July 30--Mike Pyle, the center and captain of the 1963 NFL champion Bears, died Wednesday morning at Silverado Memory Care Community in Highland Park, his wife, Candy, confirmed. He was 76.
"A long time, 18 months in that place. We all think that it was CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy)," Candy Pyle said. "His brain has been sent to Boston (University for testing)."
Pyle suffered from dementia late in his life. He became a part of the lawsuit by multiple players against the NFL regarding CTE.
Pyle was a seventh-round draft pick out of Yale in 1961 and played nine years with the Bears. He later provided pregame and postgame reports for WGN-AM 720. Pyle also co-hosted the Mike Ditka Show on WMAQ-AM with Chet Coppock.
"Mike was just a good guy," former Bears wide receiver Johnny Morris said Wednesday. "It sounds so simple, but he always was a good guy. I just saw him for the (50-year) reunion for the championship (team in 2013).
"Mike was kind of a calming aspect for the offensive line. He and Bob Wetoska were the guys who kept the line together as a unit.
"Some guys like to pass the ball, like receivers and backs and tight ends. And some guys want to run. Mike wanted to run. He wanted to run that ball."
A New Trier High School product who also starred as a state champion in track and field (discus and shot put) and wrestling, Pyle was selected to the 1964 Pro Bowl team. He was a past president of the NFL Players Association.
Visitation will be 3-8 p.m. Aug. 6 at Donnellan Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, with a memorial service at 10 a.m. Aug. 7 at Christ Church, 784 Sheridan Road, Winnetka.
