl victory]] in 1977.

While working with the Cowboys, Ditka sent a letter to [[George Halas]], his former head coach, who was still owner of the Bears. In the letter, Ditka expressed regret for the acrimonious manner in which his time with the Bears had come to an end and said that he would like to come back to Chicago and be the head coach of the Bears "when he was ready".<ref name="America's Game">''[[America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions]]'', "#2. 1985 Chicago Bears." Premiered on [[CBS]], February 3, 2007</ref> Meanwhile, the Cowboys continued to win games, although they did not win another Super Bowl while Ditka was there. His last game with the Cowboys was the [[1981 NFC Championship Game]], where the team fell to the [[San Francisco 49ers]].

=== Chicago Bears ===
After firing previous coach [[Neill Armstrong]] following the [[1981 Chicago Bears season|1981 season]], Halas decided to take Ditka up on his offer from several years earlier, and hired him to become the team's head coach for the [[1982 Chicago Bears season|1982 season]]. Although the Bears had made the playoffs under Armstrong and his predecessor [[Jack Pardee]], those were the only two winning seasons since Halas' retirement as coach, so he was looking for a coach who would bring the Bears back to prominence. Shortly after his hiring, as recounted by Mike Singletary in 2006, Ditka called a team meeting. In the meeting, he warned that the team would experience some turnover, but if they were all willing to work hard for him and stand with him, Ditka promised a trip to the Super Bowl within three seasons.<ref name="America's Game" /> Specifically, Ditka said, "Give me three years, and if you walk with me, we'll get to the dance."<ref name="Mike Ditka, Chicago Bear">{{cite web|last1=Taylor|first1=Roy|title=Mike Ditka, Chicago Bear|url=http://bearshistory1.brinkster.net/lore/mikeditka.aspx|website=Chicago Bears History|access-date=January 2, 2015}}</ref>

By his fourth season in [[1984 Chicago Bears season|1984]], Ditka led the Bears to the [[NFC Championship Game]], where the Bears were shut out by the eventual Super Bowl champion [[1984 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] in San Francisco. The following year in [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985]], Ditka's coaching career hit its pinnacle on January 26, 1986, with a 46–10 win over the [[1985 New England Patriots season|New England Patriots]] in [[Super Bowl XX]] at the [[Louisiana Superdome]] in [[New Orleans]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1986-01-27 |title=Bears Trounce Patriots, 46-10, in Super Bowl |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1986-01-27-mn-540-story.html |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Ditka has stated that one of his biggest regrets in life was not letting [[Walter Payton]] score a touchdown in the Super Bowl, instead opting for [[Jim McMahon]] to run it in twice and rookie defensive tackle [[William "The Refrigerator" Perry]] to run it in once. Nevertheless, Ditka has contended that his reluctance to give Payton the ball was justified on account of the disproportionately heavy coverage the Bears' star running back faced from the Patriots' defense, and insisted that Payton's mere presence on the field was a decisive factor in the Bears' crushing victory notwithstanding personal statistics.

[[File:1985 Chicago Bears Visit the White House.webm|thumb|"1985 Chicago Bears Visit the White House', a 2011 video of the Ditka and the Bears' visit to the [[White House]] after winning [[Super Bowl XX]]]]
In 1985, Ditka led the Bears to a 15–1 record, and he was named [[Associated Press NFL Coach of the Year Award|NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press]] following the regular season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ditka named Coach of Year|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11212040/ditka_named_coach_of_year/|access-date=May 24, 2017|work=The Salina Journal|agency=Associated Press|date=December 28, 1985|page=15|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Football commentators widely regard the 1985 Bears defense as one of the best.{{citation needed|date=May 2017}} The 1985 Bears defense was masterminded by defensive coordinator [[Buddy Ryan]], with little oversight from Ditka; in fact, Ditka and Ryan had a largely adversarial relationship dating back to Ditka's hiring as Ryan, who was already on the coaching staff when Ditka joined the Bears, felt that he should have been promoted into the head-coaching position. Although the two men continued to work together, the relationship continued to deteriorate. With the Bears trailing by three touchdowns in a late-season Monday night game against the [[Miami Dolphins]], the team's only loss, Ryan finally snapped after Ditka, as he recounted in 2006 for [[NFL Network]], told him that the defensive scheme was not working. The two began throwing punches at each other and had to be separated. Ditka said, at that point, the relationship became unsalvageable. In an unusual gesture, following the Bears' Super Bowl victory, the players carried both Ryan and Ditka off the field. In addition, the 1985 Chicago Bears are one of several teams to consistently challenge the undefeated [[1972 Miami Dolphins season|1972 Miami Dolphins]] for the unofficial title of the "Greatest NFL Team of All-Time".<ref name="Greatest NFL Teams of All Time">{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/page2/s/list/football/teams/greatest.html |title=Greatest NFL Teams of All Time |publisher=ESPN |date=August 14, 2002 |access-date=September 1, 2011}}</ref> The NFL Network series ''[[America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions|America's Game]]'' rated the 1985 Bears as the second-best Super Bowl champion, only behind the 1972 Miami Dolphins.

In 1986, Buddy Ryan left Chicago to become head coach of the [[Philadelphia Eagles]]. When asked if he was happy Ryan was gone, Ditka replied he was not happy, but "elated". In [[1986 Chicago Bears season|1986]], [[1987 Chicago Bears season|1987]], and [[1988 Chicago Bears season|1988]], the Bears won the Central Division title and earned three home playoff games. The first of those years saw the Bears finish the regular season with a 14–2 record to tie the eventual Super Bowl champion [[1986 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] for the best in the entire league. However, the Bears were upset by the [[1986 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] in their first playoff game. The next year, the Bears finished second in the NFC with an 11–4 record, but were again upended by the [[1987 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] en route to that team's second Super Bowl victory of the decade. The Bears finished 12–4 in 1988 and got homefield advantage. They defeated Ryan's [[1988 Philadelphia Eagles season|Philadelphia Eagles]] in the [[Fog Bowl (American football)|Fog Bowl]] in their first game, but the team was defeated by the [[Super Bowl XXIII|eventual Super Bowl champion]] [[1988 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] in the NFC Championship Game. This was the third time in five years that Ditka led the Bears to the NFC Championship Game, and was the last time they advanced this far until [[2006 Chicago Bears season|2006]].

