Bob Heinz obit

Bob Heinz

1947 - 2026

 He was not on the list.

RIP Bob Heinz. The former Miami Dolphins defensive lineman passed away Saturday morning according to his son John. A graduate of Lincoln High School in Stockton, California, Heinz originally began his college career at San Joaquin Delta College before transferring to the University of the Pacific. A second round draft in 1969, Heinz played for the Dolphins from 1969 to 1977 and finished his career with the Washington Redskins 1978. He was a key member of the Dolphins No Name Defense of the early 1970s that included 3 consecutive AFC Championships, 2 Super Bowl titles, the NFL's only perfect season and a 31-game home win streak at the Orange Bowl from 1971 to 1974. After his football career, Heinz went on to work as an advertising executive in Palo Alto, California. Bob Heinz was 79.

Bob Heinz, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in Fresno, California. He was 79.

Born on July 25, 1947, in Wisconsin to Ken and Bette Heinz, Bob grew up in a large family near Milwaukee before moving to California during his high school years. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Stockton, where he excelled in football, basketball, and track and field. He continued his education and football career at the University of the Pacific, where he met Carol Covington, his future wife of 56 years.

A defensive tackle for the UOP Tigers, Bob was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in 1969 and went on to play ten seasons in the NFL. Wearing #72, Bob was a member of the “No-Name Defense” and a starter on the only undefeated team in NFL history, winning back-to-back championships in Super Bowls VII and VIII.

Bob and Carol married in 1970 and raised their three children in Menlo Park, California, their home for many years. After retiring from a long career in sales, the couple relocated to Fresno to be near family. Family was Bob’s greatest source of pride and happiness. He will be remembered for his friendship, his sense of humor, and his deep love for those closest to him. He enjoyed a good cigar and bourbon, the music of Jimmy Buffett, cheering on the San Francisco Giants, and rooting against any NFL team attempting perfection.

Bob is survived by his wife, Carol; his children, Julie, Joe, and John; daughter-in-law, Laura; grandchildren, Matthew and Samantha; sister-in-law, Claire Covington; and his nieces and nephews, all of whom he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Mike, Pete, Geoff, Peggy (Sain), and Doug.

A private family service is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Bob’s memory to the Miami Dolphins Foundation.

Dan Doornink obit

Seahawks Legend Dan Doornink Passes Away At 70

Seahawks mourn the passing of running back Dan Doornink.

 

He was not on the list.

Dan Doornink, Seahawks Legend, Yakima native, former Washington State running back died on Saturday at the age of 70.

After being drafted by the New York Giants in 1978, Doornink was traded to the Seahawks in 1979 and played for Seattle for seven seasons, including the 1983 season that marked the first time the Seahawks reached the playoffs.

He is best known for his 123-yard rushing game that helped Seattle win the 1984 Wild Card game against the Los Angeles Raiders at the Kingdome.

In seven seasons with Seattle, he played in 105 games and rushed for 1,836 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Following his football career, Doornink went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine at the University of Washington and practiced internal medicine in his hometown of Yakima.

He played college football for the Washington State Cougars.

Born in Yakima, Washington, Doornink graduated from Wapato High School in 1974 and played college football at Washington State University in Pullman. He was selected in the seventh round of the 1978 NFL draft (174th overall) by the Giants, then was traded to the Seahawks in August 1979 for a draft choice.

Seahawks fans gave him the nicknames of "Dr. Dan" for his medical career, and "Mr. Third Down" for his knack of frequently picking up a first down for the team on third down when given the ball via run or pass. He ran for 123 yards on 27 carries for the Seahawks in a wild-card playoff win over the Los Angeles Raiders on December 22, 1984 in the Kingdome in Seattle. After a series of injuries in 1985, Doornink was released by the Seahawks in August 1986.

Doornink earned his M.D. at the University of Washington in Seattle and practiced internal medicine as a physician in Yakima. He and his wife, Sharon, have four children, Heidi, Danielle, Tyler, and Grace. Prior to the Seahawks 2007 preseason game on August 25 against the Minnesota Vikings at Qwest Field in Seattle, he raised the 12th Man flag.

In August 2021, Doornink was hospitalized for COVID-19. Although vaccinated, he had an autoimmune blood disorder which made him more susceptible to complications. Doornink was placed on a ventilator and then removed from it when his breathing improved. After being released from the hospital, he needed months of recovery.

June Jones obit

Former University of Hawaii football head coach June Jones dies at 73

 

He was not on the list.

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Former University of Hawaii football head coach June Jones has passed away at age 73, according to multiple sources on Thursday.

Jones was the winningest coach in the modern era of Hawaii football with 76 victories in nine seasons from 1999-2007. He then went to work at Southern Methodist University from 2008 until he resigned in 2014.

Jones was the head football coach at the University of Hawaii at Manoa from 1999 to 2007 and Southern Methodist University (SMU) from 2008 until his resignation in 2014. He coached in the National Football League (NFL) for three years as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons from 1994 to 1996, plus a ten-game stint as interim head coach of the San Diego Chargers in 1998; he also spent 1+1⁄2 seasons as head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Jones was the general manager and head coach of the Houston Roughnecks.

When June Jones took over UH’s football in 1999, he was the interim head coach for the San Diego Chargers. He turned down the National Football League (NFL) head coaching position for a UH program at an all-time low following a winless 0-12 campaign.

Where others saw misery, Jones envisioned an opportunity for something special.

“You have someone who is an NFL head coach, turned down an NFL head coaching job to take the head coaching job for the University of Hawaii football program. I mean, when could that ever happen again? And so it showed, I think, his deep connection to this place, his affinity for Hawaii,” said Kanoa Leahey, UH sports play-by-play announcer.

Jones’ skill as a football mastermind helped shape the famed “Run N’ Shoot” offense, known for lighting up the scoreboard and keeping defenses scrambling. The concept has become the standard around the state.

“The impact of the success at and his application of the run and shoot offense has a lot to do with the run and shoot now being just sort of part of the, you know, part of the fabric of football in Hawaii,” Leahey said. “That’s why it hits us so deeply, is we have tied a lot of, of those wonderful indelible memories to the legacy of June Jones.”

In his first year at UH, the ‘Bows went 9-4 for the best single-season turnaround in NCAA history and the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) title, which earned him National Coach of the Year honors.

Jones’ 76 victories also make him the winningest coach in Manoa’s program history. He led UH to six bowl games and coached three 10+-win seasons, including an undefeated 12-0 regular season and trip to the Allstate Sugar Bowl in 2007.

“When he asked me to be a part of his staff, I obviously knew of the aura in terms of his coaching legacy, but then when you started to see the greatest turnaround in NCAA history, the June for governor stickers, the Eddie would go, June would throw, you started to realized you were kind of part of something that was larger than life. It was because of his love for Hawaii,” said Rich Miano, longtime assistant coach on Jones’ staff.

Jones’ teams captured two WAC titles (1999 & 2007) and his run-and-shoot offense produced record-breaking quarterbacks, most notably Heisman Trophy finalist Colt Brennan and current UH football head coach Timmy Chang.

“When you lose somebody of that importance, it does hit home,” Chang said. “I’m very grateful to have known him, to have been mentored by him, to call him friend and just very thankful for the opportunities that he has given me and my family. I can’t not thank him and he will be missed.”

Chang added, “What a great time to have a man that believed in me, believed in my teammates, and just uplift us to make us believe that we could be heroic. And in doing so, we would inspire not just our teammates, but others, our whole community and the whole state and a whole fan base.”

