NFL icon and former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka has died aged 86. His family confirmed the news in a statement, but no cause of death was given.
Ditka coached the Bears to the Super Bowl XX title in 1986 and was the first tight end to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the fifth overall pick of the 1961 draft when he joined the Bears as a player, spending six years with the franchise before spells at the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. He helped the Cowboys win their first Super Bowl in 1972, scoring the final touchdown in a 24-3 win against the Miami Dolphins.
Ditka enjoyed a 12-year playing career, with 427 receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns, before retiring at the end of the 1972 season. He was an assistant coach at the Cowboys when they won the 1978 Super Bowl and became Chicago Bears head coach in 1982. He created a dominant side that went 15-1 during the 1985-86 regular season before leading them to victory against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX.
The family said he would be remembered as a Hall of Fame player, legendary coach and the heart of their family. The Bears described his impact on the organisation as immeasurable, while his former player Walter Payton's son, Jarrett Payton, called him "Da Coach" and wrote: "Chicago won't be the same."
Source: BBC Sport · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing