NFL legend and Hall of Fame coach Mike Ditka has died at 86, bringing renewed attention to his long career in football and his outspoken support for Donald Trump.
Ditka, who led the Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl title, once called himself Trump’s “biggest fan.” Yet in 2016, he declined an invitation to speak at the Republican National Convention, even after Trump personally invited him. The decision offered an unexpected twist in the story of a football icon known for his strong political views.
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According to Reuters and the Associated Press, Ditka’s family announced his death on Friday, October 9, 2026. His family remembered him as a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend. A cause of death was not immediately disclosed.
