Ditka?

[Jeff1220]

I don't think I've seen his name out there as a possibility for HC, but there is reason to speculate that it could be. He and Marv worked together for a while on one of the networks for a coach's view segment. Marv is a native of Chicago/Ditka is a Chicago legend. Ditka has exerience and a SB victory with one of the best teams in NFL history, plus he'd fit in with the other greyhairsa 1BD. Blue-collar type, hard-nosed coach would endear himself to Buffalo fans.
I like Ditka as a coach; wouldn't give him a chance with GM power (the Ricky trade), which he would absolutely NOT have. Something to think about.

Would you be pro-Ditka or anti-Ditka?

[OpIv37]

anti. He screwed up in NO and if I remember correctly, the end of his tenure in Chicago was unspectacular as well. Plus he's been out of coaching too long and I don't recall exactly what it was, but I seem to remember he made a lot of enemies in Buffalo during our SB years. He got pelted by snowballs at a playoff game at Rich once.

[Mr. Cynical]

Maybe. He really didn't have much of a chance in NO during his 3 years...Billy Joe Tolliver at QB and Lamar Smith/Ray Zellars at RB. Like you said, he sucks as a GM but as a coach he might be worth a look.

[Mr. Cynical]

I dunno Op.....he made the playoffs 5 out of the last 7 years after the SB win. And it's not like he had a boatload of talent. I think it deserves some thought actually. His NO stint was just a bad deal (again because he's not a GM).


<table border="0" cellpadding="8"><tbody><tr><td>1992</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1992.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1992.htm)</td> <td align="right">5-11-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>Harbaugh (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/HarbJi00.htm)</td> <td>Anderson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/AndeNe00.htm)</td> <td>Davis (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/DaviWe00.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1991</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1991.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1991.htm)</td> <td align="right">11-5-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>Harbaugh (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/HarbJi00.htm)</td> <td>Anderson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/AndeNe00.htm)</td> <td>Davis (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/DaviWe00.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1990</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1990.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1990.htm)</td> <td align="right">11-5-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>Harbaugh (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/HarbJi00.htm)</td> <td>Anderson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/AndeNe00.htm)</td> <td>Davis (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/DaviWe00.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1989</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1989.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1989.htm)</td> <td align="right">6-10-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>Tomczak (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/TomcMi00.htm)</td> <td>Anderson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/AndeNe00.htm)</td> <td>Morris (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/MorrRo00.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1988</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1988.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1988.htm)</td> <td align="right">12-4-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>McMahon (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/McMaJi00.htm)</td> <td>Anderson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/AndeNe00.htm)</td> <td>McKinnon (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/McKiDe01.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right"></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1987</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1987.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1987.htm)</td> <td align="right">11-4-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>McMahon (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/McMaJi00.htm)</td> <td>Anderson (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/AndeNe00.htm)</td> <td>Gault (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/GaulWi00.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right"></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1986</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1986.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1986.htm)</td> <td align="right">14-2-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>Tomczak (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/TomcMi00.htm)</td> <td>Payton (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/PaytWa00.htm)</td> <td>Gault (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/GaulWi00.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right"></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1985</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1985.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1985.htm)</td> <td align="right">15-1-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>McMahon (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/McMaJi00.htm)</td> <td>Payton (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/PaytWa00.htm)</td> <td>Gault (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/GaulWi00.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right"></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1984</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1984.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1984.htm)</td> <td align="right">10-6-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>McMahon (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/McMaJi00.htm)</td> <td>Payton (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/PaytWa00.htm)</td> <td>Gault (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/GaulWi00.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>1983</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1983.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1983.htm)</td> <td align="right">8-8-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>McMahon (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/McMaJi00.htm)</td> <td>Payton (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/PaytWa00.htm)</td> <td>Gault (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/GaulWi00.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right"></td> </tr> <tr> <td>1982</td> <td>NFL (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1982.htm)</td> <td>Chicago Bears (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1982.htm)</td> <td align="right">3-6-0</td> <td>Ditka (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/DitkMi0.htm)</td> <td>McMahon (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/McMaJi00.htm)</td> <td>Payton (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/PaytWa00.htm)</td> <td>Moorehead (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/MoorEm00.htm)</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right">
</td> <td align="right"></td></tr></tbody></table>

[The_Philster]

He also had Ricky "Pothead" Williams at RB

[Mr. Cynical]

Marv would be handling the draft, not Ditka, so that wouldn't be a problem here....

[DaBills]

Anti. Guy had a heart attack after the stresses of coaching. Wait until he sees Kelly Holcomb play up close.

[Michael82]

:puke:

[tat2dmike77]

anti. He screwed up in NO and if I remember correctly, the end of his tenure in Chicago was unspectacular as well. Plus he's been out of coaching too long and I don't recall exactly what it was, but I seem to remember he made a lot of enemies in Buffalo during our SB years. He got pelted by snowballs at a playoff game at Rich once.

I remember that. He called the bills overated and so fans pelted him with snowballs screaming overated at him. It was quiet funny cause he was getting pissed.

[vicmantak]

In that case, I would say ART SHELL ahead of Ditka...

[Dozerdog]

Maybe. He really didn't have much of a chance in NO during his 3 years...Billy Joe Tolliver at QB and Lamar Smith/Ray Zellars at RB. Like you said, he sucks as a GM but as a coach he might be worth a look.He didn't have much of a chance because he traded away his entire draft for Ricky Williams one season.




his time has passed

[OpIv37]

I dunno Op.....he made the playoffs 5 out of the last 7 years after the SB win. And it's not like he had a boatload of talent. I think it deserves some thought actually. His NO stint was just a bad deal (again because he's not a GM).



those stats are pretty convincing. And you're right about NO. Boomer Esiason calls the Jets, Bengals and Cardinals the Bermuda Triangle of the NFL- if there was a 4th it would be NO. That org never seems to get it right.

But at the same time, he has been out of coaching for quite a long time. Ideally I'd like someone who has HC experience and is still involved, but unfortunately that list is very short and the names on it aren't exactly convincing (Turner, Haslett etc).

Upon further review, I'd have to say that Ditka would not be my first choice but he certainly wouldn't be the worst pick out of the names that have been passed around.

[BillsSabresB.C.T. Fan]

#1 REASON HE HATES BUFFALO!!!! he takes the other team over us every time.

[Historian]

I remember that. He called the bills overated and so fans pelted him with snowballs screaming overated at him. It was quiet funny cause he was getting pissed.

What had happened was...after the Bills defeated the Raiders in that friged Divisional game, Costas asked him for his opinion on Buffalo, and all he said was...

"Boring."

So at the Championship game vs KC, the NBC studio crew was live at the stadium. they were up on a scaffold , facing the Admin building, above the tunnel doing their show.

Whenever Ditka would talk, everybody would yell:

"BOOOORRRRRR-RRRRIIINNNNGGGG"

The sound guys were having fits. Then a couple yahoos threw some wet snowballs at him.

Ditka's a Bear. Always was, Always will be. Asking him to Coach the Bills would be like watching Jim Kelly play in a Ravens uniform.

It just shouldn't happen.

[gr8slayer]

HELL NO.