Beyond Speaking Podcast: Mike Ditka

Mike Ditka - Lessons from an NFL Legend

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Legendary NFL coach and player Mike Ditka shares how football has changed over the years, why only some quarterbacks are true leaders and advice to youth coaches.

Topics covered in this episode:

What are the qualities a leader has to have?

What does excellence mean to Mike Ditka

The importance of maximizing your potential

The limitations of talent

Why some quarterbacks are true leaders and others aren’t

How an athlete can maximize their potential

Tom Landry’s secret to making players better

Tom Landry’s secret weapon to the Dallas Cowboy's success

Mike Ditka on coaching Walter Peyton

The greatest player Mike Ditka ever coached

How the sport of football has changed over the years

Mike Ditka’s rookie contract of $18,000

What current player plays the most like Mike Ditka

How the NFL athlete has changed 

Advice for Youth Coaches

What Mike Ditka gleaned from Hallas and Landry

The importance of preparation

How Mike Ditka became the coach of the Chicago Bears

The letter to Mike Ditka wrote to George Halas to bring him in as a coach

How Mike Ditka built the Super Bowl-winning Chicago Bears

The "Why not us?" mentality that changed the Chicago Bears perspective

What being a Chicago Bear means to Mike Ditka and being a part of the Chicago Bears tradition

Mike Ditka's reaction to the SNL "Da Bears" sketches

Mike Ditka's broadcasting career on ESPN

Mike Ditka's advice to new NFL coaches

The importance of personnel to NFL teams

Mike Ditka’s picks for Super Bowl 53