LAKE FOREST, Ill. (104.3 The Score) — After the team's walkthrough Friday morning, Bears head coach Ben Johnson learned that franchise icon Mike Ditka passed away at the age of 86.
Johnson never met Ditka but is certainly well-versed in his legacy, one he plans to discuss with the Bears.
"Coach Ditka is the gold standard in terms of this place," Johnson said. "I mean, he's a legend around here. As a player, as a coach, his impact is still being felt to this day. As the head coach of the Bears, I feel humbled to be in that same chair that he was once in. It's a sad day just hearing he's passing on."
Ditka was a Hall of Fame tight end over 12 NFL seasons from 1961-'72, then later served as head coach of the Bears from 1982-'92. He led Chicago to its lone Super Bowl title in the 1985 season.
"He carried that demeanor and mindset over to coaching the entire team, and certainly those teams emulated what he was all about," Johnson said. "No surprise the success they had in those 11 years."
The Bears (3-1) will visit the rival Packers (2-2) on Sunday at Lambeau Field. Johnson plans to address Ditka's legacy with his Bears leading up to the game.
"We keep talking about the Monsters of the Midway and how much we'd like to bring that back," Johnson said. "And they were the standard, and they have been for some time. But I think he had a lot to do with that, that mindset. Certainly, they were great players, but that head coach was, he was special, a special individual."
Chris Emma covers the Bears and the Chicago sports scene for 104.3 The Score.
