Remembering Mike Ditka: The Coach Who Gave Danny Wuerffel First NFL Chance
The coach who gave Florida’s second Heisman Trophy winner his first NFL opportunity died Friday at 86.
Mike Ditka spent 14 years coaching only two NFL teams: the Chicago Bears and the New Orleans Saints.
He’d also paid his dues as an NFL tight end. He earned the nickname “Iron Mike” because he was born in the steel town of Carnegie, Pennsylvania, although his on-field play made it stick.
Ditka was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 for his playing career with the Bears. He later coached Chicago to a Super Bowl win in 1985 behind a defense revered for its toughness and talent that allowed only 12.4 points a game. It also had four Hall of Famers on the squad.
When Ditka left Chicago in 1992 and was hired by the Saints in 1997, he sought a quarterback to lead a new era in New Orleans. He looked to the 22-year-old 1996 Heisman Trophy winner, Florida’s Danny Wuerffel, in the fourth round (99th overall) of the 1997 NFL draft.
When scouts didn’t believe in Wuerffel’s college abilities that led the Gators to their first national title, Ditka did, comparing him to Jim McMahon, his Super Bowl-winning quarterback
“This guy (Wuerffel) is a winner,” Ditka said on deseret.com. “He’s a true winner on every level he’s played.”
Ditka didn’t care what scouts and experts said about Wuerffel’s lack of arm strength, instead believing his strengths outweighed his weaknesses.
“He has great vision,” Ditka said to the Los Angeles Times. “He has great command. He understands the offense as well as any of those guys right now.”
Wuerffel’s rookie year ended with two starts and two losses. His second year, however, improved, going 2-0 after the Saints’ starting quarterback was injured.
Wuerffel then lost two straight before being benched following a 31-0 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Wuerffel didn’t start another game in New Orleans. The Saints released Wuerffel after Ditka was fired in January 2000.
Wuerffel started only 10 games in his NFL career, but six came under a coach who gave him his first chance.
“I’m eternally grateful for the coach taking a chance drafting me to New Orleans,” Wuerffel wrote Friday on Instagram. “Prayers of Peace and grace for all who loved him. We’ll miss you, coach.”
Category: Football, Former Gators, Gators Football, NFL
