The NFL is mourning the loss of one of its most legendary figures of all time, as Pro Football Hall of Fame member Mike Ditka passed away on Friday.
Ditka was a five-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection during his playing career, tallying 5,812 receive yards and 43 receiving touchdowns over the course of his 12-year playing career with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys. In 1988, he became the first tight end to ever be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
He would return to Chicago as a coach from 1982 to 1992, leading the Bears to one Super Bowl championship and seven playoff appearances.
The NFL is deeply saddened by the passing of Hall of Fame coach and tight end, Mike Ditka. Our thoughts are with his
family and loved ones. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/H9cMGPc8ln
— NFL (@NFL) October 9, 2026
The Bears released a statement, announcing that they were saddened by Ditka's death, with the accompanying article announcing his death proclaiming that more than any other player or coach, Ditka "embodied the toughness, grit, and blue-collar mentality that earned the Chicago Bears the fearsome nickname the 'Monsters of the Midway.'"
"Mike's impact on the Chicago Bears organization, over decades as a player, coach, and proud icon and ambassador for our organization, is immeasurable," said the statement from the Bears. "His integral role in bringing world championships to our city and our franchise, both as a player and as our coach, established prominence and excellence at a world-class level, but also created a lifetime of cherished memories in the hearts and minds of Bears fans that will last for generations."
Player. Coach. Legend.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) October 9, 2026
Mike Ditka embodied the spirit of Chicago and will be deeply missed.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame also released a statement on Ditka's death, celebrating his competitive nature and his role in helping to evolve the tight end position.
‘Iron Mike’ brought an unrivaled level of toughness to an era already defined by physicality,” said Jim Porter, the Hall of Fame’s president & CEO. "But he also was much more gifted as a pass catcher than many realized and became the ideal player for Coach George Halas to reimagine the tight end position. Mike brought competitiveness and a hard-nosed play style as he developed into both a fantastic blocker and someone who could punish would-be tacklers on his receptions."
The @ProFootballHOF weighs in on the passing of legend Mike Ditka pic.twitter.com/O8ubBivYML
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 9, 2026
Packers head coach Matt LaFleur shared his condolences for the Bears and Ditka's friends and family, calling him "a true legend of the game as a player and as a coach." Lions head coach Dan Campbell also shared his condolences and called Ditka a "legend", and offered a story from the weeks leading up to the 1999 NFL Draft, when Ditka arranged a personal meeting with Campbell when he was coaching the New Orleans Saints and interested in drafting Campbell.
This article originally appeared on Touchdown Wire: NFL community reacts to the passing of football legend Mike Ditka
