Mike Ditka
Coaching Record
| Years Coached | Record | Win % | Playoff record | Playoff win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 219-131-0 | 62.57% | 17-13 | 56.67% |
Coaching Tree
Parents:
Children:
Jack Del Rio, Jeff Fisher, Dave McGinnis, Buddy Ryan, Vince Tobin
Biography
Career Summary
Mike Ditka was a football coach in the National Football League (NFL) from 1973 to 1999, finishing his career as the head coach of the New Orleans Saints. Over his twenty-three years of coaching his teams compiled a cumulative win/loss record of 219-131-0. During his career he was a head coach for fourteen seasons, first with the Chicago Bears. He led the Bears for eleven seasons, compiling a record of 106-62-0. In 1985, the Bears won the Super Bowl against the New England Patriots 46-10. He was fired from the Bears on Tuesday, January 5, 1993. His next head coaching stint was with the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999, as he led the team to a 15-33-0 record. During his entire head coaching career, his two teams combined for a record of 121-95-0 across fourteen seasons including going 6-6-0 in the playoffs. Ditka was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 after his playing career.
Career Awards
Ditka won the NFL's Coach of the Year award two times throughout his career, most recently in 1988 after guiding the Bears to a 12-4-0 record and a berth in the playoffs. As the head coach of the Chicago Bears he coached two players to award-winning seasons: Mike Singletary, AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1985; Mike Singletary, AP Defensive Player of the Year in 1988; Mark Carrier, AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 1990.
Mike Ditka Coaching Tree
Before he was a head coach, Ditka served as an assistant coach for Tom Landry. He spent nine years as an assistant coach to Tom Landry, finishing as the wide receivers coach/special teams coach in 1981. During his time as head coach, five assistant coaches, (Buddy Ryan, Jeff Fisher, Dave McGinnis, Vince Tobin, and Jack Del Rio) on his coaching staff were hired as head coaches across the league. His coaching tree has combined for a record of 365-392-2 in the regular season and 7-13 in the playoffs during their forty-eight seasons as head coach after serving on his coaching staffs.
Playing Career
Ditka played defensive end and wide receiver while at college.
History
| Year | Position | Record | Playoff record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 New Orleans Saints | Head Coach | 3-13-0 | 0-0 |
| 1998 New Orleans Saints | Head Coach | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
| 1997 New Orleans Saints | Head Coach | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
| 1992 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 5-11-0 | 0-0 |
| 1991 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 11-5-0 | 0-1 |
| 1990 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 11-5-0 | 1-1 |
| 1989 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 6-10-0 | 0-0 |
| 1988 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 12-4-0 | 1-1 |
| 1987 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 11-4-0 | 0-1 |
| 1986 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 14-2-0 | 0-1 |
| 1985 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 15-1-0 | 3-0 |
| 1984 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 10-6-0 | 1-1 |
| 1983 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 8-8-0 | 0-0 |
| 1982 Chicago Bears | Head Coach | 3-6-0 | 0-0 |
| 1981 Dallas Cowboys | Wide Receivers Coach / Special Teams Coach | 12-4-0 | 1-1 |
| 1980 Dallas Cowboys | Tight Ends Coach / Special Teams Coach | 12-4-0 | 2-1 |
| 1979 Dallas Cowboys | Wide Receivers Coach / Special Teams Coach | 11-5-0 | 0-1 |
| 1978 Dallas Cowboys | Wide Receivers Coach / Special Teams Coach | 12-4-0 | 2-1 |
| 1977 Dallas Cowboys | Wide Receivers Coach / Special Teams Coach | 12-2-0 | 3-0 |
| 1976 Dallas Cowboys | Tight Ends Coach / Special Teams Coach | 11-3-0 | 0-1 |
| 1975 Dallas Cowboys | Tight Ends Coach / Special Teams Coach | 10-4-0 | 2-1 |
| 1974 Dallas Cowboys | Wide Receivers Coach / Tight Ends Coach | 8-6-0 | 0-0 |
| 1973 Dallas Cowboys | Wide Receivers Coach / Tight Ends Coach | 10-4-0 | 1-1 |
Coach history guide
| Seasons with a championship win | Seasons with a conference championship |
Coach facts
- Years as head coach: 14
- Championships won: 1977 and 1985
- Conference Championships won: 1975, 1977, 1978, and 1985
- Coach of the Year: 1985, 1988
- Led the league in wins: 1977, 1980, 1985, 1986, 1988
- Second in total wins for the Chicago Bears.
- Third in winning percentage for the Chicago Bears.
- Most playoff wins in Chicago Bears history (6)
- Past teams coached for: New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bears, Dallas Cowboys
- College Attended: Pittsburgh Panthers
- Positions Played: Defensive End, Tight End, and Wide Receiver
- Mike Ditka was the first coach to be doused with Gatorade following a big win (1984 NFC Championship).