Ditka suffered a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]] during the 1988 season, which he attributed to stress since he was in excellent physical condition and had no significant family history of heart disease. However, despite being expected to miss much of the season, Ditka was on the sidelines as an "advisor" the next week and back in full charge the week after. He led the Bears to a 12–4 record and received his second coach of the year award from the AP.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goldberg|first1=Dave|title=Mike Ditka Named NFL Coach of Year|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/11212472/mike_ditka_named_nfl_coach_of_year/|access-date=May 24, 2017|work=Daily Sitka Sentinel|agency=Associated Press|date=December 29, 1988|page=6|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

The Bears started 4–0 in [[1989 Chicago Bears season|1989]], but a series of last-second losses eventually led to a complete meltdown at the end of the season, as the Bears finished 6–10.  The Bears rallied to win a weak Central Division in [[1990 Chicago Bears season|1990]] and make the playoffs as a wild card in [[1991 Chicago Bears season|1991]], but were eliminated convincingly in the early rounds by the [[1990 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] (who went on to win [[Super Bowl XXV]]) and the [[1991 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]], respectively.  After dropping to 5–11 in the [[1992 Chicago Bears season|1992 season]], the Bears fired Ditka on January 5, 1993. His 106 wins are the second-most in Bears history, behind only Halas.<ref name="Ditka infographic" />

On December 9, 2013, Ditka's Bears jersey, number 89, was retired in a halftime ceremony during a ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' game in Chicago as the [[2013 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]] hosted the [[2013 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]], for whom Ditka also played and worked as an assistant coach under the late Tom Landry. "Thank you, thank you, thank you, and go Bears!" Ditka told the crowd.<ref>{{cite web|last=Greenberg|first=Jon|url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/nfl/story/_/id/10112315/chicago-bears-retire-mike-ditka-no-89-jersey|title=Mike Ditka gets jersey retired|publisher=[[ESPN]]|date=December 9, 2013|access-date=February 2, 2014}}</ref>

=== New Orleans Saints ===
In 1997, after a four-year absence in which he had served as a television analyst, Ditka returned to the NFL to take over as the permanent replacement for [[Jim E. Mora|Jim Mora]] with the [[New Orleans Saints]]. Ditka inherited a team that had not made the playoffs, nor had recorded a record above .500, since [[1992 New Orleans Saints season|1992]], and had finished the [[1996 New Orleans Saints season|1996 season]], during which Mora had resigned, tied with the [[1996 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]] for the second-worst record in the league (only the [[1996 New York Jets season|New York Jets]], who only won once, had a worse record).

In Ditka's first season back in the league in [[1997 New Orleans Saints season|1997]], he struggled early, as the Saints lost four of their first five games. They did manage to beat his former team, the [[1997 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]], along the way, and recorded five more wins, but after winning only one game in the division (even being swept by the last-place [[1997 St. Louis Rams season|St. Louis Rams]]), the Saints finished at 6–10.

Ditka's team played more inconsistently in [[1998 New Orleans Saints season|1998]], as the Saints started out 3–0, but could not keep the momentum going. Still, they were in playoff contention toward the end of the season, and defeated the eventual NFC East champions in Ditka's other former squad, the [[1998 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]], to get to 6–7 with three games to go. They dropped their last three, though, and were eliminated in week 16 on a last-second field goal against the [[1998 Arizona Cardinals season|Arizona Cardinals]].

Then, in the offseason that followed, Ditka was roundly criticized for the [[Ricky Williams trade|trading]] of all of the team's [[1999 NFL draft|1999]] draft picks (plus their first-round draft pick in [[2000 NFL draft|2000]]) to the Washington Redskins to move up in the draft and select Texas running back [[Ricky Williams]] (Washington later used the picks to select future All-Pro and Hall of Famer [[Champ Bailey]], [[Jon Jansen]], and [[LaVar Arrington]]). The trade was further mocked because of a magazine cover in which Ditka posed with Williams, who was wearing a wedding dress.<ref name=NOLA041809>{{cite web |first=Bill |last=Baker |url=http://blog.nola.com/saintsbeat/2009/04/wedding_photo_of_mike_ditka_an.html |title='Wedding photo' of Mike Ditka and Ricky Williams was worth a thousand |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201000346/http://blog.nola.com/saintsbeat/2009/04/wedding_photo_of_mike_ditka_an.html |archive-date=December 1, 2011 |website=nola.com |date=April 18, 2009 |access-date=May 11, 2010}}</ref>

The [[1999 New Orleans Saints season|1999 season]] proved to be the worst of Ditka's coaching career. After winning the season opener against the [[1999 Carolina Panthers season|Carolina Panthers]], the Saints dropped their next seven games, including a loss to the expansion [[1999 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland Browns]]. As the season wore on, Ditka's frustrations began showing in the local media. After a late-season practice with the team sitting at 2–7, a grumpy Ditka gave a sixty-second press conference where he was very short tempered and dismissive of what he thought were stupid questions. When one of them made it a point to ask him why he was in such a bad mood, Ditka responded by saying "what do you care?", and then followed up by saying to the reporter "if you were 2-7, you'd be in a bad mood too." Ditka would take one more question before muttering to the reporters, "not very much fun, is it?", then going inside.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Denlinger |first1=Ken |title=FIERY COACHES TRY TO REKINDLE THE FLAME |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/sports/1997/11/06/fiery-coaches-try-to-rekindle-the-flame/d6a7797a-335d-4485-8cec-70a73e9a8a1c/ |newspaper=The Washington Post  |access-date=26 February 2020}}</ref>

The low point of the season came three weeks later in a loss to the [[1999 Atlanta Falcons season|Atlanta Falcons]], which was the Saints' 10th in 11 weeks. Ditka came into the postgame press conference appearing emotionally exhausted, and said he felt his charges “broke” him. He then said the Saints would be better off hiring someone else to coach the team, claiming he was the "wrong guy" to lead them and that "[he] didn't have it anymore", saying "God puts people in places for reasons, and he probably put me here to be humbled. I deserve it."

