Hinsdale Magazine | Mike Ditka
Former Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka talks to HM contributing editor Mike Ellis about the upcoming NFL season at Ditka’s Restaurant in Oakbrook Terrace.
Sunday Conversation ‘Da Coach’ previews the 2017 NFL season By Mike Ellis | Photography by Marco Nunez Last month, Hinsdale Magazine caught up with legendary Chicago Bears head coach Mike Ditka at his restaurant in Oakbrook Terrace. Publisher Scott Jonlich and contributing editor Mike Ellis sat down with “Da Coach” to discuss his new venture in Westmont, Grill 89, and to preview the 2017 NFL season, which kicks off later this month.
SCOTT JONLICH: Grill 89 seems like it’s really taken hold, and it’s got some good community support. MIKE DITKA: It’s not a Ditka’s [Restaurant]—it’s a little lower-end. It’s doing well; it really is; the concept’s doing well. We’re very excited about it. The opportunity is good for us. We like to be out in the western suburbs—it’s been great for us. This place has been great.
SCOTT: How did you decide on naming “Grill 89” after coach’s uniform number? 24
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JEFF SHEARER: We tried to do a grill downtown, and it just didn’t work out on Madison Street. And then all of a sudden, this property came up, and we were just trying to tie it in, and make sure subtly people still know it’s coach [Ditka]; people still know it’s part of our brand. ... We were going to do “Ditka’s Bar & Grill,” but we thought it was too close to [Ditka’s Restaurant], so we just tried to tie-in the number. It’s amazing how many people understand it without us even saying it’s a Ditka restaurant. MIKE ELLIS: Do you think with all of the rule changes, the quarterback position has become even more important? DITKA: They’re throwing the ball so much more. The running game is important to me, because I’m old-school; but if you look at what they’re doing formation-wise, they