Coach Ditka began his comments by pointing out that people are the most important key to any organization’s success. “The right people at the right place at the right time…you can move mountains,” he said.
Drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1961 out of the University of Pittsburgh, Ditka signed with the team for $12,000 and a $6,000 signing bonus. Entering into his second season with the Bears, he negotiated his own contract and recollected that he missed curfew three times and was fined $500 each time, a lot given his $12,000 salary. “I thought it was going to be worth it, and it wasn’t worth it,” he said.
In 1967, he left Chicago to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. Two years later, Coach Tom Landry called him to Dallas. According to Ditka, Landry said to him, “I don’t know if you can play football any more but I just drafted you.”
“His influence made me understand I was not going to be a star, but I was going to be a team player and make other players better,” said Coach Ditka. “[My Superbowl win with Coach Landry] meant more for me than when I won as head coach.”
Coach Ditka attributes much of his success to Coach Landry, suggesting the importance of mentoring.
“You get out of life what you put into it,” he said. “To be successful you’ve got to work. You can’t be a whiner in life.”
Coach Ditka said he defines success as being happy with who you are and where you’re at in life and lists the following attributes for success: attitude, character and enthusiasm.
During a lively question and answer session following his initial comments, Ditka responded to a question about his thoughts on young athletes by saying “they make too much money.” He also picked Green Bay to win the next Superbowl and said if the Bears sign Plaxico Burress he’d be fine with it, adding, “He’s 34 years old…a year older
