Mike Ditka’s family speaks out after hospice care rumors spread

Mike Ditka‘s family is setting the record straight about rumors of him being in hospice care. In an interview with the Chicago Sun-Times, Dikta’s wife, Diana, said the rumor is false.

“But my husband is NOT in hospice,” Diana told the outlet while noting that there are caretakers present.

Ditka and his wife have returned to Chicago after he battled health issues over the last 10-plus years. In 2012, the former Chicago Bears head coach suffered a stroke. And in 2018, Ditka had a heart attack that landed him in a Florida hospital. The rumor of Ditka landing in hospice care made its way on social media on Monday.

“I’m finally home! This city is my home. I love it,” Ditka said. “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.”

Mike Ditka had success as an NFL coach and player

Ditka, 85, was the head coach of the Bears from 1982 to 1992 and the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999. In his head coaching career, Ditka tallied a 121-95 record and won a Super Bowl as the Bears head coach in 1985. In his 11 seasons with the Bears, Ditka led the team to six division titles and three appearances in the NFC Championship game.

Dikta also had success as an NFL player. In his 12 seasons in the league (1961-1972), Ditka spent time with the Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys. As a tight end, Ditka was named Offensive Rookie of the Year, selected to the Pro Bowl five times, named to the All-Pro Team five times and won a Super Bowl as a member of the Cowboys. Ditka was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988, becoming the first tight end to be enshrined in Canton.