Mike Ditka’s Iconic 1985 Bears Sweater Vest Goes Up For Auction

Before you think to yourself "I might want to bid on that sweater vest!" you might want to take a look at the money that iconic piece of Bears-wear is expected to fetch at auction.

If you grew up in Bears country, and let’s be honest, this is Bears country in spite of the efforts of Packers fans, then Mike Ditka’s legendary sweater vest is more than just a piece of clothing. It’s a symbol of an era.

Now, that very vest is headed to auction, and fans everywhere are buzzing. The famous wool knit, most often seen on Ditka’s shoulders during the team’s glory days of 1985-86, has been consigned through Goldin Auctions with a stunningly expensive estimate of between $250,000 and $500,000.

If An Item Is Connected To The 1985 Chicago Bears, People Want It And Will Pay Top Dollar To Get It No Matter What It Is

Collectors around the country have snapped up jerseys, autographed footballs, helmets, even turf from Soldier Field, but this vest might be one of the most purely iconic items to ever surface. After all, it’s the kind of thing that immediately conjures up the Super Bowl run, the swagger, the “46 defense” that terrorized quarterbacks, and the unforgettable personality of Da Coach himself.

For fans who lived it, or even those who’ve had to listen to their parents and grandparents go on and on about that legendary season (my kids know this feeling very well), this auction is the ultimate time capsule. It’s not just knit fabric; it’s an intrinsic piece of the greatest season in Chicago Bears history. (click here to go to the auction site)

Now, who can loan me some money for bidding?