“His record, his legacy speaks for itself,” Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said. “His impact on Hawaii was more than significant. In fact, he took us to a place we’d never been before in that Sugar Bowl year with that undefeated season in 2007. So being the winningest coach in one level speaks for itself. But he was a guy who really loved Hawaii.”

Former UH basketball player Artie Wilson grew up with Jones in Portland, Oregon. Living just minutes away from each other, they had a bond that could never be broken.

“There was a lot of racial tension in the late ’60s, but that did not impact us. Our friendship survived all of it,” Wilson said.

The two would eventually both make their way to Hawaii as athletes and remain in the islands.

“June did not fake the aloha. June didn’t flash the shaka because everybody told him that’s what to do,” Wilson said. “When June talked about aloha, when June gave a shaka, that was real. That was genuine.”

Jones coached five All-Americans, 52 all-conference performers and 16 NFL Draft picks. A UH quarterback from 1973-74, he also started his coaching career at Hawaii as a graduate assistant in 1983.

Jones agreed to become the next offensive coordinator at Kapolei High School in 2016.

He was most recently the offensive coordinator of the Seattle Sea Dragons.

Jones also applied for the ‘Bows head coach again in 2022. At the time, he said the program was worse than it was when he came in 1999.

In 2024, he was inducted into the UH Sports Circle of Honor, enshrining the unprecedented contributions of a leader who never backed down from a challenge.

“His legacy will be that whether you consider him a local boy or not. When he wore slippers, when he wore an aloha shirt, when he represented this state, you knew he cared about it,” Miano said.

Jones coached for three years in the NFL. Jones played professionally as a quarterback in the NFL and CFL. He played football with the Oregon Ducks, Rainbow Warriors and Portland State Vikings.

 

Personal information

Born    February 19, 1953

Portland, Oregon, U.S.

Died    October 29, 2026 (aged 73)

Oregon, U.S.

Listed height   6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)

Listed weight  200 lb (91 kg)

Career information

High school     Grant (Portland)

College            Oregon (1971–1972)

Hawaii (1973–1974)

Portland State (1975–1976)

NFL draft        1977: undrafted

Career history

Playing

Atlanta Falcons (1977–1981)

Toronto Argonauts (1982)

Coaching

Hawaii (1983)

Quarterbacks coach

Houston Gamblers (1984)

Wide receivers coach

Denver Gold (1985)

Offensive coordinator

Ottawa Rough Riders (1986)

Offensive coordinator

Houston Oilers (1987–1988)

Quarterbacks coach

Detroit Lions (1989–1990)

Quarterbacks coach & wide receivers coach

Atlanta Falcons (1991–1996)

Offensive coordinator (1991–1993)

Head coach (1994–1996)

San Diego Chargers (1998)

Quarterbacks coach & interim head coach

Hawaii (1999–2007)

Head coach

SMU (2008–2014)

Head coach

Kapolei HS (HI) (2016)

Offensive coordinator

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2017–2018)

Head coach

Houston Roughnecks (2020)

Head coach

TSL Conquerors (2020)

Offensive coordinator

Seattle Sea Dragons (2023)

Offensive coordinator

Operations

Saint Louis School (HI) (2016–2017)

Athletic director

Houston Roughnecks (2020)

General manager

Awards and highlights

As head coach:

2 WAC (1999, 2007)

2 C-USA West Division (2009, 2010)

Sporting News College Football Coach of the Year (1999)

American Football Coach/Schutt Sports National COY (1999)

CNN/SI National Coach of the Year (1999)

3× WAC Coach of the Year (1999, 2006, 2007)

XFL Head Coach of the Year (2020)

Pete Banaszak obit

Former Raiders RB Pete Banaszak dies at 82

 He was not on the list.

Former Raiders running back Pete Banaszak has died, the team announced Saturday. He was 82.

“The Raiders Family mourns the passing of Pete Banaszak, whose toughness, competitive spirit, and dedication embodied a legendary era of Raiders football and made him a cherished member of the Silver and Black,” the team said in a statement. “The deepest condolences of the entire Raider Nation are with Pete’s wife Sue, daughters Rebecca and Amy, grandsons Luke, Austin, and Connor, and all of his loved ones.”

Banaszak played his entire career with the Raiders.

The team drafted him in the fifth round of the 1966 AFL Draft, and he retired after the 1978 season. He led the NFL with 16 rushing touchdowns in 1975, which remains a single-season franchise record.

He won a Super Bowl XI ring, which was the franchise’s first Super Bowl championship.

Banaszak appeared in 173 regular-season games with the Raiders and played a central role in the famous “Holy Roller” play.

Banaszak, a Wisconsin native, was inducted into the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.

He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes. He played for the Raiders in the AFL from 1966 through 1969, and in the NFL from 1970 through 1978.

Banaszak was born in Crivitz, Wisconsin, on May 21, 1944. Banaszak's father was an avid Green Bay Packers' fan, and would take Banaszak to Packers games as a child. His father had season tickets to the Packers games, which were eventually passed down to Banaszak’s sister.

He attended Crivitz High School, where he played on the football, basketball and track and field teams. Banaszak was also an honor roll student. He was a halfback and linebacker on the football team. He was all-conference on the football team.

Banaszak threw the discus on the track team, and was the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) Class C state discus champion in 1961 and 1962, setting a Class C discus record in 1962 (157 ft 6.5 in 48.01 m). He also ran the 100-yard dash and was a member of the 880-yard relay team. He was 6 ft (1.83 m) 200 lb (90.7 kg) as a senior at Crivitz.

While still a high school student, Banaszak considered becoming a Catholic priest. He had an uncle and cousin who were priests. He chose to attend college after receiving a football scholarship offer, although the priesthood was still in his mind.

The Oakland Raiders of the American Football League (AFL) selected Banaszak in the fifth round of the 1966 AFL draft, 59th overall. Banaszak played sparingly for the Raiders in 1966, with only four rushing attempts and occasionally playing special teams. In 1967, he was a reserve running back until the Raiders leading rusher Clem Daniels suffered a broken ankle against the Miami Dolphins on November 19. Banaszak started the Raiders remaining five games as a running back that season. In his first start (November 26) against defending AFL champion Kansas City Chiefs, Banaszak led the Raiders with 81 yards on 13 carries and one rushing touchdown. He also had four receptions for 27 yards. While Raiders head coach John Rauch believed Banaszak would be a capable replacement, he had no expectation that Banaszak would perform as well as he did.

Banaszak had 71 rushing yards and 56 receiving yards in a win over the Houston Oilers on December 10, 1967. He had 86 rushing yards and 73 receiving yards the following week in a win over the New York Jets, including a 72-yard reception. He started in the 1967 AFL Championship Game against the Oilers, a 40–7 victory. Banaszak rushed for 116 yards in that game on 15 carries, and had one reception for four yards. He then started in Super Bowl II against the Green Bay Packers. The Packers won 33–14. Banaszak rushed for 16 yards on six carries, but had four receptions for 69 yards, including a 40- or 41-yard reception from Daryle Lamonica. He also had a fumble in the game, after which the Packers scored; the memory of which stayed with Banaszak.

In 1968, Banaszak started 11 games and was third on the Raiders in rushing, with 362 yards on 91 carries, along with four rushing touchdowns. He also had 15 receptions for 182 yards. He had three carries for six yards and a touchdown, and one reception for 11 yards, in the 1968 AFL Championship Game; a 27–23 loss to the New York Jets. The following season (1969) Banaszak started four games, with 377 yards on 88 carries on the season. He also had 17 receptions for 119 yards and three receiving touchdowns. He had two rushing attempts and two receptions in the Raiders 17–7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 1969 AFL Championship Game. Banaszak was injured in 1970. He had only 21 rushing attempts and one reception that season; and did not start a game.

