Michael Keller Ditka (born Michael Dyczko; October 18, 1939) is an American former professional football player, coach, and television commentator. During his playing career, he was UPI NFL Rookie of Year in … See more

Chicago Bears
Ditka was selected by the Chicago Bears fifth overall in the 1961 NFL draft, while the Houston Oilers drafted him eighth overall in the first round of the 1961 AFL Draft. He signed with the Bears and his presence was … See more

Almost immediately after his dismissal from the Bears in 1993, Ditka took a broadcasting job with NBC, working as an analyst on NFL Live and as a color commentator for … See more

Ditka was born Michael Dyczko, on October 18, 1939, in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, near Pittsburgh, the oldest child of Charlotte (Keller) and Mike Ditka Sr. He grew up in … See more

Ditka played college football for Pitt from 1958 until 1960, and was a three-sport athlete, also playing baseball (outfielder) and basketball (forward) for the Pitt Panthers. He also was an intramural wrestling champion at Pitt, and a member of See more

Retiring after the 1972 season, Ditka was immediately hired as an assistant coach by Landry. Ditka spent nine seasons as an assistant coach with … See more

Ditka has written or contributed to a number of books since 1986. He wrote Ditka: An Autobiography with friend and sports journalist Don Pierson; he authored The 85 Bears: We Were the Greatest with Rick Telander. He also wrote with Telander In Life … See more