Ditka said that he did not feel the Saints had much talent on the offensive side of the field, blaming himself for that and saying that he had let the players down by not having them ready. He also cited the Saints’ lack of playmaking ability, as they dropped several passes and failed to take advantage of three Falcons fumbles while turning the ball over seven times themselves. Ditka was asked if he felt the team had quit on him, which he denied; however, when he was asked if he was thinking about leaving immediately he responded affirmatively. However, Ditka also said that he would not do it unless he knew for certain he would be fired before the end of the year. Before leaving the press conference, the defeated Ditka called himself a "hypocrite" and said the entire exercise was "silly".

After two more losses, Ditka and the Saints faced the 7–7 [[1999 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] in their home finale on [[Christmas Eve]]. Ditka chose to give the start to [[Jake Delhomme]], his third-string quarterback. In his first NFL start, Delhomme threw for two touchdowns and ran for a third, and [[Fred Weary (defensive back)|Fred Weary]] took a forced fumble 56 yards for the game-winning score, as the Saints knocked off the Cowboys, 31–24. This proved to be Ditka's final victory as a head coach; after a 45–13 loss to the Carolina Panthers the following week left the Saints with a 3–13 record and their seventh consecutive nonwinning season, Ditka and general manager [[Bill Kuharich]] were fired on January 6, 2000.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/2000/0103/266669.html|title=Ditka, Kuharich fired by Saints|website=ESPN.com|date=January 9, 2000|access-date=June 30, 2025}}</ref>

Over a total of 14 seasons as a head coach, Ditka amassed a regular-season record of 121–95 and a postseason record of 6–6.

== Head coaching record ==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular season !! colspan="4"|Postseason
|-
! Won !! Lost !! Ties !! Win % !! Finish !! Won !! Lost !! Win % !! Result
|-
! [[1982 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1982 NFL season|1982]]
| 3 || 6 || 0 || {{winpct|3|6|0}} || 12th in NFC || — || — || — || —
|-
! [[1983 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1983 NFL season|1983]]
| 8 || 8 || 0 || {{winpct|8|8|0}} || 3rd in NFC Central || — || — || — || —
|- style="background:#fdd;"
! [[1984 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1984 NFL season|1984]]
| 10 || 6 || 0 || {{winpct|10|6|0}} ||'''1st in NFC Central''' || 1 || 1 || {{winpct|1|1}} || <small>'''Lost to [[1984 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] in [[1984-85 NFL playoffs#NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers 23, Chicago Bears 0|NFC Championship Game]]'''</small>
|- ! style="background:#FDE910;"
! [[1985 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1985 NFL season|1985]]
| 15 || 1 || 0 || {{winpct|15|1|0}} || '''1st in NFC Central''' || 3 || 0 || {{winpct|3|0}} || <small>'''[[Super Bowl XX]] champions'''</small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
! [[1986 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1986 NFL season|1986]]
| 14 || 2 || 0 || {{winpct|14|2|0}} || '''1st in NFC Central''' || 0 || 1 || {{winpct|0|1}} || <small>'''Lost to [[1986 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] in [[1986-87 NFL playoffs#NFC: Washington Redskins 27, Chicago Bears 13|NFC Divisional Game]]'''</small>
|- style="background:#fdd;
! [[1987 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1987 NFL season|1987]]
| 11 || 4 || 0 || {{winpct|11|4|0}} || '''1st in NFC Central''' || 0 || 1 || {{winpct|0|1}} || <small>'''Lost to [[1987 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]] in [[1987-88 NFL playoffs#NFC: Washington Redskins 21, Chicago Bears 17|NFC Divisional Game]]'''</small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
! [[1988 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1988 NFL season|1988]]
| 12 || 4 || 0 || {{winpct|12|4|0}} || '''1st in NFC Central''' || 1 || 1 || {{winpct|1|1}} || <small>'''Lost to [[1988 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]] in [[1988-89 NFL playoffs#NFC Championship: San Francisco 49ers 28, Chicago Bears 3|NFC Championship Game]]'''</small>
|-
! [[1989 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1989 NFL season|1989]]
| 6 || 10 || 0 || {{winpct|6|10|0}} || 4th in NFC Central || — || — || — || —
|- style="background:#fdd;"
! [[1990 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1990 NFL season|1990]]
| 11 || 5 || 0 || {{winpct|11|5|0}} || '''1st in NFC Central''' || 1 || 1 || {{winpct|1|1}} || <small> '''Lost to [[1990 New York Giants season|New York Giants]] in [[1990-91 NFL playoffs#NFC: New York Giants 31, Chicago Bears 3|NFC Divisional Game]]''' </small>
|- style="background:#fdd;"
! [[1991 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1991 NFL season|1991]]
| 11 || 5 || 0 || {{winpct|11|5|0}} || '''2nd in NFC Central''' || 0 || 1 || {{winpct|0|1}} || <small>'''Lost to [[1991 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]] in [[1991–92 NFL playoffs|NFC Wild Card Game]]''' </small>
|-
! [[1992 Chicago Bears season|CHI]] || [[1992 NFL season|1992]]
| 5 || 11 || 0 || {{winpct|5|11|0}} || 4th in NFC Central || — || — || — || —
|-
! colspan="2"|CHI total || 106 || 62 || 0 || {{winpct|106|62|0}} || || 6 || 6 || {{winpct|6|6}} || 
|-
! [[1997 New Orleans Saints season|NO]] || [[1997 NFL season|1997]]
| 6 || 10 || 0 || {{winpct|6|10|0}} || 4th in NFC West || — || — || — || —
|-
! [[1998 New Orleans Saints season|NO]] || [[1998 NFL season|1998]]
| 6 || 10 || 0 || {{winpct|6|10|0}} || 3rd in NFC West || — || — || — || —
|-
! [[1999 New Orleans Saints season|NO]] || [[1999 NFL season|1999]]
| 3 || 13 || 0 || {{winpct|3|13|0}} || 5th in NFC West || — || — || — || —
|-
! colspan="2"|NO total || 15 || 33 || 0 || {{winpct|15|33|0}} || || — || — || — || 
|-
! colspan="2"|Total || 121 || 95 || 0 || {{winpct|121|95|0}} || || 6 || 6 || {{winpct|6|6}} || 
|}