The Raiders' starting running backs during the 1970 season were Hewritt Dixon and Charlie Smith. Dixon suffered a knee injury during the 1971 preseason that would have kept him out of play until some time in October. He later joined the Raiders' taxi squad and was reportedly ready to play later in the season, but he did not play for the Raiders in 1971. Smith also was injured before the 1971 season began, and had only 11 carries that season. Banaszak and Marv Hubbard became the Raiders' starting backfield in 1971. Banaszak started all 14 games for the only time in his career. He had 563 rushing yards in 137 attempts and eight rushing touchdowns; along with 13 receptions for 128 yards. He was second on the Raiders in rushing yards (behind Hubbard) and first in rushing touchdowns.

In 1972, head coach John Madden returned Charlie Smith to the starting backfield, next to Hubbard. Banaszak did not start any games. He had 138 yards on 30 carries with one rushing touchdown; and nine receptions for 63 yards. He was a reserve again in 1973 behind Hubbard and Smith, rushing for 198 yards in 34 carries. He started one game in 1974, with 272 yards on 80 carries with five rushing touchdowns

Lawrence McCutcheon obit

Former Rams RB Lawrence McCutcheon dies at 76

 He was not on the list.

Former Rams running back Lawrence McCutcheon died Friday, the team announced. He was 76.

McCutcheon played eight seasons with the Rams (1972-79) and was a five-time Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honoree.

“It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our husband, brother, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Lawrence McCutcheon,” the McCutcheon family said in a statement. “Clutch passed away on Oct. 23 with family at his bedside following a long, courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

“Through a decade-long playing career and another 32 years in the Rams’ front office, Clutch earned the respect and admiration of teammates, opposing players, colleagues and fans alike. Clutch will be missed and remembered forever.

“We are thankful to those in our community who have reached out with love and support. In lieu of flowers, we ask that those wishing to honor Clutch please donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.”

McCutcheon also played for Denver, Seattle and Buffalo, retiring after the 1981 season.

He finished his career with 1,521 carries for 6,578 yards and 26 touchdowns, adding 198 catches for 1,799 yards and 13 touchdowns. McCutcheon played 109 games with 82 starts.

“The Los Angeles Rams are deeply saddened by the passing of Lawrence McCutcheon,” the team said in a statement. “His impact on this organization spanned generations, and he embodied what it means to be a Ram. A five-time Pro Bowl running back and once the franchise’s all-time leading rusher, he later served in our front office as a scout and director of player personnel. His legacy is woven into the fabric of our team.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the McCutcheon family as we celebrate a life that gave so much to the Rams and to our game.”

A running back in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams from 1972 to 1980, the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks in 1980, and 1981 with the Buffalo Bills, reuniting with former Rams head coach Chuck Knox. He played college football for Colorado State. In 1974, he played at mixed doubles tennis exhibition match in Clarement, California with Tracy Austin against Elgin Baylor and partner Lea Antonopolis.

Born and raised in Plainview, Texas, McCutcheon graduated from Plainview High School in 1968 and played college football at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, then a member of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC).

In Super Bowl XIV, McCutcheon threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith, giving the Rams a 19–17 lead over the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the Rams went on to lose the game, 31–19.

In 1977, McCutcheon was then rumoured to be in a relationship with the Supremes member Scherrie Payne. McCutcheon was promoted to director of player personnel of the Rams in May 2003, a role he held until 2016. His son Daylon McCutcheon played cornerback for the Cleveland Browns.

Career information

High school     Plainview (TX)

College            Colorado State Rams

NFL draft        1972: 3rd round, 70th overall pick

Career history

Los Angeles Rams (1972–1979)

Denver Broncos (1980)

Seattle Seahawks (1980)

Buffalo Bills (1981)

Awards and highlights

Second-team All-Pro (1974)

5× Pro Bowl (1973–1977)

Career NFL statistics

Rushing attempts         1,521

Rushing yards 6,578

Rushing touchdowns   26

Cornell Green obit

Cowboys great Cornell Green dies at 86

 

He was not on the list.

The Dallas Cowboys have unfortunately lost another great. Cornell Green, who was part of the legendary Doomsday Defense's first generation, passed away today. He was 86.

Many consider Green one of the greatest defensive backs in franchise history, worthy of the Cowboys' exclusive Ring of Honor. But his path to the team was certainly unconventional. During a time when player personnel director Gil Brandt searched high and low for talent, he found a hidden gem in Green.

"We purposely looked for players with speed," Brandt once stated. "We brought the fast guys in and then some played on defense and some played on offense."

Green grew up in California playing basketball and was named all-state both at El Cerrito High School and then for Contra Costa College. From there, he transferred to Utah State, where he earned All-American honors in 1961 and 1962. His 1,067 rebounding total is still the Aggies' career record, and he is the school's sixth leading scorer as well with 1,890 points.

Although he had planned to join the NBA, having been drafted in 1962 by the Chicago Zephyrs, Green instead was offered an invitation to attend the Cowboys' training camp that same year. Figuring he'd give it a try, he remarkably earned a spot on the team despite only playing only one season of football during his junior year of high school

"We had a lot of those guys that played for the Cowboys," Randy White said for the Deep Blue documentary Dirty Dozen. "A lot of them that Gil Brandt found were basketball players and ended up being great. Cornell Green, a bunch of them ended up being great football players."

Over the next 13 seasons, Green never missed a game, and after his rookie campaign he started 167 of 168 outings. He lined up at cornerback through the first eight years, and led the Cowboys in interceptions four times, earned three Pro Bowl invites and garnered two first-team All-Pro honors. In 1970, Green was then asked to move to safety, where he was named a Pro Bowler again in 1971 and 1972. Overall, he played in two NFL Championship Games, as well as Super Bowl V, before helping the Cowboys win the Lombardi Trophy with a 24-3 victory over the Dolphins in Super Bowl VI.

Said Calvin Hill several years ago, "Cornell Green shut out (Miami wide receiver Paul) Warfield. Warfield was like a mega-bomb, and the fact that we were able to prevent him from being who he was – in my mind, the greatest receiver I've ever seen – was remarkable."

"He left a legacy," said Charlie Waters during an interview for the Deep Blue documentary Doomsday II: The Dawn of America's Team. "He was so well respected by all the defensive guys."

After a career spent entirely with the Cowboys, Green retired following the 1974 season and, more than 50 years later, is still tied for fifth in team record books with 34 interceptions. He then became a scout for Dallas and later worked with the Denver Broncos, earning the AFC Scout of the Year Award in 2010.

 

Awards and highlights

Super Bowl champion (VI)

5× Pro Bowl (1965, 1966, 1967, 1971, 1972)

3× First-team All-Pro (1966, 1967, 1969)

Second-team All-Pro (1968)

NFL All-Rookie Team (1962)

Dallas Cowboys 25th Anniversary Team

3× All-Skyline (1960, 1961, 1962)

Skyline Conference MVP (1960)

2× All-American (1961, 1962)

Utah State University Hall of Fame

Utah State Aggies No. 24 Retired

Career NFL statistics

Interceptions    34

Interception yards       552

Total touchdowns        4

Fumble recoveries       7

Allen Bailey obit

Ex-Chiefs DE Allen Bailey Passes Away at 37, Confirms Former NFL LB & Teammate

 He was not on the list.

