Mike Ditka dies at 86, then the Packers beat the Bears 31-7

The news broke Friday morning, and within the hour Chicago Barstool had stopped working and started remembering. Big Cat went first, and he went straight to the tape.

Big Cat

@BarstoolBigCat

All time Ditka. Man’s man

There isn't much to add to Ditka the football figure. He was a Hall of Fame tight end, and then he coached the 1985 Bears and that defense to the only Super Bowl title the franchise has ever won. Jarrett Payton, Walter's son, announced the death, and said Ditka died surrounded by family and friends. By Friday afternoon the tributes were coming from podiums all over the league, and the one Bears fans cared about most came from Halas Hall.

Barstool Chicago

@barstoolchicago

“Coach Ditka is the gold standard in terms of this place.” Our coach honors Da Coach.

Then the internet did what it always does with Ditka and got to Kicking & Screaming. For a whole generation that's who Mike Ditka is: Will Ferrell's co-coach, yelling at a bunch of kids to get the ball to the Italians. The best thing to come out of it Friday was an old Rich Eisen Show segment where Ferrell tells a story from the set. Ditka's hip popped out, he popped it back in himself, took some Advil and went back to filming.

Eric Hubbs

@BarstoolHubbs

I had never seen this Will Ferrell story about Mike Ditka's hip popping out during 'Kicking and Screaming.' Just popped it back in, took some advil, and went right back to filming. True legend. One of my favorite movies growing up and it still holds up easily. RIP Mike Ditka

That's the tough-guy half of Ditka, and it's the half everybody already knew. By Friday night the other half was getting out too. Jim Harbaugh stood at a Chargers podium and told a story about walking into Ditka's office and finding him writing $500 checks to complete strangers who needed it.

Barstool Sports

@barstoolsports

Jim Harbaugh once walked into Mike Ditka’s office & found him writing $500 checks to complete strangers who were in need Rest in Peace to a great man

Then there was the matter of Sunday. The schedule had the Bears at Lambeau 2 days after Ditka died, and the Packers announced a moment of silence for him before kickoff. That left one important question for Bears Twitter, which was whether the sweater should come out of retirement.

Chief

@BarstoolChief

Ben Johnson needs to wear the sweater on Sunday.

Eddie had already decided what Sunday was about.

Eddie

@EddieBarstool

For Coach Ditka Fuck the Packers

It went wrong right away. Green Bay went 91 yards on the opening drive and finished it with a 42-yard touchdown from Jordan Love to Christian Watson. Love ended the day 25-of-31 for 367 yards and 2 touchdowns, and both of them went to Watson. The Packers defense forced 5 turnovers. Over in the Cave somebody called it a disaster when Cairo Santos missed from 43, and that was the mood for most of the afternoon.

Hubbs, the Packers fan on staff, had the best day of anyone at the company. When Matthew Golden got loose behind the Chicago secondary, he said so.

Eric Hubbs

@BarstoolHubbs

Golden rocks and the Bears secondary is cheeks

It ended 31-7. That's a rough way to send off the coach of the greatest team the Bears ever had, in the building he'd least want to lose in. On Monday morning Dave used Wake Up Barstool to deliver a message to his good friend Eddie, with the 31-7 chyron sitting right under him. Eddie answered by looking ahead.

Eddie

@EddieBarstool

Can't even check in on friends anymore Gotta get right and take care of Atlanta first, but next Thursday is gonna be a war

Viva La Stool

@VivaLaStool

Dave has a message for his good friend Eddie

So that's where Chicago is now. The weekend started with mourning the guy who stood for everything tough about the city and ended with the Packers making it look easy. Eddie's plan is to take care of Atlanta first and then go to war next Thursday. Mustaches are optional, but Hannah would like you to grow one.