It wasn't quite a two-minute drill, but former Chicago Bears coach Mike Ditka scored a fast sales contract on his Naples, Florida, home.
The four-bedroom house at 9742 Wilshire Lakes Blvd. that listed for $1.375 million went under contract in 12 days to an out-of-state buyer who knew it was the NFL Hall of Famer's residence, according to listing agent Celeste Cunningham of John R. Wood Properties. The closing is set for Feb. 6.
"Not only was the Ditkas' home priced competitively, offering a great value for a Naples home with outstanding features, but the fact that an American legend resided in it helped as well with a quick sale," Cunningham said in an email.
Mike Ditka, already popular from his playing days, rose to icon status in Chicago, when his 1985 team delivered the city a Super Bowl win.
Naples homes usually stay on the market for one to three months, Cunningham said. She added that the listing in a gated development received multiple offers in less than two weeks.
With a 20% down payment and a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage at 6.93%, the buyer would pay $7,267 a month in principal and interest, according to Homes.com data.
The home, built by Ditka and his wife, Diana, in 2002, has a den, grand foyer, wood detailing and a screened-in swimming pool, according to Homes.com. Other features include a spa, lake views, a three-car garage, privacy hedges, a breakfast bar in the kitchen and dual vanities in the master bathroom.
The Ditkas recently moved back to Chicago, according to Crain's Chicago Business.
Ditka, a tight end, was a first-round pick of the Bears in 1961 and won a championship playing for legendary Coach George Halas in 1963. In 1988, the player known for his toughness was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Starting in 1982, Ditka coached the Bears team for 11 years. He became an icon in the city when he led a Bears that had a historically dominant defense to an 18-1 record in the 1985 season. The team went on to win Super Bowl 20 played on Jan. 26, 1986.
Ditka later coached the New Orleans Saints for three years, famously trading all eight of his 1999 draft picks and two 2000 picks for the right to move up in the draft to select Texas running back Ricky Williams. While Williams proved to be a good player, the missed draft picks haunted Ditka and the Saints, and he never finished with a winning record there.
Still, Ditka went on to a successful football broadcasting career, again becoming a fan favorite for his blunt analysis and no-nonsense personality.