==Broadcasting career==
Almost immediately after his dismissal from the Bears in [[1993 NFL season|1993]], Ditka took a broadcasting job with [[NFL on NBC|NBC]], working as an analyst on ''[[The NFL on NBC Pregame Show#NFL Live|NFL Live]]'' and as a color commentator for many other NBC broadcasts. After he was fired by the Saints, Ditka joined [[CBS Sports]], spending the [[2000 NFL season|2000]] and [[2001 NFL season|2001 season]]s as a studio analyst on ''[[The NFL Today]]''. He is currently a commentator on [[ESPN]]'s ''NFL Live'', ESPN's ''[[Sunday NFL Countdown]]'', and [[CBS Radio]]–[[Westwood One (1976–2011)|Westwood One]]'s ''[[Monday Night Football]]'' pregame show. On his radio show, Coach Ditka is called "America's Coach" by well-known sidekick [[Jim Gray (sportscaster)|Jim Gray]]. Beginning in 2006, Ditka appeared on a Seattle radio program, "Groz with Gas" on 950 [[KJR-AM]] Seattle, on Thursday afternoons with Dave Grosby and Mike Gastineau. Ditka regularly appears on Chicago radio station ESPN 1000 ([[WMVP]]-AM), often broadcasting on Thursday mornings from one of his [[eponymous]] restaurants along with ESPN 1000 mid-morning hosts Marc Silverman and [[Tom Waddle]], a former Bears player under Ditka.

Ditka served as color commentator for [[ESPN]]'s September 10, 2007, broadcast of ''Monday Night Football'', alongside [[Mike Greenberg]] and [[Mike Golic]].<ref>{{cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Michael|title=ESPN tabs Greenberg, Golic to head second MNF team|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/mccarthy/2007-06-19-mccarthy-espn_N.htm|work=USA Today|access-date=November 18, 2012|date=June 20, 2007}}</ref> He replicated this role on the second game of the doubleheader in 2008, as well. Ditka spent several years with ESPN working on ''Sunday NFL Countdown''. In March 2016, ESPN and Ditka announced he would move to ''[[SportsCenter]]'' for remote-broadcasting analysis, as Ditka disliked the long distance from his home to the studio. This new role allows him to stay at home, while still maintaining an analyst role with the network.<ref name="Mike Ditka off 'NFL Countdown,' but reaches 2-year extension with ESPN">{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/ct-mike-ditka-leaving-sunday-nfl-countdown-20160309-story.html |title=Greatest NFL Teams of All Time |work=Chicago Tribune |date=March 9, 2016 |access-date=March 10, 2016}}</ref>

==Other ventures==
[[File:Mike Ditka IGC Show Aug 2016.jpg|thumb|Ditka presenting a keynote speech in [[Chicago]] in 2010]]
Ditka has written or contributed to a number of books since 1986. He wrote ''Ditka: An Autobiography'' with friend and sports journalist Don Pierson;<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ditkaautobiograp00dit_ch3|title=Ditka : an autobiography|last=Ditka, Mike|others=Pierson, Don, 1944–|isbn=0933893078|location=Chicago|oclc=13745770|year=1986}}</ref> he authored ''The 85 Bears: We Were the Greatest'' with [[Rick Telander]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=The '85 Bears : We Were the Greatest|last=Ditka, Mike.|date=2010|publisher=Triumph Books|others=Telander, Rick.|isbn=9781617494383|location=Chicago|oclc=773565548}}</ref> He also wrote with Telander ''In Life First you Kick Ass: Reflections on the 1985 Bears and Wisdom from Da Coach''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/inlifefirstyouki00mike|title=In life, first you kick ass : reflections on the 1985 Bears and wisdom from Da Coach|last=Ditka, Mike.|date=2005|publisher=Sports Pub|others=Telander, Rick.|isbn=1582619778|location=Champaign, Illinois|oclc=62154112}}</ref>

