Five most notorious moments of Mike Ditka's career

On Friday, it was reported that legendary Chicago Bears coach and tight end Mike Ditka died at 86 years old.

A Hall of Fame tight end who revolutionized the position, Ditka became a Chicago icon during his time as the Bears head coach. He was a two-time Coach of the Year (1985 and 1988), leading the Bears to six NFC Central titles and winning the 1985 Super Bowl. Ditka finished his time as the Bears head coach with a 106-62 record, one of only two coaches to win over 100 games in Chicago (George Halas won 318 games with the Bears).

Known for his fiery temperament and tendency to speak his mind, Ditka was no stranger to controversy during his career. Let's look at five of the most notorious of those moments.

Five most notorious moments for Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka

5. Ditka throws a chair through a wall after a loss... in a card game

Ditka's fiery temper was not confined to the gridiron. That was clear early in his coaching career as an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys, even as he tried to emulate his mentor, Tom Landry. He once threw a chair into a wall, with one leg going through, leaving the chair hanging. The reason for his tirade? A loss in a card game. 

4. Trading the New Orleans Saints' draft for Ricky Williams

While Ditka had mellowed out a bit by the time he joined the Saints as their head coach, he was not afraid to make controversial decisions. One such move involved his trading the Saints' entire 1999 draft, as well as a first- and third-round selection in 2000, to move up seven spots to select running back Ricky Williams. Although Williams had a solid rookie season, he was not the instant game changer Ditka had hoped for. The Saints posted a 3-13 record in 1999, his last on the sidelines.

3. Ditka late for seventh-inning stretch, "sings" "Take Me Out to the Ball Game"

It was natural that the Chicago Cubs would bring Ditka in to sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch. Although he was coaching the Saints in 1998, he was still a beloved figure in Chicago. However, Ditka ended up stuck in traffic and was not only late to the game, but late for his moment on the microphone, leaving the broadcast crew in a momentary lurch. He rushed to the booth, belting out the song in record time as the organist struggled to keep up.

2. Ditka's roast goes off the rails

One of the more outrageous stories surrounding Ditka involves his celebrity roast in 2001. Alcohol flowed freely, with former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon allegedly getting so drunk that he needed to relieve himself in a nearby cooler. Ditka fell off the stage and knocked over a table at one point, with someone, possibly McMahon, yelling "Down goes Frazier!"

1. Ditka, defensive coordinator Buddy Ryan allegedly got into fistfight during halftime

Ryan and Ditka did not get off to the best start, as the defense wanted Ryan to receive the head coaching position after Neil Armstrong was fired in 1982. Instead, Ryan remained as defensive coordinator with ownership handing him a new contract. Their issues came to a head during the Bears' loss to the Dolphins during the 1985 season, as Ryan ignored Ditka's substitution request. Ditka offered to take Ryan "out back" at halftime to settle their differences, although it is uncertain as to whether or not the fight happened.