Latest news with #GeorgeMcCaskey
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Bears chairman George McCaskey releases statement after Jim Irsay's death
Bears chairman George McCaskey releases statement after Jim Irsay's death Long-time Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay passed away at the age of 65, the team announced Wednesday. Irsay is a long-time member of the Colts, where he served as the team's vice president and general manager from 1984-1996 before taking over as owner following his father Robert Irsay's death in 1997. Indianapolis drafted Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning during Irsay's tenure, where he led the Colts to a world championship with a 29-17 victory over the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl 41 in 2006. Bears chairman George McCaskey released a statement following Irsay's passing, where he spoke with reverence about his friend. "Jim was a Chicago guy through and through, and spoke often about his pride in being connected to our great city," McCaskey wrote, via the Chicago Bears. "He was a gracious victory in Super Bowl XLI, and he was a great friend of the Bears. Our condolences to Carlie, Casey, Kalen and the entire Irsay family." Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Irsay family and the Indianapolis Colts. Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Bear's Den, April 3, 2025
San Francisco 49ers v Chicago Bears WE WANT YOU! Would you like to show your Chicago Bears spirit to the world? I'm starting a feature where Windy City Gridiron readers can share pictures of themselves and their families and friends in Bears attire. Simply email a picture to me at the following address: denmasterken at aol dot com. The pictures need to be clear, and full resolution (i.e. full size from your phone if that's how you take them). Include any description information you like along with the photo! Advertisement THE DAILY SPONGIE SPECIAL DENMASTER KEN'S VIDEO GRAB BAG BEARSSSSSS Bears Left Tackle Situation Uncertain as New-Look Offensive Line Takes Shape - BN - The Chicago Bears could see things shaken up on the offensive line in 2025 — specifically at left tackle. Caleb Williams' First Test Has Been Laid Out By New Bears Coach Ben Johnson - BN - Caleb Williams and the Bears offense will undergo at least one significant change when it hits the field in 2025. Canellis: Bears all in on Arlington Heights for new stadium - 670 - Fox 32 sports anchor Lou Canellis had long hoped and thought the Bears would work out a deal with the city and state to build a new stadium along the lakefront, but he no longer believes that. Advertisement McCaskeys 'intend to own the Bears for as long as possible' - 670 - Bears chairman George McCaskey and his family plan on maintaining ownership of the franchise 'for as long as possible,' he told reporters at the NFL owners meetings Wednesday. Bears' stadium tone shifts: 'The focus now is both downtown and Arlington Heights' - Chicago Sun-Times - The Bears own 326 acres in Arlington Heights. George McCaskey says family wants to own Bears for 'another 100 years' - Chicago Sun-Times - In his first public comments since his mom's death, the chairman said there will be no shift in ownership structure. Bears voted in favor of Tush Push ban proposed by Packers - Chicago Sun-Times - The Packers proposed banning the play, which was used mostly by the Super Bowl champion Eagles and Bills last year. McCaskey joked that he didn't like agreeing with the Bears' rival. Advertisement Chicago Bears stadium: Is momentum shifting to Arlington Heights? - Chicago Tribune - Chicago Bears President Kevin Warren confirmed at the NFL owners meetings that the team no longer has a singular focus on building its new stadium downtown. Bears shift focus on new stadium location to Arlington Heights; downtown still in play - The Athletic - After a year of talk about building a new stadium on the museum campus downtown, the Bears are shifting focus back to Arlington Heights. Chicago Bears' 2024 rookie class earns frustrating ranking after one season - SI - The Chicago Bears' 2024 draft class entered the league with as much hype as any in the NFL last season, but their performance didn't live up to expectations, according to this ranking. Ben Johnson providing 2025 fantasy football boost to Chicago Bears wide receivers - SI - Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson is having an unintended positive impact on DJ Moore and Rome Odunze's 2025 fantasy football outlook. Advertisement Unsung back who could fit into Chicago Bears draft wheelhouse - SI - NFL analyst Chris Simms has completed his look at running backs and sees a surprise player as third best, which would put him in prime position to be selected by the Bears. George McCaskey Sounds Off on Bears Ownership Succession Plan, Stadium, More - BN - Bears Chairman George McCaskey spoke publicly for the first time since the death of his mother, Virginia Halas McCaskey. Chicago Bears spending a lot on defense, so expectations are high - Windy City Gridiron - How are the NFC North teams spending their money on defense? We break down where the Bears' spend and their cohorts in this SB Nation series. POLISH SAUSAGE Dash To The Draft 2025 (NFC North Draft Preview with Jacob Infante) by Sports Krunch w/DKROM - What do you think the basic characteristics are that Ben Johnson covets in a player, and how does a Chicago Bear under Ben Johnson differ from a Chicago Bear under Matt Eberflus? Advertisement Talks regarding 18th game could start soon - NBC Sports - Negotiations could begin in June or July. NFL tweaks definition of a hip-drop tackle, allowing for more fines in 2025 - NBC Sports - The NFL wants hip-drop tackles out of the game completely. