I'm joined by the legendary player and head coach Mike Ditka . Coach Ditka was the first tight end inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame In the 1960s and early ’70s he proved himself one of professional football’s most extraordinary tight ends, using his talent for catching passes to revolutionize his position. Coach Ditka had a successful coaching career, the highlight of which came in 1986 when he led the Chicago Bears on an epic season as one of the greatest teams ever assembled Cap with a Super Bowl victory recording a 15-1 season. Ditka attended the University of Pittsburg where he was named first-team All-American in 1960. Ditka earned a first-round draft selection by the Bears and earned Rookie of the Year honors in 1961. In each of his first five seasons in Chicago, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl, and he helped the Bears capture the 1963 NFL championship. Ditka also played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1969–72. He caught 30 passes during the 1971 season en route to helping the Cowboys win their first Super Bowl title the following January. He retired after the 1972 season. Over the course of his playing career, Ditka made 427 receptions, gained 5,812 yards, and scored 43 touchdowns. These were phenomenal totals for a tight end, which had been viewed primarily as a blocking position during his era.
