Social media tributes pour in for former Bears head coach Mike Ditka, who dies at 86

Jarrett Payton, son of former Chicago Bears running back Walter Payton, posted that the Ditka family announced Mike Ditka's death Friday morning. He was 86 years old.

Ditka played tight end in the NFL from 1961-72, spending his first six years in Chicago. Over his 12-year career, he caught 427 passes for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns, earning 5 Pro Bowl selections. He played two seasons with Philadelphia and played his final four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.

He returned to the Windy City as head coach in 1982 and coached the Bears for 11 seasons.

The '85 Bears are known as one of the best defenses in NFL history. Ditka led them to a 15-1 record and a Super Bowl XX win over the New England Patriots. It remains the franchise's only Super Bowl win.

Ditka finished his coaching career with a 121-95 record and one Super Bowl title. He was the first tight end inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, enshrined in the Class of 1988.

Tributes to Ditka, and his impact on the NFL and football overall, poured in on social media.

Ditka attended the University of Pittsburgh from 1958 to 1960. His alma mater honored the former Panther.

Ozzie Guillen paid tribute to Ditka, from one former head coach of a Chicago sports team to another.

While Ditka is known for his tenure as the head coach of the Bears, he ended his coaching career with the New Orleans Saints. He went 15-33 over three seasons with the team from 1997-99.

Green Bay Packers head coach Matt LaFleur offered condolences during his Friday press conference. The Packers will face the Bears at Lambeau Field on Sunday in the latest iteration of their historic rivalry.

Lions head coach Dan Campbell learned of Ditka's passing during his press conference. He instantly started regaling the media with a story about Ditka.

Ditka was known for his seriousness on the field and his rants. The head coach pushed that to the side in 2005 as he starred alongside Will Ferrell in "Kicking and Screaming" as the pair played the head coach and assistant coach of a youth soccer team.

Ditka is also the only man to have at least 100 receptions as a player, 100 wins as a head coach, and a Super Bowl win as both player and coach.

Ditka was known for some iconic sayings. Along with the one that Michele Tafoya shouts out below, he was also quoted as saying, "You're never a loser until you quit trying."

Between his coaching stints with the Bears and the Saints, Ditka got into broadcasting. After leaving New Orleans, he returned to broadcasting as a studio analyst for CBS Sports. He also worked for ESPN as a commentator and was known for his radio work.