Mike Ditka

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Ditka's playing days in Dallas were defined by resilience and specific milestones rather than starting dominance. In 1972, after Truax was limited by off-season knee surgery, Ditka stepped up as the starter at tight end. He started all 14 games that season, posting 17 receptions for 198 yards and one touchdown while alternating in passing situations with rookie Jean Fugett. His career concluded on March 1, 1973, when he announced his retirement as a player. At the time of his departure, his total of 427 career receptions stood as the most by a tight end in NFL history. This achievement, combined with 5,812 receiving yards and 43 touchdowns, later earned him induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 as the first tight end ever selected.

In Their Own Story

The transition from player to coach began immediately after his retirement announcement in March 1973. Ditka opened the door for a new chapter by being named the Cowboys' wide receiver assistant coach under head coach Tom Landry. He spent nine seasons in this assistant role, contributing to a period where the Cowboys made the playoffs eight times and won six division titles. This era included three NFC championships and a Super Bowl victory in 1977.

Reader's Guide

Fans looking at Ditka's Dallas profile should note two distinct eras: his active play from 1969 to 1972 and his subsequent coaching run. As a player, he wore number 89 (having changed back from 98 in Philadelphia) and set the franchise tight end reception record with 30 catches in 1971. He is one of only three people to win a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, though his Dallas coaching role was strictly as an assistant under Landry. His stats for the Cowboys include 12 games started over two seasons where he was not the primary starter, yet his impact on the 1971 Super Bowl VI victory remains a highlight. He won a championship with the Cowboys in both capacities: playing in Super Bowl VI and serving as an assistant coach during the team's later victories.

Did You Know?

• Ditka was traded to Dallas on January 28, 1969, in exchange for wide receiver Dave McDaniels.
• In the 1971 Super Bowl VI victory over Miami, Ditka scored a touchdown reception in the Cowboys' 24–3 win.
• At the time of his retirement on March 1, 1973, Ditka held the NFL record for most career receptions by a tight end with 427.
• Ditka served as an assistant coach for the Cowboys for nine seasons, winning a Super Bowl in 1977 during that tenure.
• He and Tom Flores are the only people to win a Super Bowl as a player, an assistant coach, and a head coach.