Packers express sorrow at passing of Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka
The Green Bay Packers said Friday they were saddened to learn of the passing of Pro Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka and extended their sincere condolences to his family, friends and the Chicago Bears organization. The team posted the statement on its official website on Oct. 9, 2026. The announcement described Ditka as a prominent figure in the history of professional football.
In the statement, the Packers called Ditka “one of the fiercest competitors in NFL history” and credited him with helping define the intensity and tradition of the Packers-Bears rivalry, which the team described as the oldest in professional football. The club said Ditka embodied the toughness and passion that have made that rivalry one of the most storied in the sport. The statement noted that those qualities left a lasting mark on games between the two franchises.
The Packers acknowledged Ditka as a formidable opponent while saying his contributions to the game and to the rivalry will always be respected and remembered by the organization. The club emphasized the mutual significance of the rivalry to both franchises and expressed sympathy for the broader football community. The team closed its statement by reaffirming its respect for Ditka’s impact on the sport.
NFL Sports Blog Take
Green Bay’s statement underscores the deep historical roots and mutual respect that characterize the Packers-Bears rivalry. By highlighting Ditka’s competitiveness and the rivalry’s place as the oldest in professional football, the Packers framed his legacy in terms of the intensity he brought to those matchups. The expression of condolences to Ditka’s family, friends and the Chicago Bears organization reflects how the passing of a Hall of Famer reverberates across traditional rivals as well as the wider football community.