Ditka has also been the subject of several books including ''Ditka: Monster of the Midway'' by Armen Keteyian<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/ditkamonsterofmi00kete|title=DITKA: monster of the Midway|last=Keteyian, Armen.|date=1992|publisher=Pocket Books|isbn=0671749994|location=New York|oclc=27266244}}</ref> and ''Ditka: The Player, the Coach, the Chicago Bears Legend'' which is a compilation of Chicago Tribune stories written about Ditka throughout the years.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Ditka.|date=2013|publisher=Agate Digital|isbn=9781572844674|location=Chicago|oclc=868488942}}</ref> He is also a large topic in books written about the Bears as a team such as ''Then Ditka said to Payton''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/thenditkasaidtop0000jigg|title=Then Ditka Said to Payton--- : the Best Chicago Bears Stories Ever Told|last=Jiggetts, Dan.|date=2008|publisher=Triumph Books|others=Mitchell, Fred.|isbn=9781617491955|location=Chicago|oclc=818819232}}</ref> and ''Monsters: The 1985 Chicago Bears and the Wild Heart of Football''.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Monsters: the 1985 Chicago Bears and the wild heart of football|last=Cohen, Rich.|isbn=9780374298685|location=New York|oclc=864391469|date = October 29, 2013}}</ref>

In 1987, following the success of the Chicago Bears' charity single "[[The Super Bowl Shuffle]]", the video's producer [[Richard E. Meyer]] created a similar music video starring Ditka, titled "The Grabowski Shuffle." The video, about "working hard to get what you want", was inspired by a comment Ditka had made about his team's reputation: "There are Smiths and there are Grabowskis; we're the Grabowskis."<ref name="chicagoreader">{{cite web |url=https://chicagoreader.com/news-politics/waiting-for-grabowski |title=Waiting for Grabowski |last=Obejas |first=Achy |date=August 6, 1987 |website=[[Chicago Reader]] |access-date=February 26, 2022}}</ref>

In 1991, Ditka cooperated with [[Accolade, Inc.|Accolade]] to produce the computer game ''[[Mike Ditka Ultimate Football]]'' and the [[Sega Mega Drive]] game ''Mike Ditka Power Football''. In 1995, Ditka starred as a football coach in a [[full-motion video]] game called ''[[Quarterback Attack with Mike Ditka]]'', released for the [[Sega Saturn]], PC, and [[3DO Interactive Multiplayer|3DO]]. ''Quarterback Attack'' was re-released for [[iTunes]] and [[Google Play]] in December 2016.

In 1993, Ditka appeared as himself in the 271st and final episode of the American television sitcom ''[[Cheers]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0539826/ |title=One for the Road |publisher=IMDb |date=February 2, 2007 |access-date=November 19, 2015}}</ref> Ditka also appeared as himself in the show ''[[According to Jim]]'', in the 2002 episode "Cars & Chicks".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0504863/fullcredits|title="According to Jim" Cars & Chicks (TV Episode 2002)|publisher=IMDb}}</ref> Ditka has made guest appearances and cameos on several other shows, including ''[[L.A. Law]]'', ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' and ''[[3rd Rock from the Sun]]''. In 2005, Ditka had a major role in the comedy ''[[Kicking & Screaming (2005 film)|Kicking & Screaming]]'', playing himself; he was recruited by [[Will Ferrell]]'s character to be an assistant little league soccer coach.

Ditka appeared in several ads for [[Montgomery Ward]] in the early 1990s, promoting their electronics and appliances department, known as ''Electric Avenue''. Ditka also starred in ad for 'Big Shot' soda in 1997.

Ditka performed "[[Take Me Out to the Ballgame]]" during a [[Chicago Cubs]] game at [[Wrigley Field]] in 1998, the first season after the death of [[Harry Caray]], who had previously led the song. ''Chicago Now'' blogger Marcus Leshock derided the performance, dubbing Ditka "the worst 7th-inning singer in history."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/leshock-value/2010/04/the-7-worst-7th-inning-stretch-performances-in-history.html |title=The 7 WORST 7th Inning Stretch Performances In History |publisher=Chicagonow.com |access-date=September 1, 2011}}</ref>

Ditka was inducted to the [[National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame]] in 2001.

In January 2007, Ditka used the Super Bowl return of the Chicago Bears as a platform to promote efforts by many early NFL players trying to raise support for former NFL players in need of money and medical assistance; he is a key member in the [[Gridiron Greats]]. Angry at the wealthy NFL for ignoring the players who helped to create the league, Ditka and other former players have since been attempting to raise funds, in the words of Hall of Famer [[Joe DeLamielleure]], "for guys who made this league and built it on their backs, their knees, their legs and now they're all broken down and they can't even get a decent pension."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_seasonticket/2007/02/retired_nfl_pla_1.html |title=Retired NFL Players |work=Sun-Sentinel |date=February 2, 2007 |access-date=September 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716164304/http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_seasonticket/2007/02/retired_nfl_pla_1.html |archive-date=July 16, 2011  }}</ref> Ultimately, however, in December 2007, Ditka folded his "Hall of Fame Assistance Trust Fund" charity amidst revelations that, "in 2005, the group gave out more money to pay celebrities to play golf than the group in its entire three years of operation gave out to injured players", according to Laurie Styron of the American Institute of Philanthropy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=97946&ref=rss |title=Charity Run By NFL Legend Mike Ditka Folds |publisher=Firstcoastnews.com |access-date=September 1, 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> During [[Super Bowl XLIV]], Ditka (who was not in the original group) joined other members of the 1985 Chicago Bears in resurrecting "The Super Bowl Shuffle" in a [[Boost Mobile]] commercial.<ref>{{cite web|first=Jon|last=Greenberg |url=https://www.espn.com/chicago/nfl/columns/story?columnist=greenberg_jon&id=4827883 |title=Chicago Bears' 'Super Bowl Shuffle' an enduring, endearing sports moment |publisher=ESPN |date=January 15, 2010 |access-date=July 6, 2012}}</ref>

