Fred Mitchell

Dick Butkus acknowledges fans before announcing the Bears' second-round draft pick during the 2015 NFL draft on May 1, 2015, at the Auditorium Theatre at Roosevelt University in Chicago.

‘He was Chicago’s son’: Dick Butkus, the Hall of Fame Bears linebacker known for his toughness, dies at 80

March 12, 2024 at 11:54 a.m.

Perhaps no player in the Chicago Bears' 104-year history better epitomized the team's tough and determined identity than Dick Butkus. A product of Chicago's working-class South Side and the University...

Gale Sayers (40) is helped from the field by Mike Pyle (50) and Gary Lyle after the Bears running back was injured in a game with San Francisco, circa Nov. 11, 1968. Sayers was out for the season.

Gale Sayers, the Chicago Bears’ Hall of Fame running back, dies at 77: ‘He was poetry in motion. His like will never be seen again.’

September 24, 2020 at 12:26 p.m.

Gale Sayers, the dazzling Chicago Bears running back and kick returner whose injury-shortened career made him the youngest player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, died after a...

Cassius Clay, later Muhammad Ali, "battles" the Beatles at his training camp in Miami Beach, Fla., in 1964.

Fred Mitchell: My day with Muhammad Ali in Michigan

August 21, 2019 at 11:37 p.m.

Years before the dreadful effects of Parkinson's disease ravaged the motor skills of Muhammad Ali, I was able to spend a few precious hours with the champ in 1998 at...

Walter Payton relaxes after breaking Jim Brown's NFL record for combined yardage in a victory over Denver in on September 1984. Payton rushed for 179 yards in the game.

Payton to Halas to Banks to Ali to Ditka: Fred Mitchell’s top memories

May 24, 2019 at 12:06 a.m.

As I walk out of Tribune Tower for the final time after more than 41 years of incredible experiences, I would like to say thank you to readers, media colleagues,...

Illinois running back Josh Ferguson runs against Northwestern in 2014.

Northwestern motivated by loss to Illini a year ago

June 16, 2018 at 4:18 p.m.

Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald has not forgotten the defeat Illinois handed his Wildcats last season, and he knows his vastly improved team could be challenged Saturday at Soldier Field. "They...

First NFL start worth the wait for Broncos QB Brock Osweiler

May 10, 2019 at 4:58 p.m.

The delayed gratification for Broncos quarterback Brock Osweiler went beyond waiting years for his first NFL starting assignment. The 6-foot-8, 240-pounder had to wait four-plus hours on the team plane...

Chris Collins chats with team U.S. Basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski at the end of U.S. practice at the Quest MultiSport Center.

Chris Collins relishes chance for NU to compete with North Carolina

August 24, 2019 at 12:04 a.m.

Chris Collins is trying his best not to make Monday night too personal. When his Northwestern team takes on 3-1 North Carolina in Kansas City, Mo., Collins will try to...

Grading Northwestern’s performance vs. Wisconsin

June 16, 2018 at 3:55 p.m.

Northwestern captured a rare victory at Wisconsin on Saturday, prevailing 13-7. The Wildcats (9-2, 5-2 Big Ten) remain on pace to do what no other Northwestern football team has accomplished...

Northwestern's Clayton Thorson throws during the first half.

Thanksgiving comes early for Northwestern in 13-7 victory over Wisconsin

June 16, 2018 at 4:01 p.m.

The crowd was booing, snowballs were flying and the grateful visitors from Evanston slipped out of town under the cover of darkness Saturday with a 13-7 victory over Wisconsin at...

Northwestern offensive line adjusts to constantly changing cast

June 16, 2018 at 4:15 p.m.

When Pat Fitzgerald predicted "tough sledding in Madison" this weekend, he wasn't making a literal reference to the anticipated snow during the Northwestern-Wisconsin game at Camp Randall Stadium. The Wildcats...

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