Mike Ditka
Inducted:
1988
Player Stats
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
228 lb (103 kg)
Born:
October 18, 1939
Carnegie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Position:
Tight end
College:
Pittsburgh (1958–1960)
Mike Ditka was a game-changing tight end and one of football’s most recognizable figures. Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1961, he revolutionized the tight end position by combining blocking toughness with elite receiving ability. Ditka caught 56 passes and scored 12 touchdowns as a rookie — both unheard-of numbers for a tight end at the time. Over 12 seasons, he recorded 427 receptions, 5,812 yards, and 43 touchdowns, earning five Pro Bowl selections and helping the Dallas Cowboys win Super Bowl VI.
He later became a legendary head coach, leading the 1985 Bears to a dominant Super Bowl win. Known for his intensity, leadership, and no-nonsense style, Ditka is one of just two people ever inducted into the Hall of Fame as both a player and a Super Bowl-winning head coach. His legacy is built on toughness, excellence, and transforming the way tight ends are used in the NFL.
Ditka's Awards and Honors
- Super Bowl champion (VI)
- 2× First-team All-Pro (1963, 1964)
- 3× Second-team All-Pro (1962, 1965–1966)
- 5× Pro Bowl (1961–1965)
- Chicago Bears No. 89 retired
- 100 greatest Bears of All-Time
- Unanimous All-American (1960)
- 2× First-team All-Eastern (1959, 1960)
- Pittsburgh Panthers No. 89 retired
NFL Records
- NFL champion (1963)
- NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1961)
- NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
- NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
NFL Teams
Chicago Bears (1961–1966)
Philadelphia Eagles (1967–1968)
Dallas Cowboys (1969–1972)
NFL Draft:
1961: 1st round, 5th pick
Chicago Bears
Number Worn:
89, 98
NFL Stats
Seasons:
12 (1961–1972)
Games Played:
158
Receptions:
427
Receiving Yards:
5,812
Receiving Touchdowns:
43
Yards per Catch:
13.6
Fumble Recoveries:
14