Mike Ditka Bio, Age, Wife, Height, Jersey, Restaurant, Bobblehead and Quotes

Mike Ditka Biography

Mike Ditka (Full name: Michael Keller Ditka) is an American former football player, coach, and television commentator. He is one of the members of both the College Football (1986) and Pro Football Hall of Fame (1988), he was the 1961 UPI NFL Rookie of Year, a five-time professional Bowl choice and five-time All-Pro end with the Chicago Bears, city Eagles, and metropolis Cowboys of the National conference (NFL).

Previous he was an NFL champion with the 1963 Bears and is a three-time Super Bowl champion, playing on the Cowboys Super Bowl VI team. He also won as an assistant coach for the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII and coaching the Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX. Ditka was named to both the NFL’s 50th and 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

He was twice both the AP and UPI NFL Coach of Year (1985 and 1988) as a coach for the Bears for 11 years. He furthermore the American native coached the New Orleans Saints for three years. He and Tom Flores are the only people to win an NFL title as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach. Mike is the only person to participate in both of the last two Chicago Bears’ league championships, as a player in 1963 and as head coach in 1985.

Ditka also was known by the nickname “Iron Mike”, Which he attained from being born and raised in a steel town in Pennsylvania. During the 1985 season, he was arrested on Interstate 294 near O’Hare International Airport and later convicted of DUI after returning from a game against the San Francisco 49ers.

Mike Ditka Education

He attended college with a football scholarship. Planning to become a dentist, he was recruited by Notre Dame, Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh. He studied at St. Titus School.

Mike Ditka Death

Ditka performed “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during a Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field in 1998, the first season after the death of Harry Caray, who had previously led the song. The performance, dubbing Ditka “the worst 7th-inning singer in history.” was derided by Chicago Now blogger Marcus Leshock.

Mike Ditka Broadcasting

Almost immediately after his dismissal from the Bears in 1992, Ditka took a broadcasting job with NBC, working as an analyst on NFL Live and as a color commentator for many other NBC broadcasts. After he was fired by the Saints, He joined CBS Sports, spending the 2000 and 2001 seasons as a studio analyst on The NFL Today.

He is currently a commentator on ESPN’s NFL Live, ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, and CBS Radio-Westwood One’s Monday Night Football pregame show. On his radio show, the Coach is called “America’s Coach” by well-known sidekick Jim Gray.

Mike appeared on a Seattle radio program in the year 2006, “Groz with Gas” on 950 KJR-AM Seattle, on Thursday afternoons with Dave Grosby and Mike Gastineau. Ditka regularly appears on Chicago radio station ESPN 1000 (WMVP-AM), often broadcasting on Thursday mornings from one of his eponymous restaurants along with ESPN 1000 mid-morning hosts Marc Silverman and Tom Waddle, a former Bears player under Ditka.

Ditka served as a color commentator for ESPN’s September 10, 2007, broadcast of Monday Night Football, alongside Mike Greenberg and Mike Golic. He replicated this role in the second game of the doubleheader in 2008, as well. Ditka spent several years with ESPN working on Sunday NFL Countdown. In March 2016, ESPN and Ditka announced he would move to Sportscenter for remote-broadcasting analysis, as Ditka disliked the long trek from his home to the studio. This new role allows him to stay at home, while still maintaining an analyst role with the network.

Mike Ditka Coaching Record

Coaching career

Retiring after the 1972 season, he was immediately hired as an assistant coach by Cowboys’ head coach Tom Landry. The American native spent nine seasons as an assistant coach with the Cowboys. During his tenure, the Cowboys made the playoffs eight times, won six division titles, three NFC Championships and a Super Bowl victory in 1977.

While working with the Cowboys, he sent a letter to George Halas, his former head coach who was still the owner of the Chicago Bears. In the letter, Ditka said that he would like to come back to Chicago and be the head coach of the Bears “when he was ready”. Meanwhile, the Cowboys continued to win games although they did not win another Super Bowl while Ditka was there. His last game with the Cowboys was the 1981 NFC Championship Game, where the team fell to the San Francisco 49ers.

