Chicago Bears legend Mike Ditka dies at 86

Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka during Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots at the Superdome.

Legendary Chicago Bear player and coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka died at 86.

"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka," Ditka's family said in a statement, via Jarrett Payton. "While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family. Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever."

Ditka became a Pro Football Hall of Famer in 1988. He was a two-time NFL champion as a player, with the Bears in 1963 and Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl VI. Twice, Ditka won Super Bowls as a coach. He was an assistant with Dallas in Super Bowl XII,

and led the Bears to the Super Bowl as head coach in January of 1986.

As a player, the tight end was a first-round pick of the Bears -- fifth overall out of Pittsburgh -- in 1961. He also was chosen eighth overall by the Houston Oilers in the AFL draft of that year.

Mike Ditka

Mike Ditka on the red carpet prior to the NFL Honors award ceremony at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

Mike Ditka

Former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka takes questions during a press conference announcing him as the new head coach of the New Orleans Saints.

Mike Ditka

Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka on the sidelines against the New England Patriots during Super Bowl XX at the Superdome.

Mike Ditka

Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka (89) on the sideline against the Los Angeles Rams.

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Dallas Cowboys tight end Mike Ditka (89) blocks St. Louis Cardinals linebacker Larry Stalllings (67) at Busch Stadium.

Mike Ditka

Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka is carried off the field after defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX at the Superdome.

Mike Ditka

Dallas Cowboys tight end Mike Ditka (89) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium.

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U.S. President Barack Obama walks on stage with the 1985 Chicago Bears Defensive Co-Ordinator Buddy Ryan (L) and Head Coach Mike Ditka.

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Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka on the sideline against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Tampa Stadium.

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Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka on the sideline against Washington during the 1984 NFC Divisional Playoff Game at RFK Stadium.

Mike Ditka

Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka (right) talks with St. Louis Cardinals head coach Gene Stallings prior to their pre-season game at Soldier Field.

Mike Ditka

Dallas Cowboys tight end Mike Ditka (89) against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Coliseum.

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Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka (89) at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum during the 1963 season game against Los Angeles Rams where he caught four touchdown passes.

Mike Ditka

Former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka is shown in this 1999 file photograph taken at a memorial service for the late Bears running back Walter Payton in Barrington, Illinois.

Mike Ditka

Dallas Cowboys tight end Mike Ditka (89) attempts to stiff arm Miami Dolphins safety Dick Anderson (40) during Super Bowl VI at Tulane Stadium.

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; Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka (89) on the bench against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Mike Ditka

Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka (89) in action against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Mike Ditka

Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka (89) in action against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Mike Ditka

Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka (right) and offensive coordinator Ed Hughes (center) talk to quarterback Jim McMahon (9) during Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots at the Superdome. The Bears defeated the Patriots 46-10.

Mike Ditka

Chicago Bears tight end Mike Ditka (89) on the sidelines during the 1965 season.

Mike Ditka

Chicago Bears former head coach Mike Ditka (left) and national anthem singer John Vincent (right) smile before game three of the 2017 NLDS playoff baseball series between the Chicago Cubs and the Washington Nationals at Wrigley Field.