Curley and Da Coach

Elliott and David welcome legendary Chicago Bears Head Coach Mike Ditka to the program. Plus, six-time Pro Bowl Defensive Lineman Curley Culp, who will be joining the ranks of the Pro Football Hall of Fame this summer.

Episode Segments:

Sports and Torts: Mike Ditka We look back at the career of the legendary Chicago Bear, both as a player and as a coach.
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Sports and Torts: Hall of Famer Curley Culp Curley Culp, an All-American in football and wrestling at Arizona State, was selected in the second round of the 1968 draft by the Denver Broncos. The team attempted to switch him to guard on offense and when the experiment did not work, Denver ultimately dealt him to the Kansas City Chiefs where he instantly became an integral part of the club’s dominating defense.
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Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

Mike Dikta Mike Ditka, Pro Football Hall of Fame player and Super Bowl-winning coach, joined ESPN as an NFL analyst in 2004. With a combined 26 years of playing (12) and head coaching (14) experience, Ditka is a key weekly contributor to Monday Night Countdown, Monday Quarterback on ESPNEWS, The NFL Huddle on ESPN Radio and SportsCenter. Ditka also previously worked as both an analyst and commentator at CBS and NBC. Ditka has amassed a career few can match. He is only the second person to win the Super Bowl as a player (Dallas, 1972), assistant coach (Dallas, 1977) and head coach (Chicago, 1986). After earning All-America honors at the University of Pittsburgh, the tight end enjoyed a stellar 12-year NFL playing career. He was named NFL Rookie of the Year and selected All-Pro six times. He also caught a touchdown in the Cowboy’s Super Bowl VI win against the Miami Dolphins. As an assistant coach with Dallas, Mike Ditka’s teams made it to the playoffs eight times including the 1977 Super Bowl victory. In 1982, he assumed the head job in Chicago, and in 11 years, collected six NFC Central titles, three NFC championship game appearances, and the Super Bowl XX title (1986) for which he was named Coach of the Year. He again earned the honor in 1988 after coaching the Bears to the NFC championship game. Mike Ditka left Chicago in 1992 only to return as head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 1997. He retired from coaching in 2000. Ditka continues to generously devote himself to varied charitable endeavors, including numerous anti-drug and prevention campaigns. He founded The Mike Ditka Foundation in 1989 to raise funds for Misericordia, a residential facility for developmentally disabled children, and also, for pediatric AIDS research programs. Since his days with the Chicago Bears, Mike Ditka has opened Iron Mike’s Grille, located in the Tremont Hotel in Chicago. His favorite hobby remains golf to which he plays to a six handicap. He also has a collection of antique cars and a Harley Davidson. Mike is married (Diana) and they reside in New Orleans. They have four children; Mike, Mark , Megan, and Matthew. Mike's Official Website

Curley Culp Curley Culp, an All-American in football and wrestling at Arizona State, was selected in the second round of the 1968 draft by the Denver Broncos. The team attempted to switch him to guard on offense and when the experiment did not work, Denver ultimately dealt him to the Kansas City Chiefs where he instantly became an integral part of the club’s dominating defense. In his second pro season, he helped the Chiefs win Super Bowl IV. He started at left defensive tackle in the 1969 AFL Championship Game and contributed four tackles, two assists, and a sack as the Chiefs downed the Oakland Raiders 17-7. He then added three tackles and one assisted tackle in Kansas City’s 23-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings in the Super Bowl. After six-plus seasons in Kansas City, Culp was traded in 1974 to the Houston Oilers as part of a blockbuster trade. It was with Houston that he began to gain perennial acclaim for his consistent high level of play. Almost instantly Culp helped transform the Oilers from losers to contenders. In his first full season with the Oilers, the team finished with a 10-4-0 record which was the first winning mark for the club in eight years and just the second in 13 seasons. He was the anchor of the Oilers who had the top ranked defense against the run in the AFC, and third in the entire NFL, in 1975. Culp recorded arguably his finest season as he chipped in with 11.5 sacks and was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year by the Newspaper Enterprise Association. Culp continued as a leader of the Oilers defense that culminated in back-to-back appearances in the AFC championship games in 1978 and 1979. He was named to one AFL All-Star Game and five Pro Bowls during his career. Culp also was picked as a first-team All-Pro in 1975 and a second-team selection in 1971, 1977, 1978, and 1979. He was selected first- or second-team All-AFC five times. He played in 179 career games that included a final stint with the Detroit Lions. Curley's Page at the Pro Football Hall of Fame