Bears’ Ditka Hospitalized With Mild Heart Attack

Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka suffered a mild heart attack after his morning workout today at the team’s training camp and was hospitalized in serious but stable condition.

The 49-year-old National Football League coach was given medication, said Dr. Jay Alexander, a cardiologist at Lake Forest Hospital.

“It’s too soon to say when he will be back and resuming his duties,” Alexander said. “He suggested 48 hours.”

Bears President Mike McCaskey said Ditka appeared to be in good spirits and joked about visiting a friend at the hospital later today.

“He felt a little rueful about all this. He was beginning to realize that there was a good reason to be brought to the hospital,” McCaskey said.

McCaskey said he would name an assistant coach later this week to direct Sunday’s game against Tampa Bay in Ditka’s absence.

Both the players and McCaskey agreed the disruption would be minimal because a game plan was nearly completed and Ditka increasingly has turned over play-calling responsibilities to offensive coordinator Ed Hughes and his defensive counterpart, Vince Tobin.

Ditka suffered chest pains as he was getting dressed for an appearance at a rally for George Bush in nearby Prairie View and was taken to the hospital by private vehicle, said Bears spokesman Bryan Harlan.

Assistant coach Johnny Roland said Ditka suffered chest pains Monday as well but apparently did nothing about them. Roland said three assistant coaches persuaded Ditka to go to the hospital.

“He was fighting us . . . not necessarily fighting us, but discouraging us from going to get help,” Roland said. “But you could tell he was obviously in dire need of help.”

Known for his fiery temperament as a player and coach, Ditka has spent 27 years in pro football and was accorded the game’s highest honor by being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame earlier this year.