After spending over 40 years as the Chicago Bears Principal owner, Virginia McCaskey has passed away at the age of 102, per a post on X by the team. The daughter of “Papa Bear” George Halas was his oldest child who inherited the franchise when he passed away in 1983.
McCaskey also served as the team’s corporate secretary and that was her plan all along when she entered college. She earned her degree in business management from Drexel University and instantly joined the best family business to be a part of upon her graduation.
The franchise was not originally supposed to go to the eldest child of Halas upon his death. George Halas Jr, better known as “Mugs” was to take over the team until his sudden death in 1979 of a heart attack. McCaskey ended up being one of the more prominent female owners in NFL history throughout her time in Chicago.
Virginia McCaskey oversaw two Chicago Bears Super Bowl games
In McCaskey’s second season as the owner in Chicago, the organization went on to win the Super Bowl in dominant fashion against the New England Patriots. The 1986 team had one of the best defenses to ever roam a football field and with Buddy Ryan’s system, they were unstoppable. This Super Bowl victory is still the only one in Bears history with the 40-year anniversary coming up this season.
The second Super Bowl appearance in franchise history and also under McCaskey’s ownership came in the 2006 season. Devin Hester’s iconic kick return was the highlight of the game that did not bounce Chicago’s way.
McCaskey’s passing comes right before a new era of Bears football was getting ready to take shape. The team will honor her memory throughout the upcoming season when the first games will be played at Soldier Field in August.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) February 6, 2025
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