Mike Ditka Biography

Fast Facts

• Founded The Mike Ditka Foundation in 1989 with the goal of raising funds for a residential facility for disabled children and pediatric AIDS research programs
• Was named Coach of the Year in 1986 for leading his team to the Super Bowl XX title
• Originally planning to become a dentist, he saw his football scholarship to University of Pittsburgh as a way to get away from his hometown's manufacturing jobs
• After retiring from football, he started work as an analyst and commentator on a number of sports-themed programs on CBS, NBC and, starting in 2004, ESPN
• Played in the NFL for 12 years and worked as a head coach for 14
• Opened a chain of Ditka's restaurants that has locations in Chicago and Pittsburgh
• When he went to the White House with his 1985 team in 2011, he gave President Obama a number 85 Chicago Bears jersey with the name Obama on the back