It is not true that Mike Ditka was a one man
football team at Aliquippa High School in the 1950s. But it
certainly seemed that way as the powerful athlete played fullback,
halfback, linebacker, and end. Just to keep busy, he also excelled
in baseball and basketball. Then he went on to Pitt and settled down
to earn All American honors as a tight end. During Mike's senior year
(1960), he was co-captain of the Panthers and was a unanimous
All American, placing sixth in the balloting for the
Heisman Trophy, and unusual honor for a lineman. After the season,
he played in the East-West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl, and for the 1961 College All Stars team against the Philadelphia
Eagles. Mike was drafted by the Chicago Bears and earned
Rookie of the Year honors by catching 56 passes for 1076 yards and
12 touchdowns. He played in five straight Pro Bowl games and in
1963 was a member of the Bears team that beat the New York Giants
for the NFL title, 14-10. In 1967, he was traded to the Philadelphia
Eagles and in 1972 to the Dallas Cowboys. He caught a touchdown pass
for the Cowboys when they whipped Miami in the 1972 Super Bowl game,
24-3. After his playing days, Mike went on to coach the Chicago
Bears and the New Orleans Saints, winning a Super Bowl with the
Bears in 1985. He followed coaching with a stint as a commentator
for ESPN. Mike was inducted into the
Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988.
It is not true that Mike Ditka was a one man
football team at Aliquippa High School in the 1950s. But it
certainly seemed that way as the powerful athlete played fullback,
halfback, linebacker, and end. Just to keep busy, he also excelled
in baseball and basketball. Then he went on to Pitt and settled down
to earn All American honors as a tight end. During Mike's senior year
(1960), he was co-captain of the Panthers and was a unanimous
All American, placing sixth in the balloting for the
Heisman Trophy, and unusual honor for a lineman. After the season,
he played in the East-West Shrine Game, the Hula Bowl, and for the 1961 College All Stars team against the Philadelphia
Eagles. Mike was drafted by the Chicago Bears and earned
Rookie of the Year honors by catching 56 passes for 1076 yards and
12 touchdowns. He played in five straight Pro Bowl games and in
1963 was a member of the Bears team that beat the New York Giants
for the NFL title, 14-10. In 1967, he was traded to the Philadelphia
Eagles and in 1972 to the Dallas Cowboys. He caught a touchdown pass
for the Cowboys when they whipped Miami in the 1972 Super Bowl game,
24-3. After his playing days, Mike went on to coach the Chicago
Bears and the New Orleans Saints, winning a Super Bowl with the
Bears in 1985. He followed coaching with a stint as a commentator
for ESPN. Mike was inducted into the