Allen Bailey was not your regular defensive lineman. The Kansas City Chiefs lineman was known as ‘Hulk’ by his teammates for the right reasons. At 6-foot-3 and 288 pounds, he was an intimidating sight to behold. In August 2017, Chris Jones remarked on a great play made by Bailey against the 49ers in a preseason game.

Bailey broke through the San Francisco’s O-line to make a tackle, and Jones said, per BJ Kissel, “The Hulk is back in business, baby!” Through many such plays, Bailey quietly shaped himself into a contributor for the Chiefs’ defense.

Unfortunately, the Chiefs were met with tough news on October 20. Former linebacker and Bailey’s college teammate, Colin McCarthy, reported that Bailey had passed away. He was 37 years old.

“Lost a fellow brother today… prayers to AB family! Love you Big Cuzzo!” McCarthy wrote on X.

Bailey spent eight seasons in Kansas City after the Chiefs drafted him in 2011. He came to the team after a silent but promising stint in college with the Miami Hurricanes, where he was a four-time letterwinner and two-time All-ACC star. Allen played eight seasons with the Chiefs, and then went on to play with the Atlanta Falcons.

Bailey’s battles started long before the NFL. Growing up on Sapelo Island in Georgia. he took an early-morning boat and two buses just to get to school. High school football made things harder: when the last boat left before practice ended, he stayed overnight with a teammate’s family in Darien. His mother used to work for a retreat spot called Reynold’s Mansion, while his father was a first mate on a ferry called Katie Underwood. The family lived in a trailer on Hog Hammock.

Per the Miami Hurricane, the population in Bailey’s community was only 80. At the University of Miami, he was going to be among more than 14,000. But being among all those people only helped him come out of his shell.

“I was kind of shy. But football opened doors for me; it helped me meet new people. Football gave me that bond,” Bailey said.

Bailey was a sought-after player in high school. Alabama also tried to recruit him, as did Georgia and Florida. Ultimately, he chose to sign with Miami.

The nickname that stuck to him was “The Incredible Hulk”. Then-Chiefs assistant coach Britt Reid is credited with giving it to him, and teammates tied it to his build.

“It’s perfect,” defensive end Dee Ford said. “Looks like the Hulk. Plays like the Hulk. He’s a complete player, man. He’s powerful, fast. He’s just a freak. You see him do certain stuff … there’s a select few guys in the league like that.”

Teammate Jaye Howard put it just as simply:

“That’s him, man, that’s him,” Howard said of Bailey. “Before the game, they even give him the green Gatorade. That’s the Hulk right there, man. He’s cut. I’ve never seen anything like it. His strength, I don’t care how big a dude is; he can find a way to get him on the ground, just throw him and shed him.”

Away from the field, the people who played with him described a different side. Then-Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson called him “kind of a gentle giant” and expressed how much Bailey meant to their defensive line and defense.

Allen flew under the radar in his first three seasons, then broke out in 2014 with 41 tackles and five sacks. That earned him a four-year, $25 million extension in 2014. In the January 2016 playoffs, he recorded four tackles and two sacks in a 30-0 win over the Houston Texans.

A torn pectoral muscle cost Allen most of the 2016 season. But he came back in 2017 and led the Chiefs’ defensive linemen in snaps through the first three games.

Bailey was released by the Falcons in February 2021 and ended his NFL career with 248 tackles, 22 sacks, four forced fumbles and seven fumble recoveries.

Remembering Allen Bailey Beyond the Football Field

Bailey started giving back to his hometown in 2012, while still with the Chiefs. His Allen Bailey Foundation supports families across Georgia’s McIntosh, Glynn, and Camden counties. Its Southeast Skillz camp became McIntosh County’s first free football camp, drawing young players from as far away as Virginia.

The foundation also distributes hundreds of backpacks to schoolchildren, and resources for student-athletes like the Champions of Tomorrow Scholarship and Legacy Builders Fund.

The foundation runs the Don’t Be Jive Turkey Drive. Started in 2016, the drive gives more than 300 turkeys to families before Thanksgiving. The need is real: the foundation says nearly 60% of McIntosh County families rely on free or reduced-price school meals.

Back on Sapelo Island, his hometown took pride in him. His aunt, Cornelia Bailey, said as much in 2008:

“Allen is our celebrity. When he comes home, everybody wants to see him,” she said.

The children of Sapelo Island and McIntosh County are the ones his foundation was built for, and the work that carries his name is what Bailey leaves behind.

Bailey was born in Sapelo Island, Georgia. He attended McIntosh County Academy in McIntosh County, Georgia and played linebacker and fullback. As a senior, he played in only four games due to a stress fracture in his back and had one sack. As a junior, he had 138 tackles and three sacks. He also had 323 yards on 51 carries with four touchdowns as a fullback.

 

Career history

Kansas City Chiefs (2011–2018)

Atlanta Falcons (2019–2020)

Awards and highlights

First-team All-ACC (2009)

Second-team All-ACC (2010)

Career NFL statistics

Total tackles    248

Sacks   22

Forced fumbles            4

Fumble recoveries       7

Chuck Amato obit

Former NC State football head coach Chuck Amato passes away at 80

Chuck Amato, a former NC State head coach and the only coach to lead the Wolfpack to double-digit wins in a single season, has passed away at the age of 80 after a long battle with throat cancer.

 

He was not on the list.

RALEIGH, N.C. -- Former NC State football coach and Wolfpack legend Chuck Amato has passed away at the age of 80. The legendary Wolfpack coach previously battled with throat cancer and passed away after being in hospice care for several months.

Amato served as the NC State head coach for seven years, four of which were with Philip Rivers as the quarterback. He reached five bowl games in those seven seasons, finishing with a 49-37 (25-31 ACC) overall record and earning four bowl wins. His best year with the Wolfpack was in 2002, when he helped guide the Wolfpack to an 11-3 record and a Gator Bowl victory over Notre Dame.

During his time in Raleigh, Amato helped the Wolfpack get 20-plus players drafted to the NFL, including first-round selections like Rivers, Mario Williams, Manny Lawson and John McCargo. Williams was the only player in Wolfpack history to go No. 1 overall in the modern era of the NFL after a breakout season with the Wolfpack under Amato's defense in the 2006 NFL Draft.

Known by Wolfpack faithful as "Chuck the Chest," Amato was a larger than life personality for the Wolfpack during his time. His time in Raleigh produced several legendary players in the red and white, but also saw assistant coaches like National Champion Curt Cignetti, ACC Champion Manny Diaz, C-USA Champion Doc Holliday, NFL head coach Marc Trestman, Norm Chow and several others go on to have head coaching careers.

Prior to his coaching days with the Wolfpack, Amato played linebacker for NC State under legendary head coach Earle Edwards from 1965-67. Amato was a captain for the defense as a senior in 1967 and won multiple ACC Championships as a wrestler at heavyweight, going undefeated in 1966 and 1968.

He then returned to the Pack to get his start in coaching as a grad assistant under Al Michaels and Lou Holtz, eventually serving as a defensive backs coach under Holtz and a defensive coordinator with Bo Rein until 1979.

Amato then went on to coach at Arizona for two seasons before starting a long stint with Florida State under another legendary head coach in Bobby Bowden. The two worked together for nearly two decades from 1982 through 1999, with Amato coaching the defensive line for four seasons before taking over as the associate head coach and coaching either the defensive line or linebackers until he left for NC State prior to the 2000 season.

Following his coaching career that ended at Akron in 2017, Amato returned home to Raleigh and hosted The Chuck Amato Show from Amedeo's prior to our live shows in the same room. Amato was truly a 1-of-1 personality and changed a room when he walked into it. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his wife, Peggy, his daughters, LuGina and Selena, and the entire Amato family. He was beloved by the NC State family and no one will ever replace that legendary raspy voice that roamed the Wolfpack sidelines.

