Former Bears safety Dave Duerson found dead

By Dan Pompei Chicago Tribune
Dave Duerson, a key player on the 1985 Super Bowl Chicago Bears, was found dead Thursday night in his Miami home at the age of 50.
The Miami Dade County coroner did not state a cause of death.
News of Duerson's passing sent shock waves through the 1985 team. When newly elected Hall of Famer Richard Dent woke up Friday morning, his voice mail was full of messages from former teammates calling to talk about Duerson.
Several teammates said they had spoken with Duerson in recent weeks.
"When we spoke recently, he sounded great," former Bears defensive back Shaun Gayle said. "It's a real shock to all of the guys."

Duerson was selected by the Bears out of Notre Dame in the third round of the 1983 draft.  After growing up in Muncie, Ind., he was a four-year starter for the Fighting Irish and a two-time All American.  In 1982, he was a captain.
With the Bears he became a starter in 1985 and played in the first of four consecutive Pro Bowls that year.  In 1987, he was named the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year.  He also was the one of the Bears' NFLPA representatives, and he was a leader through the 1987 strike.
"He was a hell of a football player," former Bears coach Mike Ditka said Friday. "He came in at the right time for us because that's when Todd Bell held out. He fit right in, became a starter. We liked everything about him at Notre Dame. He rounded out that defense.  He fit in perfectly with Gary Fencik back there and was one of the leaders of our team."

 

 

Jesus fucking christ. You gotta be kidding me. I cant even fathom this. I dont have the words to describe this feeling. I mean really...it seriously takes Dan Pompei seven paragraphs to get Mike Ditka into the story. This is a total travesty. This is why no one reads him, he's completely clueless as to who sells in this town. And thats one guy: Da Coach.