In the spring of 2007, Ditka worked alongside X Management and Geneva Hospitality to form Mike Ditka Resorts, currently consisting of two resorts in the [[Orlando, Florida]], area. Ditka owns a chain of restaurants, "Ditka's", which has three locations in Illinois and one in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ditka discovered singer John Vincent, who has been performing at his Chicago restaurant since 2001. Vincent performs in 20 different voices and sings the National Anthem regularly for the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Ditka and Vincent also own a record label together.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://Ditkasrestaurant.com|title=ditkasrestaurant.com|publisher=Ditkasrestaurant.com|access-date=January 16, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wingilariver.com/index.php/vq-vee-quiva-hotel-casino/dining/ditkas|title=Vee Quiva Hotel & Casino – Dining & Restaurant|publisher=Wingilariver.com|access-date=January 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150206113319/http://wingilariver.com/index.php/vq-vee-quiva-hotel-casino/dining/ditkas|archive-date=February 6, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Ditka was a co-owner the [[Chicago Rush]], an [[Arena Football League]] team. In August 2011, media reports noted that Ditka would be a financial investor for the new [[Elite Football League of India]], a proposed American football league that will be India's first.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/sns-ap-fbo-football-in-india,0,1978030.story |title=Football : Football News and Photos |work=Chicago Tribune |date=August 28, 2011 |access-date=September 1, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|work=Philadelphia Business Journal|first=John |last=George |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/blog/john-george/2011/08/cowboys-in-india-jaworski-helps.html |title=Ron Jaworski is investor in new India football league|date= August 3, 2011|access-date=September 1, 2011}}</ref>

In 2012, Ditka partnered with Terlato Wines to produce his own collection of wines, produced in California.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120827/BLOGS04/120829828/mike-ditka-relaunches-wine-line|title=Mike Ditka relaunches wine line|work=Crain's Chicago Business|date=August 27, 2012|access-date=January 16, 2015|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The partnership stemmed from a 20-year friendship between Ditka and Bill Terlato and their shared love of sports and food and wine. The first Mike Ditka Wines were released in fall 2012, including eight labels highlighting his career:  "The Player" (2011 Pinot Grigio and 2010 Merlot), "The Coach" (2011 Sauvignon Blanc and 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon), " The Hall of Famer" (2011 Chardonnay and 2011 Pinot Noir), and "The Restaurateur" pair which includes "The Icon" (2010 Cabernet Sauvignon) and "The Champion" (2010 Red Blend)."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://terlatowines.com/brands/california/mike-ditka-wines|title=Mike Ditka Wines: Overview – Terlato Wines International|publisher=Terlatowines.com|access-date=January 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150313191633/http://terlatowines.com/brands/california/mike-ditka-wines|archive-date=March 13, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The same year, Ditka and Camacho Cigars partnered and produced a line of cigars called "The Mike Ditka Kickoff Series".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cigaraficionado.com/webfeatures/show/id/16621|title=Iron Mike Ditka Joins Camacho Cigars|work=Cigar Aficionado|access-date=January 16, 2015}}</ref> These cigars are named to highlight the milestones of Coach Ditka's football career:  "The Player", The Coach", and "The Hall of Famer". All of these cigars are produced in Honduras.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://us.davidoffgeneva.com/camacho|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115205403/http://camachocigars.com/mike-ditka-collection/|url-status=dead|title=camacho|archivedate=January 15, 2013|website=us.davidoffgeneva.com}}</ref>

In 2013, Ditka and [[Vienna Beef]] partnered to create Ditka Sausages, which will be eight inches long and one-third pound in weight. The two types are "Hot Beef Polish Sausage" and "Chicken Sausage with Mozzarella and Sun-Dried Tomatoes".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/vienna-beef-coach-mike-ditka-190000584.html|title=Vienna Beef and Coach Mike Ditka Partner to Launch Ditka Sausages|publisher=[[Yahoo! Finance]]|date=August 6, 2013|access-date=August 6, 2013}}</ref>

Also in 2013, Ditka and former Bears quarterback [[Jim McMahon]] are featured in a new series of commercials for the online discount retailer [[Overstock.com]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/mike-ditka-and-jim-mcmahon-team-up-again-for-a-commercial/|title=Mike Ditka and Jim McMahon team up again — for a commercial|work=Voices|access-date=January 16, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229230344/http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/mike-ditka-and-jim-mcmahon-team-up-again-for-a-commercial/|archive-date=December 29, 2014}}</ref>

In 2014, Ditka and Resultly partnered to feature his profile and product collections. Ditka's profile is featured on Resultly and he regularly interacts with users about the collections he creates of his favorite items from all over the web.

In 2015, Ditka did several television ads for [[McDonald's]]. He was seen wearing a [[Green Bay Packers]] sweater vest. Some would later question if Ditka "jinxed" the Packers, as their six-game undefeated streak halted to a three-game losing streak during the airing of the commercials (including a loss to the Bears on [[NFL on Thanksgiving Day|Thanksgiving]], which was part of a three-game winning streak they were enjoying at the time). A follow-up commercial would show Ditka throwing the Packers sweater vest out the window and donning his more familiar Bears sweater vest once the contest was over. Just hours after the spot was aired, the Packers went on to beat the Vikings, ending the "curse".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on-football/25373275/mike-singletary-not-happy-that-mike-ditka-wore-packers-sweater-in-ad|title=Mike Singletary not happy that Mike Ditka wore Packers sweater in ad|work=CBS SPorts}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Ditka was married to his first wife, Marge, from 1961 to 1973.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-09-02-9203190887-story.html|title=OFF-FIELD DISTRACTIONS COST IRON MIKE DEARLY|last=Keteyian|first=Armen|date=September 2, 1992|website=Chicago Tribune|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-22}}</ref> They had four children together: Mark, Matt, Mike and Megan. He married his current wife Diane (née Trantham) Ditka in 1977.

During the [[1985 Chicago Bears season|1985 season]], he was arrested on [[Interstate 294]] near [[O'Hare International Airport]] and later convicted of [[driving while intoxicated|DUI]] after returning from a game against the [[San Francisco 49ers]].

