Ditka’s jersey number, which the Bears retired in 2013 and the University of Pittsburgh had done years earlier. On that chilly night at Soldier Field on Dec. 9, 2013, Ditka was emotional during a halftime ceremony, recalling his Bears career. “I saw Virginia (McCaskey) and she looks wonderful,” Ditka said. “I go back with her and (her late husband) Ed (McCaskey) to the beginning and I was a 22-year-old kid when I came to Chicago and met Mr. Halas. I was dazzled by that $12,000-a-year contract. I went out and bought a new car. I had it going.”