Papa Bear Halas (Photo courtesy of the Chicago Bears Football Club).
A person may think that the Patriots and Saints had the market on cheating with all of the “gates” scandals. If you’re a real football history buff, you may recall the “Lester Hayes” rule on stickum.
You may be surprised to know that cheating has been around as long as the league has. If anything, it was easier in the dark ages of the league.
George Halas was in on the fun, projecting his dirty bird energy.
George Halas Itching to Cause Trouble
Didn’t think itching powder would be on this list, now did ya?
The Chicago Bear Player/Coach/Owner (these roles often overlapped since 1921 until he died in 1983) was a creative man.
There are two different theories about just where the itching powder went. Some say on the opponent’s bars of soap in the visiting locker room, and others say he put the powder directly in their uniforms.
With George, anything is possible.
Like cutting holes into other teams’ locker room towels. This has a less obvious explanation, but knowing Halas, it was probably just to get in the heads of his opponents.
Ain’t No Dog About It
Rumor has it that George Halas had a “timeout” dog that was trained to run out on the field on cue. It just so happens that this would only happen when Halas needed a time-out and had already run out.
George Halas Invented Spygate
Just how much George Halas did or didn’t spy on other teams is anyone’s guess. Well… not so much if he did, but how much he did. Halas loves getting into an opponent’s head, and their fear of his spying could be as powerful as the actual spying. Did anyone consult this man for interrogation techniques?
If Curly Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers didn’t have paranoia before he met Halas, he certainly had it after.
The Beginning of an Era
It could be a coincidence, and it could be intentional, but in 1925, the Packers took the win against the Bears after they had a closed practice. As in, if you aren’t a Packer, get packing.
Espionage
Lambeau sounds like he’s a secret agent in a past life, when he told his players not to speak about the games in Green Bay the week prior to a Bears game sometime after 1925. Allegedly, Curly thought Halas had spies in hotel lobbies, the YMCA, and bars. Loose lips sink ships!
Vince Lombardi allegedly had the same concern. He would have players wear different uniform numbers during practice the week before their Bears game. Lombardi was certain that there were spies in the homes or buildings peeking in during practices.
Of course, Halas was concerned about people spying on him. For example, in training camp in 1947, George would keep an eye out for Green Bay spies he was sure were there. If he suspected someone specifically, he would have his players “camouflage” the plays.
In 1963, the hot goss was that a man taking photos of Wrigley Field from a third-story apartment building was a Packers spy. George Halas said it was just a reporter because he knew about the things going on at his stadium. Confidence or covering up from embarrassment? Only he knows.
The Most Substantial Evidence
There’s no record that former Chicago Bears player and member of the coaching staff, Gene Ronzani, had a mental breakdown. There’s not a clear sign that he had paranoia. So when he became the head coach at Green Bay, his nearly pathologic paranoia seemed to be rooted in reality.
Ronzani didn’t do the playbook thing. Instead of a playbook, he would show a drawing of a play for about 10 seconds. Everyone had just enough time to learn their own role in the play, and that was it. Kyler Murray wouldn’t have to worry about his homework there.
Injured players were at every practice. Literally blocking holes and openings in the fence so Chicago spies couldn’t look in.
Coach Gene would stop practices if a plane drove over the practice area.
What did Ronzani have to say about the whole situation?
A former Green Bay Packers linebacker recalls Coach Gene Ronzani saying this:
“Bears spies are around here somewhere. I know they are. They always did it when I was there.”
A Modern Day Case
George Halas never rested. At 85 years old, Halas had the Bears’ personnel director study a Packers coach who was signal-calling from the sidelines, matching plays with signals.
When the two teams played each other again, Halas had his director “decode” the signals and relay them to Buddy Ryan, the DC at the time. Ryan would then tell his defensive players.
The Bears won 61-7 that day.
For other imperfect but entertaining characters in the NFL, look here.