In the midst of a successful [[1988 Chicago Bears season|1988 season]], he suffered a heart attack, but bounced back quickly. In November 2012, he suffered a minor [[stroke]] at a suburban country club in Chicago. Later in the day, Ditka reported he was feeling "good right now and it's not a big deal."<ref name="Ditka stroke">{{cite web|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/mike-ditka-suffers-very-minor-stroke-says-he-s-ok-0ap1000000095975|title=Mike Ditka suffers 'very minor stroke,' says he's OK|publisher=[[National Football League]]|date=November 16, 2012|access-date=November 16, 2012}}</ref>

From 1989 until 1997, Ditka lived in [[Bannockburn, Illinois]].<ref>[https://www.chicagomag.com/Radar/Deal-Estate/November-2007/On-the-MarketaMike-Ditkaas-Former-Bannockburn-Home/ On the Market—Mike Ditka's Former Bannockburn Home | Chicago magazine | Deal Estate November 2007]. Retrieved February 25, 2017.</ref>

From 1997 until 2001, Ditka lived in an area of New Orleans known as English Turn.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2001/12/02/ditkas-thrown-for-a-loss-in-new-orleans/ |title=Ditkas thrown for a loss in New Orleans|date=December 2, 2001 |website=Chicago Tribune|access-date=2021-04-10}}</ref>

He is a practicing [[Roman Catholic]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://onepeterfive.com/ditka-church-manhood/ | title=Football Legend 'Iron Mike' Ditka Talks Church and Manhood | last=Gordon | first=Timothy | date=August 24, 2018 | publisher=OnePeter5 | access-date=January 14, 2019 }}</ref> and a member of the [[Knights of Columbus]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kofcmarlboro.org/who-are-the-knights-of-columbus/history-of-the-knights-of-columbus/ | title=History of the Knights of Columbus | publisher=[[Knights of Columbus]], Council 81 (Marlboro, Massachusetts) | access-date=January 14, 2019 | quote=In the world of sports, Vince Lombardi, the famed former coach of the Green Bay Packers; wrestler Lou Albano; Mike Ditka, James Connolly, the first Olympic gold-medal champion in modern times; Floyd Patterson, former heavyweight boxing champion; and baseball legend Babe Ruth were all knights. }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://kofcbc.org/famous-knights/ | title=Famous Knights … | date=December 22, 2018 | publisher=Knights of Columbus, [[British Columbia]] & [[Yukon]] State Council | access-date=January 14, 2019 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.catholic.org/news/hf/faith/story.php?id=77209 | title=7 Famous Men You Probably Didn't Realize Were Knights | last=Roach | first=Becky | date=April 18, 2018 | publisher=Catholic Online | access-date=January 14, 2019 }}</ref>

On November 23, 2018, Ditka was hospitalized in [[Naples, Florida]], after suffering a heart attack while playing [[golf]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/sports/mike-ditka-former-nfl-coach-treated-for-heart-attack-reports-say|title=Mike Ditka, former NFL coach, treated for heart attack, reports say|publisher=[[Fox News]]|date=November 24, 2018}}</ref>

===Political views===
Ditka is known for his vocal conservative views. In July 2004, Ditka, a self-described "ultra-ultra-ultra conservative",<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/wickham/2004-07-19-wickham_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=GOP's morality drive hits potholes | date=July 19, 2004 | access-date=May 12, 2010}}</ref> was reportedly considering running against the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] candidate, state senator [[Barack Obama]], for an open seat in the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] for [[Illinois]] in the [[2004 United States Senate election in Illinois|2004 Senate election]]. The seat was being vacated by the retiring [[Peter Fitzgerald (senator)|Peter Fitzgerald]], a [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], and Republican nominee [[Jack Ryan (Senate candidate)|Jack Ryan]] withdrew from the race amid controversy at the end of June, leaving the Republicans in a bind. Local and national political leaders, from Illinois Republican Party Chair [[Judy Baar Topinka]] to National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair [[George Allen (American politician)|George Allen]], whose [[George Allen (American football coach)|father by the same name]] was an assistant coach with the Bears in the 1960s when Ditka played, met with Ditka in an effort to persuade him to fill the spot on the ticket. On July 14, however, Ditka announced he would not seek the nomination, citing personal and business considerations. His wife was against the run and he operates a chain of restaurants.<ref name="norun">{{cite web |url=http://www.local6.com/news/3532156/detail.html |title=Ditka: 'Second Thoughts Until The Day I Die' – Orlando News Story – WKMG Orlando |publisher=Local6.com |access-date=September 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210034248/http://www.local6.com/news/3532156/detail.html |archive-date=December 10, 2008  }}</ref> Obama went on to defeat the eventual Republican candidate, former U.S. ambassador [[Alan Keyes]], in a landslide in the November 2004 election. Ditka has since regretted not running. Ditka believes that Obama never would have been elected president if Ditka had run against Obama for Senate in 2004, and claims that Obama is the [[Historical rankings of presidents of the United States|worst president in United States history]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/ditka-regrets-not-running-for-senate-says-obama-wouldnt-be-president/|title=Ditka regrets not running for Senate, says Obama wouldn't be President|website=CBSSports.com|date=October 10, 2013 }}</ref>

In stark contrast to the above-stated positions, Ditka appeared in an ad during the [[Illinois gubernatorial election, 2010|2010 Illinois gubernatorial election]] for incumbent Democratic governor [[Pat Quinn (politician)|Pat Quinn]]. In the ad, Ditka stated that, "[D]oing the right thing for the people who put you in office is more important than what you can do for yourself in office ... and I think he'll do that. I think he understands that ... and I think he's good people."  Quinn, at the time, was locked into a tight race against State Senator [[Bill Brady (politician)|Bill Brady]], a conservative Republican from [[Bloomington, Illinois|Bloomington]]. Quinn would go on to narrowly defeat Brady. Four years later, in [[Illinois gubernatorial election, 2014|2014]], Ditka appeared in a televised campaign ad for Quinn's [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] challenger, [[Bruce Rauner]], who defeated Quinn in the general election.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/chi-rauner-turns-to-ditka-for-campaign-advance-in-new-tv-ad-20140907-story.html |title=Bruce Rauner turns to Ditka for campaign advice in new TV ad |work=Chicago Tribune |date=September 7, 2014 |access-date=November 29, 2014}}</ref>

