Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh didn’t cross paths much with iconic Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka.
Ditka died, his family announced on Oct. 9. He was 86.
But Saleh, 47, still felt connected to Ditka, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who before his coaching career with the Bears revolutionized the tight end position, proving it could be a pass-catching option not limited to blocking.
Saleh was a tight end in college at Northern Michigan.
“I just heard about (Ditka),” Saleh said before practice Oct. 9. “I have a lot of friends in college who were big-time Bears fans. I know my dad had an affinity for (Ditka). Just his style of coaching and what he brought to the game, especially with the ‘85 Bears and all the different things. And he was
a tight end, I played tight end in college. I feel like I got talked to about how Mike Ditka played many times in my house from my dad. Tremendous impact on the game.”
Ditka was a five-time Pro Bowler and won an NFL championship in 1963 as a Bears tight end prior to the Super Bowl era. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys during their 1972 Super Bowl run. In 158 regular-season games, he caught 427 passes for 5,812 receiving yards and 43 touchdowns.
Ditka won a Super Bowl as a Cowboys assistant in 1978. He led the renowned 1985 Bears to a Super Bowl title as their coach and was memorably carried off the field. He was twice voted AP NFL Coach of the Year (1985 and 1988) and finished with a 121-95 career coaching record.
Saleh and the Titans (0-4) host the Houston Texans (0-4) at Nissan Stadium on Oct. 11 (noon, CBS).
Former Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher part of Mike Ditka lineage
Fisher, who spent 22 seasons as an NFL coach with the Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans organization, didn't coach under Ditka, but played for him as a defensive back in 1982 and 1984, appearing in 25 total games.
However, Fisher coached under Buddy Ryan, who was Ditka's defensive coordinator from 1982-85.
Tyler Palmateer covers the Tennessee Titans for The Tennessean. Have a story idea for Tyler? Reach him at tpalmateer@tennessean.com and on the X platform, @tpalmateer83.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why Tennessee Titans coach Robert Saleh felt connected to Mike Ditka