Mike Ditka Age

Michael Keller Ditka was born on October 18. 1939 in Carnegie, PA. He celebrates his birthday on October 18th every year.

Mike Ditka Family

Ditka was born to his’s parents Charlotte Keller(Mother) and Mike Ditka Sr(Father) as their oldest child. He grew up in nearby Aliquippa, together with his’s siblings Ashton(brother), David(brother) and Mary Ann(sister).

His Dad was one of three brothers of a Polish and Ukrainian family in the coal mining and steel manufacturing area in Western Pennsylvania. His ancestry on his mother’s side is Irish and German. His Ukrainian surname “Dyczko” was Changed to “Ditka”. by his family, because it was hard to say it in his hometown.

Mike Ditka Wife | Married | Spouse

Ditka is married to his wife Diane (nee Trantham) Ditka in 1977. Previously Ditka was married to his first wife, Marge, from 1961 to 1973. The couple has 4 kids together namely; Mark, Matt, Mike, and Megan.

Mike Ditka Jersey | Autographed Jersey

Ditka’s Bears jersey number, 89, was retired in a halftime ceremony during a Monday Night Football game in Chicago as the Bears hosted the Dallas Cowboys On 9th December 2013, for whom he still played and worked as an assistant coach under the late Tom Landry.

Mike Ditka Body Measurements

Height: 6ft 3in tall
Weight: 228 lb(103 kg)
Shoe Size: Not Available

Body Shape: Not Available
Hair Colour: Not Available
Eye Colour: Not Available

Mike Ditka Salary

Mike was paid $250,000 thousand dollars in base salary in a three-year contract. After eight years of working with the Cowboys, he was made the head coach of the Chicago Bears, the same team that he’d launched his NFL career in the 1960s. From there, he worked with the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999.

Mike Ditka Net Worth

The former American former football player, coach, and television commentator, Mike Ditka, has an estimated net worth of $30 million dollars, which he has earned through his successful career as a football player, coach and television commentator.

Mike Ditka Restaurant | Chicago | Signature

Ditka’s Restaurant, located in the heart of Chicago’s Gold Coast between Rush & Michigan, is a Chicago Landmark. Ditka has a decidedly understated sports motif, white linen table cloths, hardwood floors, intimate leather booths & rich mahogany wood accents.

Known for Chops and Steaks including the signature dish “Da Pork Chop” along with a wide variety of fresh, sustainable seafood and contemporary American classics. The lunch menu is full of wonderful fresh salads, protein bowls & sandwiches including the “Best Burger in Chicago”, the Fridge Burger. Service is approachable & friendly in a comfortable atmosphere. Don’t be surprised to catch sight of Da Coach himself.

Mike Ditka Number 89

Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys

He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1967 where Ditka spent two seasons, before being shipped off to the Dallas Cowboys in 1969. He wore number 98 in his first year with the Eagles.

Ditka later changed it back to his usual 89. He spent four seasons with the Cowboys, highlighted by a touchdown reception in the Cowboys’ 24–3 victory over the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. Mike is the only head coach in the history of the Super Bowl to score a touchdown in a Super Bowl as a player.

Mike Ditka Costume | Sweater Vest | Sunglasses

Mike Ditka(NFL Hall of Famer)on Saturday Night Live look was immortalized. The dress shirt and striped tie teamed with his trademark sweater vest, made him a recognizable to both sport’s fan and nonsports fans.

A white long sleeve, buttoned-up shirt and striped tie with a pair of khaki are the main parts of this outfit. Accessorize with a pair of mirrored aviator sunglasses and a fake cigar, both of which can be found at any party supply store along with his trademark mustache.

Mike Ditka Bobblehead

Mike Ditka Bobblehead Appeared at Millennium Parkon on August 30. 2019

Ditka figure was placed in Millennium Park for fans to have fun with. He is featured by The bobblehead of ‘Da Coach’ donning his 1985 Bears gear, including his trademark Bears sweater, tie and shades.

