Former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka has reportedly suffered a heart attack and is recovering in a Florida hospital. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the Pro Football Hall of Famer known as "Iron Mike" fell ill after a round of golf on Wednesday and is recuperating in Naples.
"Coach Ditka had a mild heart attack earlier this week. Doctors inserted a pacemaker, and he is doing much better," Ditka's agent Steve Mandell told ESPN. "He appreciates the outpouring of support and expects to be home soon."
Ditka played tight end in the NFL for 12 seasons and led the Bears as a coach for 11 more. Ditka played for the Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and Dallas Cowboys, catching a touchdown pass in the latter's victory in Super Bowl VI. He was a member of the Bears 'last championship team before the beginning of the Super Bowl era and was the first tight end inducted into the Hall of Fame. As a coach, he steered the Bears to their lone Super Bowl victory in 1986.
Ditka infamously suffered another heart attack during his tenure as a Bears coach. He returned to coach the 1988 Bears after just 11 days, leading the team to a 12-4 record and winning the AP Coach of the Year award. Following a brief and unsuccessful attempt at coaching the New Orleans Saints, Ditka became a color commentator for CBS Sports. He is currently a host on ESPN's NFL Live and Sunday NFL Countdown, where he's occasionally drawn ire of viewers for disparaging police brutality protests by players.
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