 

Playing career

1965–1967      NC State

Position           Linebacker

Coaching career (HC unless noted)

1969–1970      Easton Area HS (PA) (assistant)

1971–1972      NC State (GA)

1973–1975      NC State (DB)

1976–1979      NC State (DC/LB)

1980–1981      Arizona (LB)

1982–1985      Florida State (DL)

1986–1995      Florida State (AHC/DL)

1996–1999      Florida State (AHC/LB)

2000–2006      NC State

2007–2009      Florida State (assoc. HC/LB)

2012–2017      Akron (AHC/DC)

Head coaching record

Overall            49–37

Bowls  4–1

John Beake obit

Broncos mourn passing of former GM and two-time Super Bowl champion John Beake

 He was not on the list.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Broncos have lost a pivotal figure in the franchise's history.

Former general manager John Beake, who helped guide the Broncos to a pair of world championships and five Super Bowl appearances, has passed away. He was 87 years old.

"The Broncos are saddened by the passing of longtime executive John Beake, who made an enduring impact on our organization during more than two decades with the team," the organization said in a statement. "John helped guide the Broncos to five Super Bowl appearances, including back-to-back World Championships, and was a respected leader throughout one of the most successful eras in franchise history. Following his time in Denver, he remained an influential figure through his work with the NFL and on the Broncos Ring of Fame Committee. Our deepest condolences are with his wife, Marcia, his sons, Chip and Chris, and the entire Beake family."

The Broncos' general manager for 14 years, Beake served in the role during the Broncos' Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII victories. He also guided the team's front office during three Super Bowl appearances in the 1980s, and he helped craft teams that won seven division titles and made 12 playoff appearances across his tenure.

Beake began his 22-year tenure with the organization in 1979 and held multiple personnel roles — including director of pro personnel and director of player personnel — before assuming the role of general manager. In 1983, Beake helped to trade for future Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, who would become the winningest quarterback in franchise history.

At the end of his Broncos tenure in 2000, Beake transitioned into a role as the Broncos' vice president of administration. He then joined the NFL's league office as the vice president of player development and the managing director of NFL Europe's football operations. In 2002, he advanced to vice president of football development and operations.

In the years after his retirement, Beake was a longtime member of the Broncos' Ring of Fame committee, helping to elect players to the franchise's highest honor.

Prior to his time in Denver, Beake coached for both the Kansas City Chiefs (1968-74) and the New Orleans Saints (1976-1977). With both franchises, he worked as an offensive assistant to Pro Football Hall of Famer Hank Stram. While in Kansas City, Beake earned his first world championship title via a Super Bowl IV win. When his Broncos later won Super Bowl XXXII, he became the first upper-level administrator to earn Super Bowl titles as both an administrator and coach, according to the NFL.

Beake also served as the offensive coordinator at Colorado State University for a season; worked as an assistant football coach and head basketball coach for New York Military Academy; and led Nyack (N.Y.) High School to three league championships as head coach.

A New Jersey native, Beake graduated from Long Branch (N.J.) High School in 1957 and lettered in football, baseball and track. He was a four-time letter winner in football at Trenton (N.J.) State College before earning a master's degree from Penn State University. He was inducted into the Trenton State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982.

All told, Beake — a two-time Super Bowl champion with the Broncos — worked in the NFL for more than 30 years and spent four-plus decades in football roles.

Beake is survived by his wife, Marcia; his children, Chip and Chris; and his grandchildren, Colin, Giselle, Jack, Emilie, Madeline, Vivienne and Pau. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Jerilyn.

 

Career information

College            Trenton State College

Pennsylvania State University

Career history

Coaching

Penn State (1962)

Graduate assistant

New York Military Academy (1963)

Assistant coach

Nyack High School (1964–1967)

Head coach

Kansas City Chiefs (1968–1974)

Offensive backfield coach

Colorado State (1975)

Offensive coordinator

New Orleans Saints (1976–1977)

Offensive backfield coach

Operations

Denver Broncos (1979–1980)

Director of pro personnel

Denver Broncos (1981–1983)

Director of player personnel

Denver Broncos (1984)

Assistant general manager

Denver Broncos (1985–1998)

General manager

Denver Broncos (1999–2000)

Vice president of administration

NFL Europe (2001–2003)

Managing director of football operations

Awards and highlights

3× Super Bowl champion (IV, XXXII, XXXIII)

Jon Morris obit

Patriots Mourn the Passing of Hall of Fame Center Jon Morris

Seven-time league All-Star played 11 seasons with the Patriots and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2011.

 

He was not on the list.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Patriots are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Patriots Hall of Fame center Jon Morris. He was 84 (1942-2026).

Morris, whose Patriots career spanned 11 seasons from 1964 through 1974, was one of the franchise's earliest stars and among the most accomplished centers of his era. He appeared in 130 games for the Patriots and earned seven consecutive league All-Star selections, representing Boston in six AFL All-Star Games from 1964 through 1969 before becoming the franchise's first NFL Pro Bowl selection in 1970.

"Jon Morris was one of the great players who helped build the foundation of our franchise," said Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft. "For generations of Patriots fans, he represented the toughness, dedication and pride of those early teams. It meant so much to me to call Jon in 2011 and tell him he had been selected to our Hall of Fame, ensuring that his contributions would always be remembered. On behalf of our family and the entire Patriots organization, we extend our deepest condolences to Jon's family, friends and former teammates."

A standout at Holy Cross, Morris was selected by the Boston Patriots in the fourth round of the 1964 AFL Draft and by the Green Bay Packers in the second round of the NFL Draft. He chose to remain in New England, beginning a professional career that would span 15 seasons. An Associated Press first-team All-AFL selection in 1966, Morris also earned recognition on the All-Time AFL second team and the Patriots' 50th Anniversary Team.

Morris anchored the Patriots' offensive line during an era that featured fellow Patriots Hall of Famers Gino Cappelletti, Babe Parilli and Jim Nance. After concluding his playing career with Detroit (1975-77) and Chicago (1978), Morris returned to the Patriots as a radio color commentator from 1979 through 1987, later providing NFL analysis for NBC.

In 2011, Morris became the first player selected for the Patriots Hall of Fame by the organization's senior selection committee, established to recognize deserving players from the franchise's early years. Upon learning of his selection, Morris called the honor "the crowning achievement of my football life."

The Patriots extend their heartfelt sympathies to all who knew and loved him.

The Morris family will hold private services. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for any donations to be made to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism in Jon's name.

Morris attended College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, graduating in 1964. He started at center and linebacker for three seasons of college football with the Holy Cross Crusaders, and was team captain as a senior. As a senior, he was 6 ft 3 in (1.9 m) and 225 pounds (102 kg).

He was named both the Holy Cross Varsity Club Athlete of the Year and Holy Cross Lineman of the Year in the 1963 season. Morris was selected by the Associated Press (AP) at center to its second-team All-East team in 1962, and was selected first-team AP All-East center in his senior year (1963). Morris was a two-time first-team All-New England selection.

Morris was a co-captain of the North team in the Senior Bowl, playing center, and played in the College All-Star Game against the Chicago Bears in August 1964. He was named a second-team Catholic College All-American at center his senior year. He was named a second-team center on the Central Press Captains' All-American team, behind the first team's Dick Butkus.

