Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey dead at 102: Tributes pour in for longest-serving NFL team exec

By ALEX RASKIN

The Chicago Bears have announced the passing of principal owner Virginia Halas McCaskey at age 102.

The daughter of team founder and former coach, George Halas, inherited the team upon his death in 1983 and was the NFL’s longest-tenured owner. The team has remained in the family since the Halas acquired the Decatur Staleys and moved the team to Chicago in 1921, renaming the club the following year.

The team was originally supposed to go to her younger brother George Halas Jr., but he died of a heart attack in 1979, and the club ultimately went to McCaskey. 

During her reign the Bears would win Super Bowl XX over the New England Patriots in January of 1986 in New Orleans, where the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles are currently preparing to play Super Bowl LIX on Sunday.

She married Ed McCaskey in 1943 and the couple had 11 children and more than 40 grandchildren and great grandchildren.

McCaskey was known for making tough decisions, including the firing of her son and team president, Michael, in 1999. He remained chairman of the board until 2011, when he was succeeded by his brother. She also cut the team’s cheerleading squad, the Honey Bears, because she deemed the performances to be ‘sexist and degrading to women.’

The Bears have announced the passing of principal owner Virginia Halas McCaskey at age 102

Bears legend Gale Sayers is seen alongside McCaskey’s father George Halas at Wrigley 

McCaskey laughs as she is presented with the George S Halas trophy after the Chicago Bears defeated the New Orleans Saints to win the NFC Championship in January of 2007 

The Bears struggled in 2024 but won the final game of the season on a last-second field goal to beat the rival Green Bay Packers after going winless for 10 weeks.

‘This was the very last Chicago Bears play Virginia McCaskey saw,’ one fan wrote on X while posting footage of Cairo Santos’ game-winning kick. ‘Special.’

‘Her contributions to the Chicago Bears and the league as a whole are immeasurable,’ another added.

One fan described McCaskey as ‘NFL royalty.’

‘From the early days of the league to today, Virginia McCaskey’s legacy is unmatched,’ they wrote.

The family also released its own statement on Thursday.

‘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 wrote, referring to her late husband. ‘She guided the Bears for four decades and based every business decision on what was best for Bears players, coaches, staff and fans.’

The Bears are entering the 2025 season with a new coach, former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who recently tapped ex-Chiefs OC Eric Bieniemy to be his running backs coach. 

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Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey dead at 102: Tributes pour in for longest-serving NFL team exec

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