Chicago Bears honor Mike Ditka at first home game since his death
The Bears held a moment of silence for their former coach as fans and players joined tributes at Soldier Field during the game against New England.
The Chicago Bears honored former coach Mike Ditka at Soldier Field on October 22 during their home game against the New England Patriots, the team's first there since his death on October 9. The tribute included a moment of silence, according to ClutchPoints, while ESPN reported that fans received items modeled on Ditka's familiar appearance and players wore tributes on their uniforms.
How the Bears honored Ditka at Soldier Field
ESPN reported that the first 10,000 fans to arrive received knit headbands inspired by the Bears sweater Ditka made famous during his 11 seasons as Chicago's coach. The team handed out fake mustaches to every fan in attendance. ClutchPoints also described fans dressed as Ditka, wearing sunglasses, mustaches and sweater vests. Together, the giveaways and outfits made his recognizable sideline look part of the crowd's tribute.
Before kickoff, analog clocks inside Soldier Field displayed 89:00, ESPN reported. The number referred to the jersey Ditka wore during his Hall of Fame career as a tight end. Right guard Jonah Jackson arrived at the stadium in a long-sleeved No. 89 jersey, another tribute to Ditka's playing days with the club.
The players had also been wearing No. 89 stickers on the backs of their helmets since Week 5, according to ESPN. For the Patriots game, they added a patch honoring Ditka over the heart of their navy jerseys. The stadium ceremony therefore brought together tributes that were already visible on the field with gestures for fans attending the team's first home game after his death.
Why the Patriots matchup carried particular meaning
The opponent gave the occasion another connection to Ditka's Bears. Chicago defeated New England in Super Bowl XX to win the franchise's first Lombardi Trophy, ESPN reported. Ditka's No. 89 was retired by the Bears in December 2013; ESPN said he was the last Chicago player to receive that honor. The team has retired more numbers than any other NFL franchise.
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Sources and context
- Watch Bears pay incredible tribute to Mike Ditka before TNF vs. PatriotsClutchPoints, republished by Yahoo Sports
- Chicago Bears honor late Mike Ditka with fake mustaches, knit headbands on TNFESPN
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.