Ditka

A hard-hitting look at the Chicago Bears’ legendary player and coach, composed of carefully curated archival Chicago Tribune columns and features.

Mike Ditka was drafted by the Bears as a tight end in 1961 and went on to earn Rookie of the Year honors, multiple Pro Bowl selections, and a 1963 championship ring with Chicago during his playing career.

Ditka retired in 1972 after stints with Philadelphia and Dallas (where he won Super Bowl VI), but he returned to Chicago as head coach in 1982. He became symbolic of the tough, hard-nosed, hyper-competitive style that defined the Bears through the ’80s. Following the 1985 Bears’ unforgettable season and Super Bowl victory, Ditka was enshrined as a hero in the minds of Bears fans everywhere.

Ditka will take readers on a fascinating and entertaining ride through the words of the award-winning Chicago Tribune journalists who covered “Iron Mike” for six decades. From his playing career to his coaching career, from personal triumphs to mishaps and scandals, Ditka is the ultimate fans’ guide to the career and life of a Hall of Famer who came to define Chicago football in the modern age.