AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
Virginia Halas McCaskey, longtime owner of the Chicago Bears and daughter of team founder George Halas, has died at the age of 102.
Her family announced her passing on Thursday, marking the end of a four-decade tenure as the franchise’s principal owner. She took over the team after her father’s death on Oct. 31, 1983.
“While we are sad, we are comforted knowing Virginia Halas McCaskey lived a long, full, faith-filled life and is now with the love of her life on earth,” the family said in a statement. “She guided the Bears for four decades and based every business decision on what was best for Bears players, coaches, staff, and fans.”
A Lifelong Commitment to the Bears
McCaskey remained dedicated to keeping the Bears in the family, just as her father had intended. She entrusted team operations to her eldest son, Michael McCaskey, who served as president and later chairman before his brother George McCaskey took over in 2011.
Under her leadership, the Bears won Super Bowl XX in 1986 and made another Super Bowl appearance in 2007.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell paid tribute to her impact on the league.
“Virginia Halas McCaskey, the matriarch of the Chicago Bears and daughter of George Halas, the founder of the NFL, leaves a legacy of class, dignity, and humanity,” Goodell said. “Faith, family, and football — in that order — were her north stars and she lived by the simple adage to always ‘do the right thing.’ The Bears that her father started meant the world to her and he would be proud of the way she continued the family business with such dedication and passion. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the McCaskey and Halas families and Bears fans around the world.”
Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan called her “a legend” and reflected on her influence.
“I wish peace and comfort to the McCaskey Family and everyone within the Chicago Bears organization upon the passing of Virginia Halas McCaskey,” Khan said. “The Bears were my first football love, and many years later it would be my immense privilege to learn from Mrs. McCaskey and her family as I explored a future in the NFL. Mrs. McCaskey did everything the right way, and her focus on family and the people in her life only begin to honor her legacy. We have lost a legend, but her positive impact on our game and league will last forever.”
Unexpected Ownership Role
McCaskey never expected to take control of the Bears. Her younger brother, George “Mugs” Halas Jr., was being prepared to run the team, but his sudden death in 1979 left the franchise’s future uncertain.
When her father passed in 1983, she became the team’s principal owner, while her husband, Ed McCaskey, took over as chairman. Shortly after, she passed control of day-to-day operations to Michael McCaskey, the eldest of her 11 children.
Despite her behind-the-scenes role, McCaskey made key decisions when necessary. One major instance came in 1987 when she resolved a lawsuit brought by the children of “Mugs” Halas through a stock buyout.
She also influenced major coaching changes. In 2014, after a disappointing 5-11 season, her son George McCaskey announced the firings of head coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery. When asked about his mother’s reaction, he didn’t hold back.
“She’s pissed off,” he said. “I can’t think of a 91-year-old woman that that description would apply, but in this case, I can’t think of a more accurate description.
“Virginia McCaskey has been on this Earth for eight of the Bears’ nine championships, and she wants more,” he added a moment later. “She feels that it’s been too long since the last [Super Bowl win], and that dissatisfaction is shared by her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She’s fed up with mediocrity. She feels that she and Bears fans everywhere deserve better.”
Deep Roots in Football
McCaskey was a Bears fan from childhood. She attended the first playoff game in NFL history in 1932 when the Bears defeated the Portsmouth Spartans indoors at Chicago Stadium.
“I remember I didn’t save my ticket stub, but one of my cousins had saved his,” she recalled in a 2006 interview. “We sat in the second balcony, and the ticket price was $1.25.”
“I took it to one of the Super Bowls to show [former commissioner] Pete Rozelle and then I don’t know what happened to it afterward,” she added. “But that’s OK.”
Her dedication to the team extended into everyday life. Family members said she wouldn’t serve dessert on Sundays when the Bears lost.
Legacy Beyond the Field
In 2005, McCaskey helped establish Bears Care, the team’s charitable arm. Since its founding, Bears Care has provided over $31.5 million in grants to 225 organizations focused on helping disadvantaged children and families in the Chicago area. The initiative also supports breast and ovarian cancer awareness programs.
She is survived by her sons Patrick, Edward Jr., George, Richard, Brian, and Joseph; daughters Ellen Tonquest, Mary, and Anne Catron; 21 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
McCaskey’s passing marks the end of an era for the Bears, but her impact on the franchise and the NFL will endure.
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This report used information from ESPN.
