In 1997, Mike Ditka was named the twelfth head coach in New Orleans Saints' history, coming to New Orleans after a four-year stint as a broadcaster with NBC. Prior to that, he was head coach of the Chicago Bears for eleven seasons (1982-92). The Bears won the NFC Central Division five consecutive seasons (1984-88) and reached the playoffs seven times during his tenure. The 1985 Bears finished with a 15-1 record and won Super Bowl XX at the New Orleans Superdome when they defeated the New England Patriots 46-10. During that same season, he was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press, The Sporting News and the Pro Football Writers Association.

Ditka began his National Football League (NFL) career in 1961 as Chicago's first-round selection, out of the University of Pittsburgh. He was named the NFL Rookie of the Year in 1961 and appeared in the Pro Bowl in all six seasons he was with the Bears (1961-1966). He played two years with Philadelphia and four years with the Dallas Cowboys before retiring following the 1972 season. He then began his pro coaching career as an assistant with the Dallas Cowboys (1973-81).

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