After retiring from the NFL in 1978, Morris became a radio broadcast color commentator for the Patriots, working alongside play-by-play radio broadcaster Gil Santos. Morris worked as the color commentator on Patriots radio broadcasts from 1979 to 1987, followed by color analysis of NFL games for NBC television. In 1987, his radio broadcast partner was the legendary Curt Gowdy, winner of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Pete Rozelle Award and the namesake of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame's Curt Gowdy Media Award.

 

Personal information

Born    April 5, 1942

Washington, D.C., U.S.

Died    October 15, 2026 (aged 84)

Listed height   6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)

Listed weight  254 lb (115 kg)

Career information

High school     Gonzaga College (Washington, D.C.)

College            Holy Cross (1961–1963)

NFL draft        1964: 2nd round, 27th overall pick

AFL draft        1964: 4th round, 29th overall pick

Career history

Boston / New England Patriots (1964–1974)

Detroit Lions (1975–1977)

Chicago Bears (1978)

Awards and highlights

First-team All-AFL (1966)

4× Second-team All-AFL (1964, 1965, 1967, 1969)

6× AFL All-Star (1964–1969)

Pro Bowl (1970)

AFL All-Time Second-team

Boston Patriots All-1960s Team

New England Patriots 35th Anniversary Team

New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team

New England Patriots Hall of Fame

First-team All-Eastern (1963)

Second-team All-Eastern (1962)

Career AFL/NFL statistics

Games played  182

Games started  167

Fumble recoveries       2

Mike Ditka - #366

Mike Ditka dies at age 86: Chicago Bears icon shaped NFL as Hall of Fame player, larger-than-life coach

 

He was number 366 on the list.

A flat-topped freight train from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, Mike Ditka became a Chicago sports icon.

He was a tight end made of iron, a rumbling wrecking ball who cemented himself as one of the greatest at his position in NFL chronicle. Years later, he returned to the Second City as a coach; a slick-haired, thick-'stached leader of men who was at the forefront of a 1985 Bears Super Bowl triumph that stands as one of the most heralded seasons in league history.

He was "Iron Mike," he was "Da Coach," he was a Hall of Famer who died on Friday. Ditka was 86.

The death was announced by Jarrett Payton, son of Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton, who played under Ditka in Chicago.

"It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, Mike Ditka," Ditka's family said in a statement, via Jarrett Payton. "While the world knew Mike as a Hall of Fame football player, legendary coach, and leader of the Chicago Bears’ Super Bowl XX championship team, we knew him as the heart of our family. Mike will be missed beyond measure and remembered forever."

Enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 after a decorated playing career, Ditka was amid a storied coaching run with the Bears at the time of his induction. As a player, he was a 1963 NFL champion with the Bears and a Super Bowl VI winner with the Cowboys. He went on to claim a pair of Super Bowls in the coaching ranks, winning Super Bowl XII as a Dallas assistant under Tom Landry before he was carried off the field following the Bears' Super Bowl XX conquest in January of 1986.

On the field, Ditka was a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time first-team All-Pro who played 12 NFL seasons: six with Chicago, two with Philadelphia and four with Dallas. The 1961 Associated Press NFL Rookie of the Year, Ditka was later recognized as a member of the league's 75th Anniversary and 100th Anniversary All-Time Teams. His playing career spanned 158 regular-season games, producing 427 receptions for 5,812 receiving yards and 43 touchdowns.

Ditka was an NFL head coach for 14 seasons (1982-1992 with the Bears; 1997-99 for the Saints) and was twice voted AP NFL Coach of the Year (1985 and '88). Ditka produced a 121-95 career record. He and fellow Hall of Famer Tom Flores stand as the only people to win Super Bowls as a player, assistant coach and head coach.

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of legendary and treasured Chicago Bear and Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka," the Bears said in a statement on Friday.

"Mike's impact on the Chicago Bears organization, over decades as a player, coach, and proud icon and ambassador for our organization, is immeasurable. His integral role in bringing world championships to our city and our franchise, both as a player and as our coach, established prominence and excellence at a world-class level, but also created a lifetime of cherished memories in the hearts and minds of Bears fans that will last for generations."

After decades of competing in NFL, Ditka continued to entertain football fans by analyzing the league. With his signature persona shining through the TV airwaves, it was a fitting coda for an extraordinary football life.

"Mike Ditka epitomized football over so many years. He brought intensity, authenticity, and an unmistakable personality to everything he did," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement on Friday. "As a Hall of Fame player, Super Bowl-winning coach with his beloved and iconic Bears, and as a broadcaster, Mike served as an ambassador for the game and inspired generations of fans. Through his work with the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund, Mike was a champion for taking care of those who helped build our game. We extend our deepest condolences to Diana and the Ditka family."

Born on Oct. 18, 1939 in Carnegie, Pennsylvania, Ditka honed his toughness in the Keystone State. He starred at Aliquippa High before shining in college at Pittsburgh.

Ditka was a first-round pick of the Bears in the 1961 NFL Draft, taken fifth overall, and was the eighth overall pick of the 1961 AFL Draft, selected by the Oilers. He chose Chicago and made an instant impact, piling up statistics from the get-go and pulverizing the opposition in the process.

In 1961, Ditka turned in one of the greatest debut seasons in NFL lore. Earning Pro Bowl honors right off the bat, he set rookie TE records in receptions (56), receiving yards (1,076) and receiving touchdowns (12) over 14 games, with all three figures leading the entire league at the position. Keith Jackson broke the receptions record in his rookie season of 1988, while Brock Bowers finally topped the yardage mark in 2024, 63 years after Ditka took the league by storm. Meanwhile, Ditka's TD figure remains unmatched among rookie tight ends.

Ditka still produced in phenomenal and standard-setting fashion throughout his career, but his rookie campaign would mark the only year in which he tallied 1,000 yards or double-digit touchdowns. Nonetheless, he led all NFL tight ends in receptions in each of his first four seasons. For the position, he was a statistical marvel, but just as much regarded for his brutal blocking and the punishment he doled out to those who tried to stop him after a catch.

Unfortunately for Ditka -- whose Bears teammates included future Hall of Famers like Dick Butkus, Gale Sayers and Bill George -- his individual greatness did not parallel team success on an annual basis. During Ditka's Chicago tenure from 1961-1966, the Bears logged one postseason appearance, though they did make the most of it: winning the NFL West Division prior to besting the Giants, 14-10, in the NFL Championship on Dec. 29, 1963, at Wrigley Field. It was the Bears' first NFL title since 1946, and they wouldn't claim another for 22 years (with Ditka playing a monumental role in that triumph, as well).

Across six autumns as a player in Chicago, Ditka racked up 316 receptions, 4,503 yards and 34 touchdowns -- averaging 52.7 catches for 750.5 yards and 5.7 TDs per 14-game season. Iron Mike never missed a game for the Bears, but he didn't feel his devotion and production were supported by his paycheck. Ahead of the 1967 season, Ditka was traded by the Bears to the Eagles -- though it wasn't exactly that simple. With the NFL-AFL merger still to come, Ditka had inked a contract that offseason with the Oilers, who had originally selected him in that league's draft when the tight end was coming out of Pitt. Ultimately, the Eagles picked up Ditka's Oilers contract and compensated the Bears by shipping quarterback Jack Concannon to Chicago. In one of the earliest of many quips from Ditka to the Chicago press, the tight end famously said of head coach and owner George Halas that he "threw nickels around like manhole covers" in reference to Halas' frugalness.

