Chicago Bears Honor Mike Ditka With Sweater Headbands and 89 Tributes
The Chicago Bears handed out 10,000 knit headbands and fake mustaches to fans at Soldier Field on Thursday night, honoring the late Mike Ditka during their first home game since his death on October 9, ESPN reported.
Soldier Field Honors Ditka Against New England
The tribute took place ahead of the Bears’ matchup against the New England Patriots on Thursday Night Football. The opponent carried historical significance, as Ditka coached the 1985 squad that defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl XX to capture the franchise’s first Lombardi Trophy.
Fans in attendance received items styled after the iconic sweater Ditka wore during his 11 seasons coaching Chicago. Right guard Jonah Jackson arrived at the stadium wearing a long-sleeved No. 89 jersey to mark the occasion.
@jonahjackson73 reppin' Da Coach 🤝 pic.twitter.com/7WjFZBbV1u
Analog Clocks and Helmet Decals Mark Number 89
Inside Soldier Field, analog clocks throughout the venue were set to read 89:00 ahead of kickoff, paying homage to the number Ditka wore during his Pro Football Hall of Fame career as a tight end.
The Bears retired Ditka’s No. 89 in December 2013, making him the final player in franchise history to receive that honor. The team currently holds more retired numbers than any other NFL franchise.
Mustaches are out in full force for Mike Ditka.NEvsCHI on Prime VideoStream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/xRZbGndX6c
Current players have worn a No. 89 sticker on the back of their helmets since Week 5 of the season. For Thursday’s game, the team added a patch to honor Ditka directly over the heart of their navy jerseys.
Courtney Cronin Reports on Chicago Bears Tributes
ESPN reporter Courtney Cronin covered the pre-game tributes at Soldier Field. Cronin has covered the Chicago Bears since switching from the Minnesota Vikings beat in 2022, after joining the network in 2017.