Mike Ditka: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

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On this 40th anniversary of this greatest of all days to those Bears fans who vividly recall seeing Mike Ditka and Buddy Ryan carried off the field by the greatest NFL team for a single season, it's time to be thankful rather than wistful.

Chicago Bears News / Chicago Bears on SI / December 31

Ryan Poles' rookie class might be best since the Mike Ditka era

GM Ryan Poles had absorbed a ton of heat at the bye week for this year's Bears draft, even though his selections were heavily influenced by Ben Johnson .

NFL News / The Packers Post / December 6

Remembering When Forrest Gregg and Mike Ditka Helped the Packers Rivalry with the Bears Get Ugly

The Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears will meet on Sunday with first place in the NFC North on the line. The two teams will play twice in three weeks in a renewal of one of the oldest and most intense rivalries in NFL history.

Drake Maye News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Youngest Conference Champ QBs' quiz

How many of the quarterbacks in NFL history to win a Conference Championship game before turning 27 years old can you name in five minutes?

The 'Winning NFL playoff debuts' quiz

The 'Last 100-catch season by team' quiz

The 'NFL coach postseason win leaders' quiz

Chicago Bears News / NFL on ClutchPoints / November 3

Bears’ Colston Loveland’s big day not seen in franchise history since Mike Ditka

Chicago’s wildest finish of the season came down to one throw and one broken tackle. With 17 seconds left, Caleb Williams ripped a strike over the middle, Colston Loveland slipped a half-wrap from safety Jordan Battle, and the rookie tight end outran everyone for a 58-yard game-winner that lifted Chicago over Cincinnati in Week 9.

NFL News / Yardbarker

The best one-and-done playoff teams in NFL history

The best teams do not always win the Super Bowl. Sometimes, great NFL squads have failed to win a playoff game. Here are the best ones since the AFL-NFL merger to fall short of advancing in a postseason bracket.

Los Angeles Chargers News / Los Angeles Chargers on SI / October 27

Oronde Gadsden is so good we're bringing up phrases like 'Mike Ditka' and '1961' now

Los Angeles Chargers rookie tight end Oronde Gadsden is turning into one of the biggest steals from this year’s draft class. Gadsden just put an exclamation

Los Angeles Chargers News / NFL on ClutchPoints / October 23

Chargers’ Oronde Gadsden II joins Mike Ditka with torrid 2-game stretch

When Oronde Gadsden II was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the fifth round as the 165th overall pick in April, he was probably considered an afterthought by fans.

NFL News / Chicago Bears on SI / August 21

Bears 'physical' defense takes bite out of doily-soft Dolphins

It's not exactly the Monsters of the Midway or Mike Ditka and his iconic gruffness, but the Chicago Bears ruffling the dainty feathers of the Miami Dolphins can only be viewed as a good thing.

NFL News / Riggo's Rag / July 12

The wild tale of when Washington great Dexter Manley and Mike Ditka hated each other's guts

A braggadocious defensive end and an iconoclast head coach were never going to get along. Still, Dexter Manley and Mike Ditka took hatred to wild, new heights during one of the strangest rivalries in NFL history.

MLB News / Yardbarker

The 20 greatest in-game traditions in MLB

Attending a Major League Baseball game can provide memories for all fans. However, in this day and age, that doesn't always come from what happens on the field.

NFL News / Yardbarker

Looking back at every NFL Christmas Day game

For years, Thanksgiving belonged to the NFL, but Christmas belonged to the NBA. Occasionally, an NFL game would fall on Christmas, but it was anomalous, even avoided if possible.

Chicago Bears News / Chicago Bears on SI / June 11

89 Days until Bears 2025 season: Can Colston Loveland beat Mike Ditka's records?

The Chicago Bears may have better players than Mike Ditka, they may even have better coaches who will win more championships, but no one will ever surpass Ditka's legendary status with this franchise.

Washington Commanders News / Athlon Sports / May 31

49ers Great Receives Hall of Fame Honor

Vernon Davis was honored at the 14th annual Mike Ditka Hall of Fame Gala in Chicago on Friday as a member of the 2025 class inducted into the Gridiron Greats Hall of Fame.

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The 'Youngest Conference Champ QBs' quiz

The 'MLB active doubles leaders' quiz

The 'NFL undrafted receiving leaders' quiz

The 'NFL tight end receiving leaders' quiz

Chicago Bears News / Chicago Bears on SI / May 22

Is Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson a thinking man's Mike Ditka?

