Virginia McCaskey, the owner of the Chicago Bears and daughter of NFL co-founder George Halas, passed away Thursday at the age of 102. Her family confirmed the news, though the cause of her death was not disclosed.
In a statement, the McCaskey family said, “While we are sad, we find comfort knowing Virginia Halas McCaskey lived a long, fulfilling, faith-filled life and is now reunited with the love of her life.” They also shared how she led the Bears for four decades, making decisions with the team’s players, coaches, staff, and fans in mind.
A rare female figure in NFL leadership, McCaskey preferred to stay out of the spotlight, leaving most of the team’s operations to her late husband, Ed McCaskey, and their 11 children. She once remarked in 2007, “Maybe I’m not competent, but Ed and I found the people to do the job,” after the Bears’ NFC Championship victory.
Born on January 5, 1923, in Chicago, Virginia never planned to take control of her family’s NFL team. Her father, George Halas, was a pivotal founder of the NFL, while her younger brother, George “Mugs” Halas Jr., was expected to succeed him. After his sudden passing in 1979 and George Sr.’s death in 1983, the responsibility fell to Virginia and Ed.
Under her leadership, the Bears reached Super Bowl success in the 1985 season, though they have faced challenges since. Throughout her tenure, McCaskey stayed committed to keeping the team within the family.
McCaskey is survived by nine of her 11 children, along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ed, in 2003, and two of her sons, Tim and Michael.
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