Bears, Saints, Packers Pay Tribute to Mike Ditka
The Bears are wearing an “89” helmet decal in tribute.
The NFL honored the memory of Mike Ditka on Sunday. The Green Bay Packers, who are hosting the Chicago Bears at Lambeau Field, and the New Orleans Saints, who were previously coached by Ditka, observed a moment of silence for the former Super Bowl-winning coach. Ditka's family confirmed his death on Friday.
In honor of Ditka, the Bears are wearing a helmet decal with his jersey number, 89, as a tribute to his Hall of Fame status as a tight end. Coach Ben Johnson reportedly played a tribute video featuring Ditka during a team meeting on Saturday to ensure players understood his significance to the franchise.
A moment of silence was held before kickoff to remember Mike Ditka. The Packers shared a photo of the moment on Twitter, while the Saints also posted a tribute image.
Ben Johnson expressed his admiration for Ditka, calling him a legend both as a player and a coach. He acknowledged the continued impact Ditka's influence has on the Bears, stating, "He's a legend around here as a player, as a coach. His impact is still being felt to this day."
Throughout his coaching career, Ditka led his teams to a combined record of 121-95 in 14 seasons, with a playoff record of 6-6. Notably, under Ditka's leadership in 1985, the Chicago Bears finished the regular season with a perfect 15-1 record before securing a Super Bowl XX victory.
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