Bears guard Joe Thuney is more of a leader by example and not really a holler-guy type. Nevertheless, something Thuney said at the outset of his Wednesday post-practice press conference at OTAs made a major statement about Ben Johnson and the start to his coaching regime.

NFL News / Chicago Bears on SI / January 26, 2025

Matthew 'McDitka' does his best imitation of Da Coach in commercial

On the 39th anniversary of their Super Bowl XX rout of New England, the Bears received an homage of sorts. Or at least Mike Ditka did. Matthew McConaughey did his best Ditka imitation with mustache and Bears circa 1985 sideline sweater in a commercial released during the Eagles-Commanders game.

Chicago Bears News / Chicago Bears on SI / January 20, 2025

Ben Johnson agrees to deal on important Bears anniversary

It's not quite a historical duplication, but close. Ben Johnson agreed to become the 19th Bears head coach on an important date in franchise history. Jan.

Chicago Bears News / Chicago Bears on SI / January 16, 2025

5 hilarious moments in Chicago Bears history starring Walter Payton, Mike Ditka, Jim McMahon, and more

The Chicago Bears have a grand total of one Lombardi Trophy. Not great, certainly, but better than the Vikings, Bills, Bengals, Falcons, Panthers, Cardinals, Titans, Chargers, Browns, Lions, Jaguars, and Texans, who have a combined total of zero Lombardi Trophies.

NFL News / On Tap Sports Net / January 8, 2025

Iron Mike Ditka is Celebrating Pork Rind Appreciation Day, Will You?

Pork Rinds, you ask? Yes, whether you enjoy them, tried them, or just heard of them, you probably didn't realize that there's a Pork Rind Appreciate Day.

Las Vegas Raiders News / Yardbarker / December 29, 2024

Raiders TE Brock Bowers breaks NFL mark that stood for 63 years

The Las Vegas Raiders have something to look forward to with rookie tight end Brock Bowers.

Watch: Baker Mayfield caps near-perfect half with 10-yard TD strike to Jalen McMillan

Watch: Eagles QB Kenny Pickett realizing childhood dream on 22-yard TD pass vs. Cowboys

Watch: Panthers QB Bryce Young continues to improve with 17-yard TD pass vs. Buccaneers

25 NFL all-timers who never won the Super Bowl

The 'NFL tight ends with 1,000 yards in a season' quiz

Chicago Bears News / NFL on ClutchPoints / November 29, 2024

Rich Eisen names 'Mike Ditka type personality' head coach to revive Bears glory days

In a decision that came a full year later than it should’ve, the Chicago Bears finally decided to move on from head coach Matt Eberflus on Friday afternoon, putting an end to a miserable tenure marked by late game ineptitude and the growth of a beard that Jedi mind-tricked Bears fans into thinking Flus may actually be a good head coach.

NFL News / 5 GOATs / November 26, 2024

Mike Ditka’s family speaks out after hospice care rumors spread

Mike Ditka‘s family is setting the record straight about rumors of him being in hospice care. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Dikta’s wife, Diana, said the rumor is false.

NFL News / Athlon Sports / November 25, 2024

Rumor Claiming Mike Ditka Is in Hospice Care 'Not True', per Walter Payton's Son

Late Sunday night a rumor emerged claiming legendary Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka entered hospice care. The Hall of Fame tight end has battled a number of health ailments in the past.

Entertainment News / Yardbarker

The best movies about soccer

In the spirit of the World Cup, here's our list of some worthy films about soccer, whether a die-hard fan of the sport or not — listed in chronological order.

Chicago Bears News / Yardbarker / June 28, 2021

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.

Bears wide receiver Marquise Goodwin in long jump field at U.S. Olympic Trials

Tom Brady reportedly was not ripping Mitch Trubisky, Bears

Three ideal Nick Foles trade destinations before training camp

Which NFL teams have allowed the fewest points in the 16-game era?

The '1985 Chicago Bears' quiz

NFL News / Yardbarker / September 16, 2020

Dez Bryant blasts Ditka over latest anti-protest comments

Dez Bryant blasts Mike Ditka over latest anti-protest comments

Ditka has been very outspoken about NFL players' protests, first telling TMZ in July that anyone who does anything but stand for the national anthem should "get the hell out of the country."

Mike Ditka called out for blasting players who kneel during anthem

A history of athletes and activism

The 'Chicago Bears head coaches' quiz

NFL News / Yardbarker

The best nicknames in NFL history

The NFL season is about to start (whatever that may look like). That means we'll get reacquainted with some of the games best players - and nicknames (Gronk, Matty Ice).