{"id":2680636,"date":"2026-10-10T11:52:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T15:52:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/remembering-iron-mike-ditka-and-his-message-for-anthem-kneelers-flag-disrespecters-like-colin-kaepernick\/"},"modified":"2026-10-10T11:55:59","modified_gmt":"2026-10-10T15:55:59","slug":"remembering-iron-mike-ditka-and-his-message-for-anthem-kneelers-flag-disrespecters-like-colin-kaepernick","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/remembering-iron-mike-ditka-and-his-message-for-anthem-kneelers-flag-disrespecters-like-colin-kaepernick\/","title":{"rendered":"Remembering &#8216;Iron&#8217; Mike Ditka and His Message for Anthem-Kneelers, Flag Disrespecters Like Colin Kaepernick"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fremembering-iron-mike-ditka-and-his-message-for-anthem-kneelers-flag-disrespecters-like-colin-kaepernick%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2680636&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>On Friday, the legendary NFL figure Mike Ditka passed away at age 86. Known for his innovative playing of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/breaking-legendary-nfl-coach-mike-ditka-dies-at-86\/\" title=\"Breaking: Legendary NFL ... ... Dies at 86\">tight end position<\/a> and his prosperous coaching career-including leading the 1985 Chicago Bears to a Super Bowl victory-Ditka was a Hall of Famer both as a player and a coach. His team, famously known as the \u201cSuper Bowl Shuffle\u201d Bears, went 15-1 that season and defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl XX. <\/p>\n<p>Widely respected, Ditka was also noted for his patriotic views and outspoken criticism of NFL players who engaged in protests during the national anthem. He publicly stated that disrespecting the flag was unacceptable and suggested that players who disagreed with the country\u2019s values should leave the league or even the country. Despite differing from some players and recent social movements, Ditka remained firm in his beliefs about respect for the nation. <\/p>\n<p>His death prompts tributes from prominent figures like Barack Obama, who remembered Ditka for his leadership and impact both on and off the field.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_0)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (REP_1)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p>On Friday, a living NFL legend became simply a legend.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/breaking-legendary-nfl-coach-mike-ditka-dies-86\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mike Ditka<\/a>, who died at the age of 86, was a Hall of Fame player and arguably should have been a Hall of Fame coach.<\/p>\n<p>After reinventing the tight end position during his time with the Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, and the Dallas Cowboys, he ended up coaching the Bears, as well \u2014 including the iconic 1985 squad.<\/p>\n<p>He was the second player to win a Super Bowl ring as both a coach and player in 1985 \u2014 Tom Flores, a backup quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs during Super Bowl IV, was the first to accomplish the feat as coach of the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XV in 1981 \u2014 and led one of the most feared and flamboyant teams of all time.<\/p>\n<p>The \u201cSuper Bowl Shuffle\u201d Bears went 15-1 and trounced the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/new-england-patriots-one-last-request-tom-brady-will-everything-power-bring-back\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">New England Patriots<\/a> in Super Bowl XX by a score of 46-10.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s what most people, including former <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/obama-slave-driver-workers-presidential-library-unionizing-wages-frozen-time-off-cut-health-care-costs-rise\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">President Barack Obama<\/a>, are remembering Ditka for:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">When I got to Chicago in the summer of 1985, Mike Ditka and the Chicago Bears were king. Coach Ditka set the tone for a team that was punishing, dominant, and fun \u2014 and the city loved him for it. I\u2019m thinking of the Ditka family and Bears fans everywhere on the passing of a legend.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Barack Obama (@BarackObama) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/BarackObama\/status\/2108641562431197517?\">October 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately for Team Obama and Co., Ditka leaves behind another legend \u2014 that of a patriot who had no truck with the NFL\u2019s anthem-kneeling, America-hating brigade.<\/p>\n<p>In 2016, when then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began the trend of loathing the country that kept them well-fed and well-remunerated before kickoff by sitting out \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner,\u201d Ditka called them out \u2014 and got plenty of flak from outlets like <a href=\"https:\/\/www.espn.com\/nfl\/story\/_\/id\/17619381\/hall-fame-coach-mike-ditka-says-no-respect-colin-kaepernick\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ESPN<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s a problem\u2026 anybody who disrespects this country and the flag,\u201d he said during a 2016 radio interview.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf they don\u2019t like the country, they don\u2019t like our flag\u2026 get the hell out. That\u2019s what I think.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/watch-walter-paytons-son-gets-emotional-learns-mike-ditkas-death-live-broadcast\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Ditka<\/a> added that \u201cI have no respect for Colin Kaepernick \u2014 he probably has no respect for me, that\u2019s his choice.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy choice is, I like this country, I respect our flag, and I don\u2019t see all the atrocities going on in this country that people say are going on.\u201d<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Coach Mike Ditka was a patriot:<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it\u2019s a problem anybody who disrespects this country and the flag. If they don\u2019t like the country, they don\u2019t like our flag then get the hell out.\u201d https:\/\/t.co\/GnJI0oh9zM<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Steve Cortes (@SteveCortes) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/SteveCortes\/status\/2108595614690980029?\">October 9, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI see opportunities if people want to look for opportunity \u2014 now if they don\u2019t want to look for them \u2014 then you can find problems with anything,\u201d Ditka added. \u201cBut this is the land of opportunity because you can be anything you want to be if you work. If you don\u2019t work\u2026 that\u2019s a different problem.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Ditka stuck by his opinion <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/nfl-legend-mike-ditka-anthem-protesters-cant-respect-country-get\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">through the Summer of Floyd<\/a> in 2020, during which Kaepernick came as close to a secular living saint as the liberals had, perhaps second to Anthony Fauci.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFootball\u2019s football. It\u2019s not a complicated thing. You\u2019re playing the game, you\u2019re enjoying the game. You don\u2019t like the game, get out of it,\u201d he told Newsmax.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not for protesting one way or the other \u2014 what color you are, what you think, this or that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou ought to get down on your hands and knees and thank God every day that you can make the kind of money you can make playing football. Or playing any sport,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">NFL \ud83c\udfc8: Hall-of-Fame coach Mike Ditka tells protesting players that if \u2018they can\u2019t respect this country, get the hell out of it.\u2019 [with Newsmax TV\u2019s @ShaunKraisman https:\/\/t.co\/VlT7z8drtO] https:\/\/t.co\/E3jPCBrMdt<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 NEWSMAX (@NEWSMAX) <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NEWSMAX\/status\/1305565721376829449?\">September 14, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would tell those players, go to another country and play football there,\u201d Ditka continued. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to come out. You don\u2019t have to come out for the anthem if you go to another country. You can\u2019t, because the game\u2019s only played in this country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>In short, this is not the kind of person that Barack Obama would usually be paying tribute to.<\/p>\n<p>Rest in peace, \u201cIron Mike.\u201d We\u2019ll miss you.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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A Hall of Fame player and coach, he revolutionized the tight end role with the Bears, Eagles, and Cowboys<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2680637,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-10-10T113217.610.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5541,86979,7215,7825,37014],"class_list":["post-2680636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-football","tag-mike-ditka","tag-nfl","tag-patriotism","tag-sports-commentary"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-10-10T113217.610.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2680636"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680636\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2680640,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2680636\/revisions\/2680640"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2680637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2680636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2680636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2680636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}