On Thursday, February 6, 2025, Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey passed away. She was 102 years old.
McCaskey was never meant to become the owner of the Chicago Bears. She sat on the Bears board of directors for decades before her promotion. Her younger brother, George Halas Jr., was supposed to take their father’s place as owner before he died of a sudden heart attack in 1979. When George Halas Sr. died four years later, McCaskey took on his role on October 31, 1983. She was the owner for the next 42 years.
McCaskey was the oldest owner in all of professional sports in the United States, and the longest-tenured owner in NFL history. She was one of five women who independently own a team in the NFL franchise.
Under her ownership, the 1985 Bears made it to Super Bowl XX, where they beat the New England Patriots 46-10, still the lone Super Bowl win for Chicago to date.
On January 5, 2025, McCaskey’s 102nd birthday, she got to witness the Bears beat the Green Bay Packers for the first time since 2018 to end their regular season. She was lovingly referred to as “Mama Bear”. McCaskey was a devout Catholic and held a big focus on bettering the Chicagoland community. She always vowed to do the right thing.
Virginia McCaskey witnessed more football history than any other person in the NFL. Growing up in the Halas family, she was always surrounded by the game and grew to be very passionate about the Bears, like her father was. Today, he would be proud of how she has kept the family in the business of the Chicago Bears.
She had 11 children, eight sons and three daughters. She is survived by her daughters and six of her sons. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.