This week, rumors began to circulate suggesting that Pro Football Hall of Famer and legendary coach Mike Ditka was in hospice care. However, Ditka’s wife, Diana, is setting the record straight. In a recent interview with Michael Sneed of the Chicago Sun-Times, Diana Ditka clarified her husband’s health status and dispelled any false information.
According to Diana, Mike Ditka is back in Chicago, the city that has meant so much to him throughout his life. While caretakers are present at their home to assist, Diana emphasized that the 85-year-old Bears legend is not in hospice care.
“I’m finally home! This city is my home. I love it,” Ditka said, expressing his joy at being back. The former player and coach continued, “I was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Pittsburgh, but Chicago is my home … and it is my life. It’s the people I miss … miss more than anything. I can’t tell you how happy I am to finally be home … to be back, although it was mighty cold when we got off the private plane at Midway Airport a few nights ago.”
The rumors about Ditka’s health seem to have been fueled by his history of medical issues in recent years, including a heart attack and a stroke. Despite these challenges, Ditka remains in good spirits and excited to be back in Chicago. The couple has returned to the same apartment complex where they previously lived, after having relocated to Florida following the closing of Ditka’s restaurant during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
“Most of our furniture has yet to arrive, but we are just so happy to be home,” Diana told the Sun-Times, sharing her optimism about the move. “Thank goodness we have the TV and are back in the warmth of a city we call home.”
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Mike Ditka has a long history with Chicago, and his connection to the city runs deep. Ditka began his career as a player with the Chicago Bears, where he spent his first six seasons before being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles in 1967. After two years in Philadelphia, he spent four more seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before retiring from playing.
As a coach, Ditka became synonymous with the Bears, famously leading them to their only Super Bowl title during the 1985 season—a team that has since been immortalized for its dominance on the field. During his time with the Bears, Ditka was named NFL Coach of the Year twice, and the team made the playoffs in seven of his 11 seasons as head coach.
After his tenure in Chicago, Ditka also spent three seasons coaching the New Orleans Saints in the late 1990s, including coaching Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams during his rookie year. Although his time in New Orleans wasn’t as successful as his Bears tenure, Ditka’s impact on the sport remains undisputed.
For now, Ditka is focusing on enjoying his time back in Chicago, surrounded by the city and the people he loves. Despite his health challenges, he is back where he feels most at home, and Diana is determined to dispel any misconceptions about his condition. “Mike is not in hospice care,” she reiterated, making it clear that, while they may be adjusting to a new routine with caretakers, Ditka is simply happy to be back in his beloved city.
The rumors of hospice care may have worried fans, but Mike Ditka’s return to Chicago and his upbeat attitude are reassuring.
The Hall of Famer remains resilient, and his love for Chicago continues to shine through as he settles back into the city that has defined so much of his legendary career.
