Wonder Bear
04-14-2007, 08:02 PM
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t128/mpo1234/Untitled-2.jpg?t=1176598179
Tuesday, May 16th, 2000
Chicago legend returns home
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t128/mpo1234/ditka1.jpg?t=1176598226
Da Coach will look to get the Bears
to the playoffs for the first time since 1994.
Chicago, IL. -- In a stunning move, former Saints head coach Mike Ditka will return to the Windy City to coach the Chicago Bears, a team he led to their first and only Super Bowl title.
Ditka will sign a four-year contract worth $11 million, a slight decrease in what he was paid last year in New Orleans.
"The desire to coach is as strong as it's ever been with me," Ditka said in an announcement on the Chicago radio station The Score.
"The Bears are very dear to me and my family. We're very excited about this opportunity to return to where we have so many friends and loyalties."
Mark Hatley will remain as vice president of football operations, but Ditka will have final say on which players make his roster. However, draft choices, trades and signings will be decided in a two-person consensus format among Hatley and Ditka.
Ditka was fired immediately following a 3-13 effort in 1999 with the Saints, his third consecutive losing season. Ditka's tenure with the Saints was anything but admirable, winning just 15 games in three seasons. But that fact didn't deter the Bears' interest.
"Mike Ditka helped define what the Chicago Bears stand for -- integrity, hard work, determination, winning and championships," team owner Virginia McCasky said. "Who better to set our strategy and lead the Bears back to championship glory?"
The late decision to sign Ditka came as a bit of a surprise, but he already has two pieces of the coaching puzzle in place. Former Bears coach of one year Dick Jauron accepted an offer to stay on board as the team's defensive coordinator. Gary Crowton will remain as the team's offensive coordinator as well.
The Bears are bringing back some familiar faces, but 'Da Coach' made it clear there would be on the field results. "I'm not going to deny that there are some good pieces in place here already," said Ditka, "but you can bet your 'you know what' there's going to be a new attitude around here. You can count on that much to change."
Tuesday, May 16th, 2000
Chicago legend returns home
http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t128/mpo1234/ditka1.jpg?t=1176598226
Da Coach will look to get the Bears
to the playoffs for the first time since 1994.
Chicago, IL. -- In a stunning move, former Saints head coach Mike Ditka will return to the Windy City to coach the Chicago Bears, a team he led to their first and only Super Bowl title.
Ditka will sign a four-year contract worth $11 million, a slight decrease in what he was paid last year in New Orleans.
"The desire to coach is as strong as it's ever been with me," Ditka said in an announcement on the Chicago radio station The Score.
"The Bears are very dear to me and my family. We're very excited about this opportunity to return to where we have so many friends and loyalties."
Mark Hatley will remain as vice president of football operations, but Ditka will have final say on which players make his roster. However, draft choices, trades and signings will be decided in a two-person consensus format among Hatley and Ditka.
Ditka was fired immediately following a 3-13 effort in 1999 with the Saints, his third consecutive losing season. Ditka's tenure with the Saints was anything but admirable, winning just 15 games in three seasons. But that fact didn't deter the Bears' interest.
"Mike Ditka helped define what the Chicago Bears stand for -- integrity, hard work, determination, winning and championships," team owner Virginia McCasky said. "Who better to set our strategy and lead the Bears back to championship glory?"
The late decision to sign Ditka came as a bit of a surprise, but he already has two pieces of the coaching puzzle in place. Former Bears coach of one year Dick Jauron accepted an offer to stay on board as the team's defensive coordinator. Gary Crowton will remain as the team's offensive coordinator as well.
The Bears are bringing back some familiar faces, but 'Da Coach' made it clear there would be on the field results. "I'm not going to deny that there are some good pieces in place here already," said Ditka, "but you can bet your 'you know what' there's going to be a new attitude around here. You can count on that much to change."