Mike Ditka, a Hall of Fame tight end and legendary head coach, has passed away at 86, his family announced. Born Michael Keller Dyczko Jr. on October 18, 1939, in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, Ditka's family changed their surname because Dyczko was difficult to pronounce.
Ditka was a first-round pick in the 1961 NFL and AFL drafts, per reporting from Awful Announcing, and signed with the Chicago Bears, where he quickly became one of the greatest tight ends in football history. He earned five consecutive Pro Bowl appearances early in his career, according to Awful Announcing's account.
Beyond his playing career, Ditka became known as a legendary coach and analyst in the sport. The Bears and the broader NFL community mourned the loss of what multiple outlets described as a true legend of the game.