For fans of Da Bears, there won’t be another Ditka.
And for the Bears, there won’t be another 89.
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears will retire Mike Ditka’s number during a Dec. 9 Monday Night Football appearance against the Cowboys at Soldier Field.
Ditka coached the team to its only Super Bowl title 27 years ago, but was a tremendous player for them prior to that, playing for their 1963 NFL title team.
The 73-year-old ESPN analyst will be the 14th Bears player to have his number retired, the first since Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers. That’s the most retired numbers of any NFL team.
Ditka hasn’t always had the best relationship with Bears ownership, but his relationship with the fans of the team is undeniable, as is his place in history now.