Mike Ditka Honored With Tributes by Dan Campbell, NFL World After Death at Age 86

Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell was among those in the NFL who paid tribute to legendary tight end and head coach Mike Ditka on Friday following his death at the age of 86.

While speaking to reporters Friday, Campbell called Ditka a "legend," and told a story about having a one-on-one meeting with Ditka during the pre-draft process while Ditka was head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 1999:

Several other NFL-affiliated accounts and reporters shared their memories of Ditka as well:

Ditka excelled as both a player and a coach, and he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 thanks to his contributions as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.

Playing 12 seasons with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys, Ditka was a five-time Pro Bowler, two-time First Team All-Pro, one-time NFL champion and one-time Super Bowl champion.

Ditka recorded 427 receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns in 158 games, which led to him becoming the first tight end ever inducted into the Hall of Fame.

After a lengthy run as an assistant coach with the Cowboys, during which time he won another Super Bowl, Ditka was named the Bears' head coach in 1982.

Ditka went 106-62 with seven playoff appearances over his 11 seasons at the helm in Chicago, and he led the famous 1985 Bears to the only Super Bowl win in franchise history.

He closed out his coaching career with three seasons in New Orleans from 1997 to 1999 before becoming a hugely popular NFL analyst and personality for CBS and ESPN.