The statue was made up of more than 150 lbs of foam and is one of the 13 statues that will show up around Chicago in honor of the NFL’s 100th season of existence. The life-sized Mike Ditka bobblehead was moved from its place in Millennium Park to Soldier Field for Thursday’s regular-season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

Mike Ditka Famous Quotes

You’re never a loser until you stop trying.
Success isn’t permanent, and failure isn’t fatal.
Success isn’t measured by cash or power or social station. It is measured by your discipline and inner peace.
If God had needed a person to play association football, he wouldn’t have given US arms.

If you’re not within the parade, you watch the parade. That is life.
We have a weird and wondrous relationship – he’s strange and I am wondrous.
Some people are willing to pay the price and it’s the same as staying healthy or eating healthy. There’s some
discipline involved. There are some sacrifices.

Mike Ditka Health | Heart Attack

His’s ‘massive’ heart attack was much worse than reported.

when like a blind-side hit from a linebacker and he began feeling weak. That time he was on the golf course in Florida. Mike was taken to a hospital, where he stayed for a week and a half. Mike agent said Ditka, 79, “had a mild heart attack” and was “doing much better.”

In an interview, it was discovered that his attack was, in a word, “massive.”

Mike held four stents inserted to open his arteries and a pacemaker to control his heartbeat. He said that his ass was kicked pretty well there, but he is feeling a lot better. Mike added that Every day he gets stronger and he is not exerting himself, he exerts himself when he feels it. So he Concluded that things are good compared to two weeks ago.

Rehab has been slow but steady.

He’s back hitting golf balls again. Mike has treatment every day so as to be stronger and mobile again. He said that he is only going to take it easy. he said. Mike said that he realizes that he has been riding ‘em hard and putting up wet for a lot of years. Time to slow down. he is not getting any younger.”

In 1988 when he was coaching Bears he suffered a heart attack. In the same year, mike was drafted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a player, he returned to work only after 11 days later. Besides, Mike also suffered a stroke in 2012.

Mike Ditka Wine

“The Coach” Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Sauvignon. Passion on and off the field inspired Ditka to partner with Terlato Wines to create a portfolio of wines to partner with a variety of foods.

Mike Ditka Funko Pop

Ditka Vinyl Figure

Mike is given a fun, and funky, stylized look as an adorable collectible Pop! vinyl figure from Funko’s new wave of NFL legends!Pop! Football 90, 3 3/4″ tall, Vinyl, Imported and By Funko.

Mike Ditka Mustache

The Legendary NFL tight end may not have sported a mustache during his pro career, but since his retirement has become known for his trademark thick chevron style stache. Though having retired from coaching, Mike sometimes makes appearances as an NFL commentator.

Mike Ditka Resorts

Ditka has Resorts in Orlando Florida. The resort is in the perfect location to enjou Disney, Universal and Sea World, all within 1/2 hour or less from the resort, and only 1/2 hour away from Orlando International Airport. The bedrooms and bathrooms are great as well as the living area. Mike Ditka Super Bowl.

Mike Ditka Football Card

Top ten Ditka football card from position 1 to 10

1962 Topps Mike Ditka RC #17
1962 Post Cereal Mike Ditka RC #111
1963 Topps Mike Ditka #62
1962 Topps Football Bucks Mike Ditka #47

1963 Kahn’s Mike Ditka
1989-97 Goal Line Hall of Fame Mike Ditka Autograph #39
1964 Philadelphia Mike Ditka #17

1965 Philadelphia Mike Ditka #19
1964 Wheaties Football Card Stamp Mike Ditka
1985 McDonald’s Mike Ditka

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) About Mike Ditka

Who is Ditka?

Mike Ditka is an American former football player, coach, and television commentator.

How old is Ditka?

Ditka is 80 years old as of 2019.

How tall is Ditka?

Mike Ditka stands at a height of 6feet 3inches.

Is Ditka married?

Ditka is married to Diane Ditka.

How much is Ditka worth?

Ditka has an estimated net worth of $30 million dollars.

How much does Ditka make?

Ditka was paid $250,000 thousand dollars in base salary in a three-year contract

Where does Ditka live?

Mike as of now resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Is Mike Ditka dead or alive?

Ditka is still alive and in good health.

Where is Mike Ditka now?

Ditka is currently working as a motivational speaker, television commentator on CBS Sports, and also as an actor in commercials.