Hall of Famer Mike Ditka opposes Bears leaving Chicago

One of the most loved Bears players of all time is not happy about the discussion that the team could leave Chicago. 

Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka, who also led the Bears to a Super Bowl victory as head coach, said he opposes the Bears talks of leaving Soldier Field and building a new stadium in the suburbs because the team "belongs" in Chicago. 

"The Chicago Bears belong in the city of Chicago," Ditka told the Daily Herald. "That's it. Call me an old-timer, call me a traditionalist, whatever. They're a Chicago institution, and that should be the end of it."

The Bears have acknowledged that they are considering buying the Arlington National Racecourse in Arlington Heights, potentially to tear it down and build a new stadium. Ditka says the historic racecourse should also remain the same. 

"Just like the Bears belong in Chicago, like Coach Halas had it, Arlington Park should remain a racetrack," Ditka said. "It's a gem, a thing of beauty. Arlington Heights is known around the world because of that racetrack. Racetrack in Arlington Heights, Bears in Chicago. That's the end of it."

The Bears have called Soldier Field home since 1971, but the drafting of Justin Fields certainly signals they're ready to move into the future, and doing so could mean starting fresh at a new facility.