Lions coach Dan Campbell shares 'awesome' Mike Ditka story

Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News on Oct 9, 2026

Published in Football

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ALLEN PARK, Mich. — Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell grew up a massive fan of Mike Ditka, the legendary tight end and head coach whose death at the age of 86 was announced Friday, Oct. 9.

Ditka is credited with revolutionizing the tight end position, earning five All-Pro nods and five Pro Bowls in his first six seasons, before later becoming the face of the 1985 Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears due to his loud, no-nonsense personality.

And of course, there's Ditka's famous cigar — which was at the center of Campbell's favorite story about the Pro Football Hall of Famer. Campbell entered the NFL draft in 1999 and met with Ditka, who was entering his final year as coach of the New Orleans Saints, and gave Campbell, a tight end out of Texas A&M, the memory of a lifetime.

"(He was) somebody I just loved growing up, man. Ditka was it. Huge fan. So when I'm able to come out, getting drafted, go to the combine. Well, the Saints wanted to meet with me, and in particular, Mike Ditka, right?" Campbell said.

"Tight end, hell of a player, hell of a coach, the whole thing. ... I go in, I know he'll be in there, but it's gonna be — no, no. I go in, and it's one little light on. It's like a little lamp in the corner like it's at the train station, and there's nothing in there. There's no couches, the room is totally cleaned up, there's one little table, and the room is full of smoke. I mean, you can't hardly even see him ... and he's got that big, fat cigar."

Ditka's playing career took him from Chicago (1961-66) to Philadelphia (1967-68) to Dallas (1969-72), Campbell's favorite team growing up. Ditka immediately joined the Cowboys coaching staff in 1973 and stayed with the team through the 1981 season as an assistant head coach and special teams coordinator, eventually leaving to become coach of the Bears (1982-92), whom he led to victory in Super Bowl XX.

Ditka was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 1988.

Campbell said his meeting with Ditka "was one of the best times of my life and one of the most intimidating times of my life."

"It was awesome, though, man. Just him asking questions about where you grew up, how you think, how you're wired, the game, what you see — it was just awesome," Campbell said. "So, man, thoughts and prayers go out to his family. You know, he's a legend. He's a legend."

Ultimately, the Saints never had a real chance to draft Campbell, who wound up as a third-round pick, since Ditka traded every ounce of his draft capital — and some of the Saints' ammunition for the following draft — to select Texas running back Ricky Williams with the No. 5 pick.

But at least Campbell got a great story out of it.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell released a statement on Friday afternoon about the passing of Mike Ditka.

"Mike Ditka epitomized football over so many years. He brought intensity, authenticity, and an unmistakable personality to everything he did," Goodell said. "As a Hall of Fame player, Super Bowl-winning coach with his beloved and iconic Chicago Bears, and as a broadcaster, Mike served as an ambassador for the game and inspired generations of fans."