Green Bay Packers hailed for ‘classy move’ over tribute to legendary Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka

DAILYMAIL.COM • 2h ago

By ISABEL BALDWIN, US ASSISTANT SPORTS EDITOR 04:40 12 Oct 2026, updated 04:50 12 Oct 2026

The Green Bay Packers were praised for their respectful tribute to legendary Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka on Sunday.

The Packers faced their bitter rivals the Bears on Sunday just two days after the Chicago icon passed away at the age of 86.

Despite the fierce rivalry between the two teams, Green Bay honored their former nemesis ahead of the matchup, which marked the Bears’ first game since his passing.

Ahead of their Week 5 matchup at Lambeau Field, the Packers held a moment of silence for the former tight end.

A tribute was also displayed on the stadium’s video boards and shared on Fox’s broadcast of the game.

NFL fans were quick to praise the franchise for its tribute to Ditka, who coached the Bears for 11 seasons from 1982 through 1992.

‘[The] Packers are all class for doing this for the #Bears and Mike Ditka,’ one fan account posted on X.

‘ok that’s actually classy from green bay,’ said another, while a third added: ‘Mad respect to Green Bay for doing this.’

‘I’ve seen some classy moves throughout my sports playing and Sport fandom life but @packers this is the TOP of that list,’ claimed another.

‘That’s a great way to honor your opponent’s coach legacy. Very classy Green Bay,’ wrote a fifth.

According to The Chicago Sun Times, Ditka died at around 9am on Friday surrounded by family and friends. No cause of death has been announced.

The Packers also honored him in a statement shortly after the tragic news of his passing was announced.

‘One of the fiercest competitors in NFL history, Mike helped define the intensity and tradition of the Packers-Bears rivalry, the oldest in professional football,’ the Packers said. ‘He embodied the toughness and passion that have made the rivalry one of the most storied in all of sports.

‘While he was a formidable opponent, his contributions to the game and to a rivalry that has meant so much to both franchises will always be respected and remembered by the Green Bay Packers.’

Ditka revolutionized the tight end position during his playing career before becoming coach of the Bears and leading the franchise to its sole Super Bowl title in 1985.

He also had enormous success as a player and was on the Bears’ 1963 NFL championship team and won a Super Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys in 1971.

Ditka returned to Chicago as a head coach in 1982 and helped lead the team to their most successful era ever.

He became a popular figure in the city and in sports culture, leveraging this into a broadcasting career at ESPN.

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