Impressive collection of coaching material from the career of NFL coach Mike Ditka, ranging from his time as an assistant coach with the Dallas Cowboys to his decade-long tenure as head football coach of the Chicago Bears. The archive is highlighted by three coaching playbooks, with the earliest being a “1974 Defensive Notebook” for the Dallas Cowboys, contained in a three-ring binder with spine stamped “66,” and inner front cover bearing a Chicago Bears Football Club label. The 141-page booklet contains tabbed sections dedicated to the following: “Index,” “Philosophy & Defensive Terminology,” “Lineman—Techniques & Charges,” “Linebackers—Techniques,” “Defensive Backs,” “Coverages: Key,” “Combo,” “Wheel,” “Zone—Post,” “Zone—Packer,” “Zone—Pow,” “Special Defenses,” “Prevent,” and “Short Yardage & Goal Line.”
Additionally, the binder contains ink and pencil notations throughout, with the opening six pages containing handwritten notes in pencil by Ditka, which read, in part: “Rules for blitz coverage. 1. Anytime we run one man dog, the def. lineman have no pass responsibility. The two remaining lb’s have the 2 running backs. 2. Two man blitz, the def. lineman have no pass responsibility. 2 two backs are taken by the weak of strong side safety and remaining Lb. 3. 3 man dog & safety blitz (trigger) ends have second back out, tackle zone. The lbs not called in the regular call and the strong or weak safety have the back, on a safety blitz stub buck have the remaining backs.”
The other two playbooks: a “1990 QB Book” for the Chicago Bears, contained in a three-ring binder, with tabbed sections related to “Play Calling,” “Mechanics,” “Huddle & Forms,” “No Huddle,” “Personnel,” “Patterns,” “Plus Territory,” “Nickel,” and “Sprnt. & Scrmbl”; and a “Kicking Game Playbook” for the 1992 Bears, held in a three-ring binder with spine marked “Coach Ditka,” and inner tabbed sections comprised of “General Information,” “Punting,” “Punt Returns,” “Kickoffs,” “Kickoff Returns,” “Field Goals and P.A.T.,” and “Miscellaneous.”
Included is an 8.5 x 12 notebook pad with first sheet containing handwritten pencil notations from Ditka, which read, in part; “Welcome, No food in, (no hats in meetings or while eating), Everything is geared to get ready for Sept. 6 Detroit, Impact / Force (measured) on film Wash-Det., Offseason program to prevent the fall off in Dec/Jan, Good is not enough, Best is okay, Excellence is our goal.”
Also present within the archive is a large assortment of sundry coaching paperwork related to the 1991 and 1992 seasons for the Chicago Bears, with a sampling as follows:
The Chicago Bears 1991 season: a camp schedule; a news release; a preseason ‘key dates’ itinerary and calendar; a roster packet breaking down 40-yard dash and shuttle runs; statistic sheets headed “1991 NFL Red Zone,” “1991 NFL Score By Quarters,” “1991 Chicago Bears Offensive Explosiveness,” and “1991 Chicago Bears Effective Field Position”; schedules for special teams; regular season ‘Random Steroid Testing’ sheets; and a packet for “1991 Reasonable Cause Testing Procedures for Anabolic Steroids and Drugs of Abuse.”
The Chicago Bears 1992 season: a Bears player packet containing sections related to “Camp Schedule,” “Scale of Fines,” “League Discipline,” “Alcohol and Tobacco,” “Gambling,” “Ticket Scalping,” “Cooperation with News Media,” “Use of the Helmet,” “Substance Abuse Policies,” and more; a paper-clipped packet of preseason material relating to the 1992 Chicago Bears, with sections related to “Defensive Philosophy,” “1991 Regular Season Games Missed,” “Philosophy of Offense,” and a “1991 Chicago Bears Offensive Goal Board,” with a few instances of handwritten notes; a sheet of arrival dates for first-year Bears players on May 28, 1992; a Bears minicamp itinerary, dated between April 28 to May 3, 1992; a stapled packet for “FG Shot Chart,” with numerous sheets showing trajectory of field goals kicked on June 2, 1992; a “1992 Defense Insertion Schedule”; a memorandum from Commissioner Paul Tagliabue to “Working Club executives,” dated July 2, 1992, with subject related to “1992 Jersey Colors”; a memorandum from Jerry Seeman to all NFL coaches, dated July 21, 1992, with subjects related to “NFL Officials at Training Camps,” “1992 Rule Books/Case Books,” “Quarterback/Tackle Crown Noise Experiment,” “Instant Replay Experiment,” and more; an exercise packet related to Bears “Training Camp,” which concerns “Huddle,” “Cadence,” “Formations,” “Movement,” “Shifts,” and Personnel Groups.” Also includes various paperwork for the 1990 season. In overall fine condition. An impressive and extensive assemblage of plays, rules, and philosophies preached and practiced by the great Bears coach.
