Known as “Iron Mike” and “Da Coach,” Ditka became one of the defining figures in Bears history. He helped Chicago win the 1963 NFL championship as a player, then returned as head coach and led the team to victory in Super Bowl XX after the 1985 season.

His career connected two of the franchise’s most important championship eras. He also helped change how teams used the tight end position, becoming one of the NFL’s most influential players at the role.

A breakthrough career as a tight end

The Bears selected Ditka with the fifth overall pick in the 1961 NFL Draft after his college career at the University of Pittsburgh. He made an immediate impact, catching 56 passes for 1,076 yards and 12 touchdowns in his rookie season, according to the team’s records.

He received NFL Rookie of the Year honors and earned Pro Bowl selections in each of his first five seasons. His ability to catch passes downfield, while also blocking effectively, helped establish the tight end as a more versatile offensive weapon.

Ditka played six of his 12 NFL seasons in Chicago. He helped the Bears win the 1963 NFL championship, catching 59 passes for 794 yards and eight touchdowns that season.

He later played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. With Dallas, he won Super Bowl VI following the 1971 season. He finished his playing career with 427 receptions and entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988, becoming the first tight end inducted.

The coach behind the 1985 Bears

After retiring as a player, Ditka joined the Cowboys’ coaching staff under Tom Landry. He worked as an assistant from 1973 to 1981 and was part of the staff that won Super Bowl XII.

The Bears hired him as head coach in 1982. Over 11 seasons, he recorded a 112–68 regular-season record, guided Chicago to six division titles and reached three NFC Championship Games.

His defining achievement came during the 1985 season. The Bears finished the regular season 15–1, then shut out the New York Giants and Los Angeles Rams in the playoffs before defeating the New England Patriots 46–10 in Super Bowl XX.

The team became one of the most celebrated in NFL history. Its dominant defense, powerful offense and distinctive public image helped turn the championship into a lasting part of Chicago’s sporting identity.

Ditka was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1985 and again in 1988. He remains the only person in the NFL’s modern era to win a league championship with the same franchise as both a player and head coach: Chicago’s 1963 NFL title and 1985 Super Bowl championship.

A lasting place in Chicago sports

Ditka’s impact extended beyond the field. His forceful personality, direct manner and recognizable sideline appearance made him a prominent figure in Chicago sports and American football culture.

His connection with the Bears continued after his coaching tenure ended in 1992. He later coached the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999 and worked as a television football analyst. He also appeared in television programs and films, and operated businesses bearing his name.

In 2013, the Bears retired his No. 89 jersey, making him one of a select group of players honored by the franchise. The Pro Football Hall of Fame also recognized his achievements as a player, assistant coach and head coach, a rare combination in professional football.

His influence was reflected in the tributes that followed his death. The Bears described his impact on the organization across decades as a player, coach and ambassador as immeasurable. Hall of Fame officials highlighted both his physical style of play and his skill as a receiver.

Ditka’s legacy rests on more than one championship. He helped define a changing position on offense, played a role in two NFL championship teams in Chicago and led the Bears through the season that produced the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory. For the team and its supporters, he became a lasting symbol of an era that remains central to Chicago football history.

Reporting Credit: Mike Ditka’s family; Chicago Bears; Pro Football Hall of Fame; National Football League.

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Ben Johnson, the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator, has agreed to become the next head coach of the Chicago Bears, a source familiar with the decision told The Associated Press on Monday. The deal is still being finalized, but Johnson’s hiring marks his first head coaching position in the NFL.

A New Chapter for Ben Johnson

Johnson, 38, was widely regarded as the top candidate on the coaching market after his impressive three-year run with the Lions, where he worked under head coach Dan Campbell. Prior to joining Detroit in 2019, Johnson spent seven years as an assistant coach with the Miami Dolphins.

Johnson’s success with the Lions offense has been a key factor in the team’s rise. Under his guidance, quarterback Jared Goff threw for over 4,400 yards in each of the past three seasons, earning two Pro Bowl selections during that stretch. The Lions finished the regular season as NFC’s top seed, leading the league in points per game and ranking second in both passing yards and total yards.

A Focus on Caleb Williams

As head coach of the Bears, Johnson’s primary task will be to develop young quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Williams had an impressive rookie campaign, throwing for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions, though he was sacked a record-breaking 68 times.

Williams has already expressed admiration for Johnson’s work with the Lions. “I think it’s been really cool to watch,” Williams said when reflecting on the Bears’ 2023 season. “During our game, I would sit back and try to learn something. It was fascinating to watch… He had wrinkles for counters and things like that throughout the game.”

