Mike Ditka, No. 89, The First And Last Of His Kind

Before he was Da Coach or Da Pitchman, he was 89.

And 89 was the baddest tight end on the planet, the first modern pass-catcher at the position.

On Monday, the Bears will ensure no one ever will wear the number — the last time the team plans to take a number out of circulation.

George Halas made him the first tight end to be split out wide.

As a rookie, he averaged 19.2 yards per catch. That would be third-best among qualified players this season, one of the pass-happiest in NFL history, and more than Calvin Johnson has ever averaged in a season.

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[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74VPaai0Q3I[/ame]

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoWRoq4iyAQ[/ame]

 

Ditka is a Bear. This is way overdue and I cant wait to watch it.

 

He was a total beast.

 

Ditka does, STILL does, and ALWAYS will bleed orange and navy blue.

 

Ditka will always be a Bear in everyones eyes, Including Cowboys fans. But Cowboys fans appreciate his time in Dallas

 

I think him coaching the Saints was worse. I like to pretend that never happened.

 

i do not remember him playing for the bears,but he was nothing special in dallas.
my daddy always told me ditka was the nfl's best ever te when he was with the bears.he coached on tom landry's staff a long time before he became the bears head coach,and he was as fiery a coach as he was a player.broke his hand once by hitting a chalkboard at halftime.

 

calling ditka a cowboy is like calling emmit smith a cardinal.

 

:icon_eek:

 

He will always be a Cowboy to me.

 

Jerry rice is the greatest seahawk ever.

 

and thats why you're rags.

 

Thats weird, because I always felt that it was Jerry's time in Seattle that really defined his career. I'm surprised that you don't feel the same way about Emmitt.