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Football Hall of Famer Mike Ditka, who earned legendary status as the coach of the 1985 Chicago Bears, has been named a brand ambassador for BetRivers, the Exclusive Sportsbook Partner of that NFL team.
BetRivers has several unique features planned for Ditka, including “Da Coach’s Picks of the Week” and “Beat Da Coach,” a weekly web video series where the former coach will analyze the upcoming Bears matchup. In addition, Ditka will do all the brand ambassador things that brand ambassadors do: appearing at events, lending his likeness to promotions and online advertising, and so on.
Ditka’s deal is with Rush Street Interactive (RSI), a Chicago-based company that owns BetRivers.com and other gaming brands. RSI currently has online and/or retail gaming operations in Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Ditka played 12 seasons in the NFL, six with the Bears. He was the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1961 with Chicago, and a five-time Pro Bowler. A tough tight end who could catch the ball downfield or serve as a run blocker, Ditka was a member of the NFL’s 75th anniversary and 100th anniversary all-time teams. He was a Super Bowl Champion with the Cowboys in Super Bowl VI. He was selected as one of the Chicago Bears 100 Greatest Players of All-Time, and elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the first tight end so honored.
But Ditka’s greatest acclaim came as a coach. He was a member of the Cowboys staff that won Super Bowl XII, and the Bears hired him to be their head coach in 1982. The decision transformed the franchise, as the rugged Ditka led Chicago to a 15-1 record and victory in Super Bowl XX. That team is considered one of the greatest in NFL history. Ditka is the only man to win a Super Bowl as a player, assistant coach, and head coach, and also win an NFL championship in the pre-Super Bowl era.
Online Gambling In Illinois
Sports betting was legalized in Illinois in 2020, but didn’t really take off until this year due to delays caused by the pandemic. At this point, several sportsbooks are available in the state, with some restrictions still in place. For example, bettors cannot wager on in-state college sports at this time in Illinois. A bill to change that may be introduced this November.
