Iron Mike Ditka’s Best Cards
It might be shocking, but Mike Ditka still has the best season for a rookie tight end in league history. Yep, Brock Bowers is knocking on the door, but Ditka’s 1,076 yards and 12 receiving touchdowns are still the most for a rookie tight end ever. This beats out Sam LaPorta, Kyle Pitts, Jeremy Shockey, and no one else is particularly close. The mustachioed Chicago icon is so beloved for his coaching tenure that it’s a good reminder that in his playing days, he was dominant as a five-time Pro Bowl player, two-time All-Pro, and won multiple league titles.
Now we look back at the few vintage (and rare) Topps Football cards that feature Ditka during his playing days for Chicago and Philadelphia you need to collect.
The Best Mike Ditka Cards
1968 Topps Football #162 Mike Ditka
Player info
• two-time league champion as a player
• first tight end in league history to have 1,000 yards receiving
set info
• 219 card set and the first set after the merger
Player quote
• “You’re never a loser until you quit trying.” – Mike Ditka
1963 Topps Football #62 Mike Ditka
Player info
• won the league championship as coach of Chicago
• Five-time Pro Bowl selection
set info
• 170 card set featuring hall of famers such as Fran Tarkenton, Jim brown, Johnny Unitas, and more
What they said
• “‘When the history of professional football is finally written, Mike Ditka will go down as the greatest tight end that ever lived.” – George Halas
1962 Topps Football Bucks #47 Mike Ditka
Player info
• League 100th-anniversary all-time team
• Pro Football Hall of fame class of 1988
set info
• 1962 had 48 “bucks” distributed amongst 48 unique players – some in rookies and less established players as $1, $5 for mid-level players, and $10 for stars
Buck back
• the back of the buck shows a team logo, a league logo, and card/set numbers showing 47 of 48.
1962 Topps Football #17 Mike Ditka RC
Player info
• 1961 offensive rookie of the year
• two-time coach of the year (1985 / 1988)
set info
• 176 card set
• Ditka is one of only 48 players featured on two cards in 1962
as a player and coach
• ditka is the only player in history who has both scored a touchdown and coached in a league championship
