Games' closing ceremony 📷 Olympics highlights Perseid meteor shower 🚗 Car, truck recalls: List
GAMEON
National Football League

Mike Ditka hospitalized after suffering 'minor stroke'

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, USA TODAY Sports
Mike Ditka speaks at a news conference  in Chicago.

ESPN NFL analyst and former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka was hospitalized Friday after suffering a minor stroke.

Ditka, 73, told The Chicago Tribune that he "felt good right now and it's not a big deal." He also said that doctors described the incident as "very minor."

Ditka also told The Tribune that he was playing cards at a country club Friday night when he noticed his hands "weren't working quite right," and he subsequently had trouble speaking.

ESPN publicist Mike Humes tweeted that Ditka would not work in Bristol, Conn., over the weekend as he recovered.

After a Hall of Fame playing career with the Bears as a tight end, Ditka coached the team from 1982 to 1992. He also coached the New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 1999.

At age 49, Ditka experienced a heart attack during the 1988 season with the Bears.

Featured Weekly Ad