Fansided

Chicago Bears all-time Mount Rushmore

By Mike Phillips

Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton in a 45 to 10 win over the Washington Redskins on September 29 1985, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by James V. Biever/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton in a 45 to 10 win over the Washington Redskins on September 29 1985, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by James V. Biever/Getty Images) /
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Chicago Bears Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka (89) makes a catch in a 10-3 win over the Green Bay Packers on September 15, 1963, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Fred Roe/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears Hall of Fame tight end Mike Ditka (89) makes a catch in a 10-3 win over the Green Bay Packers on September 15, 1963, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Fred Roe/Getty Images) /

TE Mike Ditka (1961-66)

The Bears’ Mount Rushmore wouldn’t be complete without one of the franchise’s most revered figures, Mike Ditka. Taken in the first round of the 1961 NFL Draft, Ditka immediately made an impact with the Bears by winning the Rookie of the Year award.

Chicago saw Ditka make the Pro Bowl in his first five seasons, including a key role in the Bears’ 1963 title-winning squad. Ditka made the All-Pro team in all six of his years with Chicago before departing after the 1966 season.

While a Hall-of-Fame playing career helped Ditka’s candidacy for the Bears’ Mount Rushmore, what put him over the top was his time as the Bears’ head coach. Ditka took over the team in 1982 and quickly turned the Bears into a powerhouse, culminating with a victory in Super Bowl XX in 1985.

Over the course of his career as Chicago’s head coach, Ditka went 106-62 and made seven playoff appearances, including six NFC Central crowns. That kind of success hasn’t been duplicated by the Bears since, showing how valuable Ditka was to the franchise.

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