Ditka's days with the Bears, of course, were far from over -- many of his finest chapters were still yet to be written. As a player, though, Ditka moved on from Chicago and found his way to Philadelphia. His two seasons playing back in his home state were largely disappointing. He played just 20 total games and it could be argued he wasn't the team's top tight end in either year, as he was pushed by Jim Kelly and Fred Hill for that distinction.

Ditka was traded again before the season of '69, this time to the Cowboys, who would prove pivotal in resurrecting his playing career and setting up his coaching days.

Ditka's last four seasons as a player were spent in Dallas, with the initial three seeing him serve primarily as a backup. Still, he contributed and was part of a pair of Super Bowl berths: the franchise's first appearance, a Super Bowl V loss to the Colts, and then the franchise's first win, a Super Bowl VI victory over the Dolphins. In Dallas' 24-3 triumph over Miami in January of 1972, Ditka hauled in a 7-yard touchdown pass from Roger Staubach to put the finishing touches on the blowout. Ditka set a then-franchise record for TEs with 30 receptions in 1971 and then started all 14 games for the 1972 Cowboys, who made it to the NFC Championship Game.

In March of 1973, Ditka announced his retirement as a player and was hired on to Landry's staff as an assistant coach. From 1973 through 1981, Ditka was a mainstay coaching special teams and receivers. Along the way, Ditka collected a second Super Bowl ring as part of the Cowboys' 1977 championship squad, which defeated the Broncos, 27-10, in Super Bowl XII.

After more than a decade with the Cowboys as a player and an assistant, Ditka departed Dallas and returned to Chicago as head coach in 1982. Ditka's Bears homecoming saw him take over a franchise that had been to the playoffs just twice since he was part of the 1963 championship squad and had not won a postseason contest in that span. A 3-6 showing in the strike-shortened '82 campaign marked Ditka's first season at the Bears' helm, but a turnaround was afoot.

In 1984, the Bears emerged as NFL heavyweights, winning the NFC Central for the first of five straight seasons and advancing to the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers. Then came 1985 and a Bears season that would see a cavalcade of Chicago characters run roughshod over the league, dominating foes, entertaining fans from the Windy City throughout the world and forming a champion that would live on in legend.

Ditka's offense and Buddy Ryan's defense clashed at practice and the two coaches butted heads in decision-making, but amid the chaos, a championship squad emerged. Boasting a slew of future Hall of Famers such as defensive linemen Richard Dent, Dan Hampton and Steve McMichael, linebacker Mike Singletary and one of the greatest of all time in running back Walter Payton, the '85 Bears had the talent to dominate and the personalities to garner headlines.

Revered in Chicago, the Bears were stars across the country and beyond, as Payton, brash quarterback Jim McMahon and rookie defensive tackle/part-time fullback William "Refrigerator" Perry became commercial fixtures. And Ditka, himself, never shied away from endorsements.

All the hoopla and hype didn't deter domination. The Bears won their first 12 games in 1985 before suffering their only defeat of the season: a 38-24 setback on Monday Night Football to Dan Marino's Dolphins. After ravaging the Giants and Rams with shutout wins in the Divisional Round and NFC Championship Game, respectively, the Bears expected to see the Dolphins again in the Super Bowl. Instead, they found the Patriots, who had upset Miami in the AFC title game.

Having already walloped the Pats, 20-7, in Week 2 of the regular season, the Bears were practically anointed champs before the game kicked off. And Chicago did indeed annihilate New England, 46-10, which was the most lopsided victory in Super Bowl history at the time. The defense bullied and battered the Patriots, forcing six turnovers, recording seven sacks and allowing a meager 123 yards, with just 7 on the ground.

The only unfortunate aspect of an otherwise-sterling evening for the Bears in New Orleans spawned from the victors' final touchdown: a 1-yard rushing score by Perry, not Payton. For so long, the man beloved by Chicago and known as "Sweetness" had carried the team through bleak seasons. On this triumphant night, though, Payton was bottled up, as the Patriots' game plan clearly revolved around stopping the superstar back. They did, holding Payton to just 61 yards on 22 carries, but it opened up the rest of the offense. That said, when Chicago got to first-and-goal at the 1-yard line late in the third quarter of a blowout, many saw a perfect opportunity for Payton to get his just due with a Super Bowl TD. Instead, Ditka called Perry's number, giving the rookie D-lineman a chance to celebrate. It was an oft-criticized decision that Ditka eventually admitted he regretted.

"It never, ever crossed my mind. Now is that wrong of me? Yes, probably. It should've crossed my mind, but it didn't," Ditka said on ESPN's The '85 Bears. "I didn't think it would ever mean anything to, I think, the greatest Bear ever. But then it did, so I was wrong. That, I regret a lot. I really do regret it a lot, because I didn't realize it was important to him, and it was very important to him."

Nonetheless, it was one of the greatest nights in Chicago sports history, as the Bears celebrated their Super Bowl XX glory by carrying Ditka and Ryan off the field. It was Chicago's first major sports title in 22 years.

From 1984-88, the Bears ran the NFC Central, winning the division each year. But they followed their Super Bowl victory with back-to-back losses in the Divisional Round. Chicago returned to the NFC Championship Game in the 1988 campaign, but lost to the eventual Super Bowl champion 49ers. Though the Bears' '85 team will forever live in NFL lore and is seen by some as the greatest Super Bowl champion of them all, it was the Niners who were the team of the ‘80s. Why Ditka's Bears were unable to win more than one title is an argument that will rage on for as long as the game is played in Chicago. Days after the Super Bowl beatdown of New England, Ryan left to be the head coach of the Eagles. Ditka and many of his players racked up endorsements, and as their celebrity grew, some believe success was taken for granted. McMahon's never-say-die playing style saw him injured often. For whatever reason, one Lombardi was all the Bears got.

After a 5-11 season in 1992, Ditka's memorable run as Bears head coach concluded with his firing.

"This has been a kind of interesting day in my life," Ditka told reporters after his ouster, as chronicled in The '85 Bears. "I don't think I've ever had one like this. I hope I never have another one like this."

Unfortunately for Ditka, he would.

After four years away from the sidelines, Ditka returned as head coach of the Saints. His three-season run in the Big Easy was a big bust, with his teams going a combined 15-33. His tenure with the Saints will forever be linked to Ricky Williams. Williams was the Saints' only pick of the 1999 NFL Draft, as they traded the rest -- as well as their first- and third-round selections in the 2000 draft -- to move into the No. 5 slot and nab the Heisman Trophy-winning running back out of Texas. The two then famously appeared on the cover of ESPN The Magazine dressed as bride (Williams in a wedding dress) and groom (Ditka in a tuxedo). The marriage lasted but one year, as Williams was plagued by injuries in his rookie campaign and Ditka was dismissed following a three-win season.

Ditka would remain a staple on Sundays, but it was as a game day analyst. He never coached again.

Following his firing from the Bears, Ditka joined NBC, and after he was dismissed from the Saints, he headed to CBS. He later made his way to ESPN and was a familiar face for years across the network's football coverage, whether it be on NFL Live, Sunday NFL Countdown or Monday Night Football.

Ditka's TV time wasn't limited to commercials and NFL analysis, though. Often playing himself, Ditka had guest appearances on TV shows such as Coach, According to Jim, Entourage and even the series finale of Cheers. He also had a major part alongside Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall in the comedy film Kicking & Screaming.

For all his fame as a player, coach, analyst and actor, it's arguable that his legend grew largest on Saturday Night Live -- when he wasn't even on the show. Cherished and idolized during "Bill Swerski's Superfans" skits -- featuring Joe Mantegna, George Wendt, Chris Farley, Mike Myers and Robert Smigel -- Ditka was "Da Coach," put alongside Bulls superstar Michael Jordan as an unbeatable, unconquerable being who transcended Chicago sports for these parodied fanatics.