In October 2011, Ditka and the 1985 team went to the [[White House]] after they did not attend in 1986 due to the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster]]. He presented President Obama with a Chicago Bears jersey with the number 85 on it with "Obama" on the back of it.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/football/bears/chi-111007-superbowl-bears-whitehouse-pictures,0,1535075.photogallery |title=Photo gallery: 1985 Chicago Bears visit the White House |work=Chicago Tribune |date=October 7, 2011 |access-date=September 30, 2012}}</ref>

Ditka was a vocal supporter of [[Donald Trump]]'s election campaign, saying "I support Trump all the way. I really do."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/mike-ditka-donald-trump-article-1.2718580|title=Mike Ditka says he's with Donald Trump 'all the way'|work=Daily News|location=New York|access-date=January 9, 2018|language=en}}</ref>

Some of Ditka's comments, most notably regarding former [[San Francisco 49ers]] quarterback [[Colin Kaepernick]]'s national anthem protests, have garnered interest due to Ditka's position with ESPN. Under the network's new [[social media policy]] (implemented in late 2017 in the wake of [[Curt Schilling]]'s firing and [[Jemele Hill]]'s suspension),<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/ombudsman/post/_/id/816/new-espn-guidelines-recognize-connection-between-sports-politics|title=New ESPN guidelines recognize connection between sports, politics|publisher=ESPN|access-date=January 9, 2018}}</ref> Ditka is to refrain from making controversial statements, but made a series of remarks in late 2017 that drew widespread criticism. In a September interview with a Dallas-based radio station, Ditka was critical of Kaepernick's protests, saying "I think it's a problem. Anybody who disrespects this country and the flag. If they don't like the country they don't like our flag, get the hell out."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/mike-ditka-don-t-see-155903548.html|title=Mike Ditka: 'I don't see all the atrocities' Colin Kaepernick is protesting|access-date=January 9, 2018|language=en-US|archive-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110055122/https://sports.yahoo.com/news/mike-ditka-don-t-see-155903548.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the same interview, Ditka was dismissive of social issues in America, saying "I don't see all the atrocities going on in this country that people say are going on, I see opportunities if people want to look for opportunity – now if they don't want to look for them – then you can find problems with anything, but this is the land of opportunity because you can be anything you want to be if you work. If you don't work, that's a different problem."<ref name=":0" />

In October 2017, during a Bears/Vikings pregame show, Ditka said he did not believe that there was any oppression in America for the last 100 years: "There has been no oppression in the last 100 years that I know of. Now maybe I'm not watching it as carefully as other people."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/breaking/ct-ditka-20171010-story.html|title=Mike Ditka: 'No oppression in last 100 years'|last=Rosenthal|first=Phil|work=Chicago Tribune|access-date=January 9, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> Ditka was criticized for his comments, including by former [[New York Jets]] quarterback [[Joe Namath]], who said, "Look up the definition of oppression, and you understand that it's obviously taken place,"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/10/10/mike-ditka-on-nfl-protests-no-oppression-in-the-last-100-years-that-i-know-of/|title=Called out by Joe Namath, Mike Ditka clarifies 'no oppression in the last 100 years' remark|last1=Bieler|first1=Des|date=October 11, 2017|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|access-date=January 9, 2018|last2=Boren|first2=Cindy|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref> as well as by ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' columnists who said Ditka was "not a Chicagoan"<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2017/10/10/18357248/steinberg-mike-ditka-is-not-a-chicagoan/|title=STEINBERG: Mike Ditka is not a Chicagoan|date=October 10, 2017|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=January 9, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref> and "a white man who is blind to the plight of people of color in this country."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mitchell-mike-ditka-turns-blind-eye-to-americas-racial-past/|title=MITCHELL: Mike Ditka turns blind eye to America's racial past|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=January 9, 2018|language=en|archive-date=January 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110055206/https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/mitchell-mike-ditka-turns-blind-eye-to-americas-racial-past/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The NFL permitted Ditka's comments, but hedged, "Everyone's entitled to an opinion. The league would not express that opinion, by any stretch of the imagination."<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/nfl-others-distance-themselves-from-mike-ditkas-no-oppression-claim/|title=Mike Ditka responds to the furor over his 'no oppression' statement|work=Chicago Sun-Times|access-date=January 9, 2018|language=en|archive-date=February 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214193333/https://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/nfl-others-distance-themselves-from-mike-ditkas-no-oppression-claim/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ditka quickly clarified his remarks in a release, apologizing to anyone who may have been offended by his comments: "The characterization of the statement that I made does not reflect the context of the question that I was answering and certainly does not reflect my views throughout my lifetime. I have absolutely seen oppression in society in the last 100 years and I am completely intolerant of any discrimination."<ref name=":1" />

==See also==
* [[Bill Swerski's Superfans]]
* [[List of celebrities who own wineries and vineyards]]
* [[List of National Football League head coaches with 50 wins]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{wikiquote}}
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* {{Footballstats |nfl=Mike-Ditka
|espn= |cbs= |yahoo= |si= |pfr=DitkMi00 |dbf=DITKAMIK01 }}
* {{Profootballhof|id=57|name=Mike Ditka}}
* {{IMDb name|0228491}}
* [https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/mike-ditka-1.html Sports Reference] – collegiate statistics – Mike Ditka

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