Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey dead at 102: Tributes pour in for longest-serving NFL team exec
Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey dead at 102: Tributes pour in for longest-serving NFL team exec
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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.
![[Bears legend Gale Sayers is seen alongside McCaskey's father George Halas at Wrigley]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/06/17/94942017-14369357-Bears_legend-m-14_1738864483535.jpg)
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 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 and a trip to the Super Bowl]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2025/02/06/17/94942015-14369357-image-a-15_1738864518050.jpg)
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