From Wikipedia:
Michael Keller Ditka (born Michael Dyczko; October 18, 1939 – October 9, 2026) was an American professional football player, coach, and commentator. During his playing career as a tight end, he was UPI NFL Rookie of Year in 1961, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, and a six-time All-Pro with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League (NFL); he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988. Ditka was the first tight end in NFL history to reach 1,000 yards receiving in his rookie season.
He was an NFL champion with the 1963 Bears and a three-time Super Bowl champion, playing on the Cowboys' Super Bowl VI team, winning as an assistant coach for the Cowboys in Super Bowl XII, and coaching the Bears to victory in Super Bowl XX. He has been named to the NFL's 75th- and 100th-Anniversary All-Time Teams.
As a head coach for the Bears from 1982 to 1992, he was twice both the AP and UPI NFL Coach of Year (1985 and 1988). He also was the head coach of the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999.
Ditka and Tom Flores are the only people in NFL history to win a Super Bowl as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach. Ditka, Flores, Gary Kubiak, and Doug Pederson are also the only people in modern NFL history to win a championship as head coach of a team for which they played previously.[1] Ditka is the only person to participate in both of the last two Chicago Bears' league championships, as a player in 1963 and head coach in 1985.
With his oversized, bellicose personality, Ditka was a natural for playing himself in various TV shows, mostly sitcoms. (While he did appear in '3rd Rock From The Sun' as another character, he was still a coach.) That's why he's going into the TVXOHOF as a member of the League of Themselves.
Here's his tally which qualified him for membership.
O'Bservation: A unique situation in that Ditka shows up in the archival footage of the games, but an extra stood in for him during scenes of practice.
O'Bservation: Behind the scenes in Toobworld, a celebrity endorsement is a sign that you made it.
THE LAST GASP (1990)
From the IMDb: Kelsey represents a frustrated Chicago Bears fan who is suing the team's staff.
O'Bservation: Mike Ditka was sworn in to testify and I don't think his combative attitude helped either side.
ONE FOR THE ROAD (1993)
O'Bservation: In the series finale, Ditka and Kim Alexis presented a Cable Ace award for writing to Diane Chambers.
A PLAYER TO BE NAMED LATER (1996)
O'Bservation: In a panic, Hayden Fox called Ditka for advice during the draft picks. Ditka thought it was somebody pranking him.
THE TROUBLE WITH HARRY (2001)
O'Bservation: Becker entered the coffee shop with a typical rant, complaining about pro football players. Ditka was already in there and he shot down Becker's argument. I don't know about the other characters, but I don't think Dr. Becker realized who that was.
CARS & CHICKS (2002)
O'Bservation: Jim saw Mike Ditka and was awestruck by the aura of his celebrity status.
SECOND STRING (TV MOVIE 2002)
O'Bservation: This was fictional, but using real team names (the Buffalo Bills) and people like Ditka. But that's okay. All of these entries took place only in Earth Prime-Time. We're not inducting the real Ditka, but his televersion. That's how it's always been for the League of Themselves.
THE END (2011)
O'Bservation: Alls I know is that Ditka met with Ari Gold in the series finale.
Because he appeared in sketches in two episodes of 'Saturday Night Live,' Ditka is a multi-dimensional.
SKITLANDIA
S18 E10
O'Bservations: In both shows, he made cameo appearances in "Da Bears" sketches.
In another episode, a Christmas show hosted by John Goodman, Ditka was played by Phil Hartman who was hosting his own holiday special. Ditka got into a fight with Santa Claus (played by Goodman.)
"As I go to press" (always wanted a reason to say that!), I'm curious if 'Saturday Night Live' will have a tribute vanity card for him at the end of the show. We shall see what we shall view.
Welcome to the Hall, Coach.
