As tributes to Mike Ditka continue to circulate following his death, one of the NFL legend’s most pointed political moments is getting renewed attention: his 2016 rebuke of Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protests.
According to a Breitbart Sports piece published Friday, Ditka — the Hall of Fame tight end and Super Bowl-winning head coach of the Chicago Bears — was unambiguous when asked about the then-San Francisco 49ers quarterback’s decision to kneel during the anthem. The article characterizes Ditka as “a staunch American patriot and a man who suffered no fools,” framing the incident as central to his public identity.
The 2016 Interview
Breitbart recalls that Ditka appeared as a guest on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas at the time Kaepernick’s protests were first drawing national attention. Ditka did not hedge. He told the hosts that anyone who disrespects the country and its flag is a problem, adding that if someone doesn’t like the country or its flag, they should, in his words, “get the hell out.”
That line — “If they don’t like the country, they don’t like our flag … get the hell out” — has circulated widely on social media since his death, and it forms the backbone of Breitbart’s retrospective. Ditka went further, telling the station he had “no respect for Colin Kaepernick,” while acknowledging the feeling might be mutual and calling that Kaepernick’s choice.
Ditka contrasted his position with the grievances driving the protests. He said he respected the flag and the country, and that he did not see the widespread atrocities that protesters claimed existed in America. Instead, he described the United States as a “land of opportunity,” arguing that anyone willing to work could become whatever they wanted, and that people who choose not to look for opportunity can always find problems instead.
What the Article Says — and What It Signals
Breitbart’s framing is openly admiring. The outlet does not present Ditka’s comments as a balanced debate point; it presents them as evidence of character. It describes Kaepernick as “anti-American” and as a “media darling,” language that reflects the outlet’s editorial posture rather than a neutral account of the controversy. That framing matters for how the piece lands: it is a eulogy with a political argument embedded in it, using Ditka as a vehicle for a larger point about patriotism and protest.
Kaepernick’s protests, which began in 2016 and spread across the league, were aimed at police brutality and racial inequality. They were among the most polarizing sports stories of the decade, drawing both fierce criticism and support, and eventually contributing to Kaepernick’s departure from the NFL. Ditka’s remarks placed him firmly on one side of that divide, and they have remained a touchstone for conservatives who saw the protests as disrespectful to the military and the flag.
The timing of Breitbart’s piece — published Friday, roughly a day after news of Ditka’s death began to spread — suggests the outlet is positioning his anthem comments as part of his legacy. The headline itself uses the quote as a hook, and the article opens by asserting that Ditka “was many things, but above all, he was a staunch American patriot.” That is a claim about values, not a report of new information, and it colors everything that follows.
Why the Quote Endures
Ditka’s death has prompted a wave of commentary from figures across sports and politics, much of it focused on his outsized personality and his willingness to say exactly what he thought. His 2016 comments fit that mold. Whether or not one agrees with them, they were not the product of a media strategy or a carefully worded statement; they were delivered in a radio interview in blunt, unvarnished terms.
That style made Ditka a beloved figure in Chicago and a frequent presence in conservative media, where his willingness to criticize progressive causes — including athlete protests — was celebrated. Breitbart’s retrospective is part of that tradition: it treats his opposition to Kaepernick not as a controversy but as a credential.
The article also functions as a reminder of how sharply the anthem debate divided the country in 2016 and how much of that division remains. Kaepernick never returned to the NFL after the 2016 season. Ditka moved on to other pursuits, but he never walked back his words.
A Legacy in His Own Words
Breitbart closes its piece by directing readers to the author’s social media accounts, a standard practice for the outlet. The substance of the article, however, is almost entirely Ditka’s words from nearly a decade ago, which is perhaps the point: in a moment of national mourning and political recrimination, the outlet is letting the coach speak for himself.
Ditka’s remarks remain notable for their directness. He did not soften his view, did not acknowledge nuance, and did not apologize. He said what he believed and left it at that. For his admirers, that is the essence of the man. For his critics, it is a reminder of the cultural fault lines he helped illuminate.
Either way, the quote is likely to keep circulating as the country remembers a coach who was, in Breitbart’s telling, first and foremost a patriot.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/10/09/mike-ditka-was-patriot-who-loved-america-they-dont-like-our-flag-get-hell-out/