Among Windy City sports icons, Ditka -- the dynamic player, the fiery coach -- remains one of the most revered. And ironically, nothing summed up Ditka's passion for football better than his own words on the day he was fired by the Bears.

"I'm no special deal," Ditka told reporters, tears welling up his eyes. "Mike Ditka's a guy that came out of Aliquippa ... Came out of Aliquippa (in) 1957, as a high school football player. Went to the University of Pittsburgh. And my life has been a miracle since, because of this game."

1985 Chicago Bears Roster

BearsRoster1985

Name   Age     Pos      Wt       Ht        College            CollegeMascot            BirthDate         Yrs

Brad Anderson            24        WR

198      6-2       Arizona           Wildcats           1/12/1961        1

Tom Andrews  23        T-C      265      6-4       Louisville        Cardinals         1/11/1962        1

Kurt Becker     27        G         271      6-5       Michigan         Wolverines      12/22/1958      3

Mark Bortz      24        G         282      6-6       Iowa    Hawkeyes       2/12/1961        2

Maury Buford 25        P          191      6-1       Texas Tech      Red Raide       2/18/1960        3

Kevin Butler    23        K         215      6-0       Georgia           Southern Eagles          7/24/1962        0

Brian Cabral    29        LB       233      6-1       Colorado         Buffalos           6/23/1956        6

Jimbo Covert   25        T          277      6-4       Pittsburgh        Panthers           3/22/1960        2

Richard Dent   25        DE       265      6-5       Tennessee State           Tigers  12/13/1960      2

Dave Duerson 25        DB      207      6-1       Notre Dame     Fighting Irish   11/28/1960      2

Gary Fencik    31        DB      194      6-1       Yale     Bulldogs          6/11/1954        9

Leslie Frazier  26        DB      189      6-0       Alcorn State    Braves 4/3/1959          4

Andy Frederick           31        T          257      6-6       New Mexico    Lobos  7/25/1954        8

Steve Fuller     28        QB      198      6-4       Clemson          Tigers  1/5/1957          6

Willie Gault     25        WR      181      6-0       Tennessee        Volunteers        9/5/1960          2

Shaun Gayle    23        DB      202      5-11     Ohio State       Buckeyes         3/8/1962          1

Dennis Gentry 26        WR-RB           181      5-8       Baylor Bears   2/10/1959        3

Dan Hampton  28        DE-DT            264      6-5       Arkansas         Razorbacks      9/19/1957        6

Mike Hartenstine         32        DE       251      6-3       Penn State       Nittney Lions  7/27/1953        10

Jay Hilgenberg            26        C-G     259      6-3       Iowa    Hawkeyes       3/21/1959        4

Stefan Humphries       23        G         265      6-3       Michigan         Wolverines      1/20/1962        1

Tyrone Keys    26        DE-LB 272      6-7       Mississippi State         Bulldogs          10/24/1959      2

James Maness 22        WR      174      6-1       TCU    Horned Frogs  5/1/1963          0

Ken Margerum            27        WR      175      6-0       Stanford           Cardinals         10/5/1958        4

Wilber Marshall          23        LB       231      6-1       Florida Gators  4/18/1962        1

Dennis McKinnon       24        WR      185      6-1       Florida State    Seminoles        8/22/1961        2

Jim McMahon 26        QB      195      6-1       BYU   Cougars           8/21/1959        3

Steve McMichael        28        DT-NT 270      6-2       Texas   Longhorns       10/17/1957      5

Emery Moorehead      31        TE-WR           218      6-2       Colorado         Buffalos           3/22/1954        8

Jim Morrissey  23        LB       223      6-3       Michigan State            Spartans           12/24/1962      0

Keith Ortego   22        WR      180      6-0       McNeese State            Cowboys         8/30/1963        0

Walter Payton  31        RB       200      5-10     Jackson State   Blue Bengals   7/25/1954        10

William Perry  23        DT-DE 320      6-2       Clemson          Tigers  12/16/1962      0

Reggie Phillips            25        DB      170      5-10     SMU   Gamecocks      12/12/1960      0

Mike Richardson         24        DB      187      6-0       Arizona State  Sun Devils       5/23/1961        2

Ron Rivera      23        LB       239      6-3       California        Golden Bears  1/7/1962          1

Thomas Sanders          23        RB       203      5-11     Texas A&M     Aggies 1/4/1962          0

Mike Singletary           27        LB       230      6-0       Baylor Bears   10/9/1958        4

Matt Suhey      27        RB       217      5-11     Penn State       Nittany Lions  7/7/1958          5

Ken Taylor      22        DB      185      6-1       Oregon State   Beavers           9/2/1963          0

Tom Thayer     24        G-C     271      6-4       Notre Dame     Fighting Irish   8/16/1961        0

Calvin Thomas            25        RB       239      5-11     Illinois Illini     1/7/1960          3

Cliff Thrift       29        LB       232      6-1       East Central OK         Tigers  5/3/1956          6

Mike Tomczak            23        QB      202      6-1       Ohio State       Buckeyes         10/23/1962      0

Keith Van Horne         28        T          281      6-6       USC    Trojans            11/6/1957        4

Henry Waechter          26        DE-DT            270      6-5       Nebraska         Cornhuskers    2/13/1959        3

Otis Wilson      28        LB       227      6-2       Louisville        Cardinals         9/15/1957        5

Tim Wrightman           25        TE       237      6-3       UCLA Bruins  3/27/1960        0

 

Staff

1985 Chicago Bears staff

Front office

 

Owner – Virginia Halas McCaskey

Team president – Michael McCaskey

General manager – Jerry Vainisi

Director of player personnel – Bill Tobin

Equipment manager – Ray Earley

Assistant equipment manager – Gary Haeger

Scout – Jim Dooley

Regional Scout – Rod Graves

Director of video services – Mitch Friedman

Video team – Pete McGrane

Head coaches

 

Head coach – Mike Ditka

Offensive coaches

 

Offensive coordinator – Ed Hughes

Offensive specialist – Ted Plumb

Running backs – Johnny Roland

Offensive line – Dick Stanfel

Defensive coaches

Defensive coordinator – Buddy Ryan

Defensive line – Dale Haupt

Secondary – Jim LaRue

Special teams coaches

 

Special teams/tight ends – Steve Kazor

Strength and conditioning

 

Trainer – Fred Caito

Assistant trainer – Brian McCaskey

Weightlifting/Strength – Clyde Emrich

 

Career history

Playing

Chicago Bears (1961–1966)

Philadelphia Eagles (1967–1968)

Dallas Cowboys (1969–1972)

Coaching

Dallas Cowboys (1973–1981)

Assistant head coach & special teams coordinator

Chicago Bears (1982–1992)

Head coach

New Orleans Saints (1997–1999)

Head coach

Awards and highlights

As a player

Super Bowl champion (VI)

NFL champion (1963)

NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1961)

2× First-team All-Pro (1963, 1964)

3× Second-team All-Pro (1962, 1965–1966)

5× Pro Bowl (1961–1965)

NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

Chicago Bears No. 89 retired

100 greatest Bears of All-Time

Unanimous All-American (1960)

2× First-team All-Eastern (1959, 1960)

Pittsburgh Panthers No. 89 retired

As a coach

2× Super Bowl champion (XII, XX)

2× AP NFL Coach of the Year (1985, 1988)

Career NFL statistics

Receptions       427

Receiving yards          5,812

Receiving touchdowns            43