Virginia Halas McCaskey
Quoting the Tribune: “McCaskey was born on Jan. 5, 1923, making her about 3 years younger than the NFL itself.
Her life has been marked by tragedy, which unexpectedly accelerated her career trajectory and led a former league commissioner to call her the “First Lady of the NFL.”
Her mother, “Min,” died of a heart attack in 1966. The same ailment killed her younger brother, George “Mugs” Halas Jr., in 1979. Halas died in 1983 of cancer, never revealing his diagnosis to his only daughter. Virginia’s husband of 60 years, Edward W. McCaskey, died in 2003. She’s outlived two of her own children and one of her favorite Bears, Walter Payton.
Virginia and the McCaskey family inherited the Bears without any experience, without much background, without any expectation, without any real desire on Virginia’s part, but she’s made it her lifelong, solemn duty to do what she thinks her father would want her to do,”
Welcome to my next iteration in my “Owning the League” series, today we will look at Chicago’s Virginia Halas McCaskey. For full discloser, McCaskey’s official title is secretary board of directors, but she does own 80% of the team and has the empowerment to speak for team. Also, her name is Halas, kind of a big deal in Chicago if you ask me.
McCaskey inherited the team after the heir-apparent, George “Mugs” Halas Jr passed away of a heart attack with her dad following soon after. She inherited a well put together team, and was the principle owner when Chicago won Super Bowl XX. However, the success would not last as the team struggled into the 90s and since 1999, Virginia distanced herself from the team, preferring a “hands off” approach. Her son, Michael McCaskey, was named team president from 1983 to 1999 and was chairman of the board until 2011, when his brother took the position.
Her husband, Ed McCaskey served as co-owner until his death in 2003, he also previously served as chairman and treasurer of the Bears. McCaskey has mentioned that the happiest day of her life has been when she accepted the NFC Championship after beating the Saints to go to Super Bowl XLI.
After the recent passing of Bill Bidwell, Virginia became the oldest NFL owner at the age of 96, she is the eldest child of Chicago legend George Halas. After all, she was born in on January 5, 1923 in Chicago.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much information on Virginia that I could find. But I hope you enjoyed this addition to the series nonetheless! Next we will take a look at Mike Brown, owner of the Cincinnati Bungles!
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I had this funny thought last night that she had been doing mock drafts, making memes and shit posting on this sub.
Or, I just pictured her getting a leather bound checkbook out of her purse and gives Poles a butterscotch while she writes the check.
Do you think it's better to have an owner that is a figurehead or one that is involved at a closer level??
Could this guy be anymore amazing?! Still can't believe he is on the Bears!
I understand you want them to sell the team, in many ways I agree, but complaining that someone hasn’t died yet is pathetic and just plain hateful. This season has revealed a side of our fan base that needs to check themselves. Hate is never the answer.