Johnson, too, has been vocal about Williams’ talent. Before the Bears’ Week 16 matchup against the Lions, he praised Williams for his arm strength and ability to extend plays. “He’s got quite a fastball and has some creativity to him. He’s accurate down the field as well,” Johnson noted. “He’s been impressive from afar.”

Bears’ Struggles and Johnson’s Challenge

The Bears had a challenging season, finishing with a 5-12 record and firing head coach Matt Eberflus on November 29. Thomas Brown stepped in as interim coach, but the team still struggled, losing 10 consecutive games before closing the season with a win at Green Bay. The Bears’ performance has been disappointing under general manager Ryan Poles, who’s overseen a 15-36 record in three seasons, including two double-digit losing streaks.

Despite a strong start to the 2023 season, the Bears faltered. With high-profile offseason acquisitions, including Williams and a trade for six-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Keenan Allen, expectations were high. However, after starting 4-2, the Bears fell apart. The firing of Eberflus marked the team’s first-ever midseason coaching change, and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron also lost his job after just nine games.

Fans became increasingly frustrated, culminating in chants of “Sell the team!” during their final home game of the season against Seattle.

Bears’ Coaching Search and Future Prospects

The Bears conducted an extensive search for their new head coach, interviewing 17 candidates, including notable names like former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, ex-Green Bay Packers and Dallas Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy, and former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel.

Johnson now becomes the sixth head coach for the Bears since 2010, following in the footsteps of Lovie Smith, Marc Trestman, John Fox, Matt Nagy, and Eberflus. The team has not won a postseason game since 2010, and their last Super Bowl appearance came in 2006.

As Johnson takes the helm, he will have the critical task of turning around a franchise with a rich history but recent struggles, focusing on the development of Williams and restoring hope for the Bears’ long-suffering fan base.

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DETROIT — With 36 seconds left in the game and the Chicago Bears trailing the Detroit Lions by three points, the Bears had a chance to tie or win in their Thanksgiving Day matchup. However, questionable clock management ultimately sealed a 23-20 defeat and extended Chicago’s losing streak to six games.

Despite the outcome, head coach Matt Eberflus defended his late-game decisions, insisting the team handled the situation appropriately.

The Final Drive

The Bears began their final possession at the Detroit 1-yard line with 3:31 remaining, running 13 plays to reach the Lions’ 35-yard line. On second-and-20, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams was sacked for a six-yard loss with 32 seconds remaining as Lions defensive end Za’Darius Smith broke through unblocked.

Instead of calling a timeout, the Bears let the clock run. Williams scrambled to line up the offense, but the next snap came with only six seconds left. His deep pass to rookie receiver Rome Odunze fell incomplete near the 5-yard line as time expired.

“I knew when we snapped the ball, the [clock] would run out,” Odunze said. “I was trying to make it to the end zone, but we didn’t get the coverage we hoped for.”

Eberflus’ Decision Under Scrutiny

After the game, Eberflus defended his strategy. “Our hope was to get the play off at 18 seconds, throw inbounds, get into field goal range, and then call a timeout,” Eberflus explained. “Once it gets under 12 seconds, your only option is to throw it to the end zone.”

Critics pointed out that 26 seconds passed between Williams’ sack and the final snap, with no timeout called during that span. Kicker Cairo Santos could have attempted a 58-yard field goal—three yards longer than his career best—but Eberflus said the team believed they were out of range.

“We rehearsed scenarios like this,” Santos said. “I was ready to kick, but I didn’t expect it to play out like that.”

Player Reactions

The chaotic final moments left several Bears players puzzled. Tight end Cole Kmet described the ending as baffling: “I turned around, and the game was over. We just needed to avoid the sack and manage the clock better.”

Wide receiver DJ Moore, who had eight catches for 97 yards and a touchdown, expressed frustration. “We keep coming back in these games and having chances to win,” Moore said. “And then we just blow it.”

A Pattern of Narrow Losses

Thursday’s defeat was the fourth game this season the Bears lost by three or fewer points, tied for the most such losses in the NFL. According to ESPN Research, the Bears are the first team since 1933 to endure a six-game losing streak without committing multiple turnovers in any game.

Despite their struggles, the Bears rallied from a 16-point halftime deficit, with Williams leading three second-half touchdown drives. The rookie quarterback also set a franchise record for most passing touchdowns by a rookie (15) during the game.

Still, Eberflus’ record in one-score games now stands at 5-19—the worst in NFL history for any coach with at least 20 such games.

Looking Ahead

Eberflus took responsibility for the overall execution but maintained confidence in his approach. “We were all on the same page,” he said. “We just need to execute better.”

As the Bears fall to 4-8, fans and analysts are questioning whether changes in strategy—or leadership—might be necessary to turn the season around.

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