Mike Ditka — Hall of Fame tight end, coach of the legendary 1985 Bears, and the human embodiment of Chicago toughness — has died at 86.
As a player he punished people. As a coach he built arguably the most dominant single team in NFL history. As a persona he never softened — sweater vest, cigar, scowl, championships.
Every football city has its Ditka archetype: Toronto has its own sideline legends. The lesson travels: toughness without love is noise; Ditka's players ran through walls because they knew he loved them first.
Sources: CBC News. Context from the Young Hadene newsroom.
Hall of Fame player and coach of the 1985 champion Chicago Bears.
86.