Virginia Halas McCaskey, owner of Chicago Bears for more than 40 years, died Thursday. She was 102.
McCaskeyy’s father, George Halas, founded the team, and she adopted ownership at her death on October 31, 1983. Her son, George, has operated the franchise since he became chairman in 2011.
A cause of death was not announced.
“While we are sad, we are comforted to know that Virginia Halas McCaskey lived a long, full, faithful life and is now with the love of her life on earth,” the family said in a statement released by the team. “She guided the bears for four decades and based every business decision on what was best for Bears players, coaches, staff and fans.”
McCaskey was at the helm when Bears won her first Super Bowl – and the ninth NFL championship – in 1985. She participated in every home and road game she could and had said that while she did not have her father’s football condition, she always wanted to hire them best people to lead the product.
Her death is not expected to affect the ownership of the bears. The team has a succession plan that is in the NFL, and McCaskey gave a glimpse of what it included in an interview in 2016 with The Athletic.
Then she predicted that the bears would remain family -owned “until the other is coming.” After growing up with the bears herself, she encouraged her heirs to participate in games and learn as much about Bears place in Chicago and NFL as possible.
Last month, Bears McCaskey wanted a happy 102 birthday through social media.
She was born in Chicago in 1923, the oldest of George and my halas two children. At College at Drexel in Philadelphia, she met her future husband, Edward E. McCaskey, and they married on February 2, 1943.
McCaskeys settled in Des Plaines, Ill., 1948 after McCaskey’s military service, and he went to work with Bears in 1967 while his wife focused on raising his 11 children.
But when George Halas Jr., her brother, suddenly died in 1979 and followed from her father’s death, Virginia McCaskey was responsible.
When her husband and some of their children took over the daily operation of the club, Virginia focused on programs to Better Chicago and founded the Bears Care program in 2005. Since then, Bears Care has issued a total of more than $ 31.5 million to local authorities.
“Her impact on the football community will never be forgotten. Our thoughts are with her family and the entire Bears organization during this difficult time,” wrote Pro Football Hall of Fame in a statement.
We are sorry to hear about the passing away by @Chicagobears Owner Virginia Halas McCaskey.
Virginia took over the main ownership of the bears in 1983 after her father, George Halas passed away, and her impact on the football community will never be forgotten.
Our… pic.twitter.com/fopwppw3zu
– Pro Football Hall of Fame (@Profootballhof) February 6, 2025
Edward McCaskey passed away in 2003, followed by sons Timothy 2011 and Michael in 2020. She survived by nine children, 21 grandchildren, 40 grandchildren and four great -grandchildren.
Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue sometimes referred to her as “the first lady in the NFL”, but several women joined the owner’s rank since McCaskey did. They are Gayle Benson, New Orleans Saints; Sheila Ford Hamp, Detroit Lions; Amy Adams Stunk, Tennessee Titans; And Jody Allen, Seattle Seahawks. The list also contains three women who have ownership with family members: Dee Haslam (Cleveland Browns), Denise Debartolo York (San Francisco 49ers), Carol Davis (Las Vegas Raiders) and Kim Pegula (Buffalo Bills).
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