Mike Ditka

He is believed to be extremely short-tempered and was even arrested and found guilty of DWI after getting back from a match in San Francisco.

He suffered from a heart attack earlier and even suffered from a minor stroke in November, 2012.

Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. also known as Michael Dyczko was born on October 18, 1938 to Mike Sr. and Charlotte in Carnegie, Pennsylvania. He is the oldest of the four children born to the couple. He was brought up in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.

He studied at Titus School and Aliquippa High School. He had hoped to obtain a football scholarship, which he eventually did. He was accepted at universities such as Notre Dame, Penn State and University of Pittsburgh. He finally made a choice and decided to play for the University of Pittsburgh from 1958 to 1960. In college, he was considered one of the best tight-ends.

In his senior year, he was selected in the College Football All-America Team.

In his first season with the Chicago Bears, in 1961, he hit it big with 58 receptions, introducing a new angle to the tight end position. His grand success earned him a number of accolades. He continued to play with the team for the next five years.

In 1963, he entered the NFL championship team and placed first among the tight ends and fourth overall in Bears’ history. Four years later, he was drafted to the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played for only two seasons.

In 1969, he was traded to the Dallas Cowboys, where the highlight was the 24-3 victory over the Miami Dolphins during the Super Bowl VI. He spent four seasons with this team.

He retired from playing professional football in 1972 and was immediately taken on board by the Dallas Cowboys as assistant coach, where he was assigned to work under the head coach - Tom Landry.

He served as the assistant coach for nine seasons. Under his leadership, the team made to the playoffs eight times, six division titles and three NFC championships.

In 1985 and 1988, he was awarded the ‘NFL Coach of the Year’ title.

He also became the first ever football tight end to be inducted into the ‘Pro Football Hall of Fame’, in 1988.

He is listed as one of the ’100 Greatest Football Players’ in ‘The Sporting News’ list, in 1999.

He was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame, in 2001.

He was inducted into the ESPN Chicago Hall of Fame along with Michael Jordan, Ernie Banks and Dick Butkus, in 2011.