Bears legend Mike Ditka dead at 86

The renowned Chicago Bears coach, Mike Ditka, has passed away at the age of 86. Jim Gray, a sportscaster and Fox News contributor, referred to Ditka as ‘America’s coach’ while remembering his legacy, which includes leading the Bears to their Super Bowl victory in 1985.

In the wake of this sad news, reactions from the sports community have been pouring in, including a heartfelt response from Dan Campbell, the head coach of the Detroit Lions. During a news conference, a reporter brought up Ditka’s death, and Campbell was taken aback, having not yet heard about it.

This moment prompted Campbell to reflect on his encounter with Ditka before the 1999 NFL Draft. Back then, he was a tight end from Texas A&M, participating in interviews with various teams, one of which was the New Orleans Saints, the team coached by Ditka at the time.

“Ditka was someone I loved, man. Growing up, Ditka was it,” Campbell shared. He expressed being a huge fan of the legendary coach and recalled how the Saints wanted to have a meeting with him. Initially, he thought there would be others in the room, but when he arrived, it turned out to be just him and Ditka, enveloped in a cloud of cigar smoke.

“It was one of the best and most intimidating experiences of my life sitting across from Mike Ditka,” Campbell reminisced. He recounted how Ditka asked him a series of questions about his background, his thought processes, and his insights on the game. Campbell found this time incredibly impactful.

He added, “Thoughts and prayers go out to his family. He’s a legend.” It’s touching how Campbell could share such a personal story amidst the bittersweet news, highlighting the deep admiration and respect he had for Ditka.

Interestingly, despite this significant meeting, the Saints chose not to draft Campbell; instead, he was selected in the third round by the New York Giants, coming in at 79th overall.