Beloved football player, coach, and commentator Mike Ditka passed away last week. He was one of the most recognizable yet polarizing figures in sports history.
To many, he was the quintessential scary, tough guy—gritty, intense, competitive, and fiercely opinionated. But those who knew Ditka best shared stories that painted a softer, kinder, more benevolent picture of the Hall of Famer.
My favorite came from his former colleague Jim Nantz, who worked with Ditka on The NFL Today. Nantz recalled Ditka carrying nothing but $100 bills, which he used to tip servers, hotel staff, and others he encountered.
He’d buy a beer at a bar, pay with $100 bill, and tell the bartender to “keep the change.” He’d do the same with coat checks, restaurant tabs, and taxi fares.
When Nantz finally worked up the nerve to ask Ditka why he never asked for change, “Da Coach” told him: “What’s the difference, anyway? You know, when I die… I hope there’s a little opening in that coffin, and my last $100 bill comes flying out and goes up into the sky and drifts away, and that would make me happy.”
Ditka’s response was rather revealing. He admitted to budgeting $100,000 for this “habit” and went on to explain that he expected to travel to New York 20 times to film The NFL Today—17 regular season games and three playoff games. He brought 50 $100 bills with him each time. Over the course of the season, he would give away $100,000.
Ditka could have easily made a single $100,000 donation to a large charity, but he recognized that being charitable on a smaller scale mattered too. That $100 bill could change the course of a struggling waitress’s day, or even her life.
The bigger picture, according to Nantz, was that Ditka’s habit of saying “keep the change” reflected a lifelong belief in generosity. The story isn’t really about money. It’s about how we view what we have, what we need, and what we can do for others.
Ditka could have asked for his change. He was entitled to it. Nobody would have criticized him for keeping it. But he chose to leave it behind because he recognized that the money could mean more to someone else than it did to him.
Good teammates don’t approach every interaction wondering what they can get out of it. They consider what they can contribute to it.
The beauty of this lesson is that it extends well beyond money.
- When someone needs help, good teammates give their time.
- When someone is struggling, good teammates give their attention.
- When someone succeeds, good teammates give their praise.
- When someone makes a mistake, good teammates give their grace.
The title of this article is meant to be viewed from the giver’s perspective, not the recipient’s. When someone offers to let you keep the change, accept their generosity with gratitude. But when you’re the one in a position to give, think about the figurative change you can create in the lives of others.
Generosity isn’t measured by how much you give. It’s measured by your willingness to give what you can. When you have the capacity to change someone’s day, mindset, or life, don’t keep that change to yourself.
Share it.
You don’t need a pocketful of $100 bills to be a good teammate. You just need a willingness to give what you can.
As always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.
