JIM GRAY: Mike Ditka did it his way. Football will never see another like him
America knew him as a football legend.He became the NFL’s symbol of toughness and the emblem of Chicago.
Mike Ditka was more than a Hall of Fame player and head coach who led the Bears to their unforgettable Super Bowl XX championship.He was a man who reached well beyond the football field.
Coach Ditka was my partner on the radio for a nearly a decade.On our show and podcast this week, "Let’s Go!," broadcast on SiriusXM NFL Radio, I paid tribute to and honored the life of Coach Ditka, along with my fellow co-hosts past and present — Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Matthew Stafford, Drew Brees and Peter King.They joined me to speak about what Ditka meant to them and to the game of football.
Here was our tribute.It's been a very difficult few days since we've learned of the passing of Mike Ditka on Oct.9, at age 86.
Guys like Ditka are very rare.He was a once in a lifetime man.
He seemed indestructible.I thought he would beat everything and everyone, and that he just might live forever because a guy like Mike Ditka isn't supposed to die.NFL COACHES SHARE INCREDIBLE MIKE DITKA STORIES AS FOOTBALL WORLD MOURNS THE BEARS LEGENDAmerica's Coach, that's what I called him, and that's who he was.
He was my partner on the radio for many, many years.I truly loved him.
He was so much fun.He lived his life to the absolute fullest.Jim Gray is a 12-time Emmy Award winning Hall of Fame sportscaster and Fox News sports analyst and contributor.
He is pictured here with legendary NFL coach Mike Ditka.(Courtesy Jim Gray)Tough yet tender.
Generous, yet demanding.Funny as hell and a temper that was explosive.
He could make you laugh, make you nervous, make you cry, and also feel like the most important person in the room, sometimes all in the same conversation.LIONS HEAD COACH PAYS TRIBUTE TO MIKE DITKA AFTER LEARNING OF HIS DEATH FROM A PRESS CONFERENCE QUESTIONHe was never polished, never predictable, never interested in being politically correct or being liked by everybody.H...