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT ON WINDY CITY GRIDIRON 2025 NFL Draft: Participate in an Interactive Mock Draft! - Windy City Gridiron - Help figure out who the Chicago Bears will draft at 10! Aaron Leming's Chicago Bears Mock Draft 3.0 (It's Finally April!) - Windy City Gridiron - April is finally here and the 2025 NFL Draft is getting closer. With the free agency dust all but settled, the Chicago Bears will be one of 32 teams that will be locking in their draft boards over the next week or two. In his second to last seven round mock draft, Aaron Leming is putting a lot of value into Day 2. Advertisement Bears' Ben Johnson plans to put Caleb Williams under center more - Windy City Gridiron - Johnson's increased emphasis on putting Williams under center could make the Bears' offense much tougher to defend. Chicago Bears spending a lot on defense, so expectations are high - Windy City Gridiron - How are the NFC North teams spending their money on defense? We break down where the Bears' spend and their cohorts in this SB Nation series. Chicago Bears Building Block or Not: Offensive Line - Windy City Gridiron - The Bears have remade their offensive line, how long will these guys be around? NFL on-field measurements changing with Sony Hawk-Eye Technology in 2025 - Windy City Gridiron - The new method will be the primary means of measuring the line to gain in 2025. Advertisement SUBSCRIBE TO OUR YOUTUBE PAGE 2nd City Gridiron is our video home! So hit the link and help us grow that brand! THE RULES Windy City Gridiron Community Guidelines - - We strive to make our communities open and inclusive to sports fans of all backgrounds. The following are not permitted in comments. No personal attacks, politics, gender-based insults of any kind, racial insults, etc. 2nd City Gridiron Podcast Channel which includes Bears Banter hosted by Bill Zimmerman, Bear & Balanced from Jeff Berckes and Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., Bears Over Beers featuring a rotating host line-up of Ryan Droste, Khari Thompson, Jacob Infante, and Bryan Orenchuk, Making Monsters with Taylor Doll, Bear Bones from Dr. Mason West, and an occasional T Formation Conversation from Lester; Steven's Streaming Twitch Channel from Steven Schweickert is another fun one. Advertisement Powered by RedCircle Click on our names to follow us on Twitter: Jeff Berckes; Dr. Patti Curl; Ryan Droste; Eric Christopher Duerrwaechter; Dan Durkin; Taylor Doll; Kev H; Sam Householder; Jacob Infante; Aaron Lemming; Dr. Ken Mitchell; Danny Meehan; Bryan Orenchuk; Jack R Salo; Khari Thompson; Steven Schweickert; Jack Silverstein; Lester Wiltfong, Jr.; T.J. Starman; Khari Thompson; Dr. Mason West; Bill Zimmerman; 2nd City Gridiron; Like WCG on Facebook; Like 2nd City Gridiron on Facebook. A few of us are also over at Bluesky. More from
Forbes
03-04-2025
- Business
- Forbes
George Halas' Heirs Not Selling Chicago Bears Any Time Soon
Chicago Bears owners George McCaskey, center, talks with Patrick McCaskey, right, as Brian McCaskey ... More listens to them during an NFL football news conference at Halas Hall in Lake Forest, Ill., Monday, Dec. 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh) The Bears are remaining in the hands of George Halas' heirs, with 'another 100 years' the goal of George McCaskey, Halas' grandson. The death of the 102-year-old Virginia McCaskey on Feb. 6 created uncertainty about the team's ownership but this week NFL owners approved a succession plan that keeps the team in the hands of the McCaskey family. 'We consider ourselves uniquely qualified to carry out George Halas' legacy,' McCaskey told reporters at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. 'And we have every intention of doing that.' George McCaskey remains the team's chairman with three of his brothers — Pat, Brian and Ed Jr. — on the board of directors. They are joined by Pat Ryan and team president/CEO Kevin Warren. Due to the complication of estate taxes, there had been speculation controlling interest in the team could pass to Ryan, the retired chairman of AON whose net worth is $13.7 billion, according to Forbes. The Bears' last major change in ownership was driven by a complicated situation with estate taxes after Halas' death in 1983. Ryan and the late Andrew McKenna bought into the team in 1990 after the Halas family exercised right of first refusal to cancel a $17 million offer for 20 percent of the team from Chicago developers Judd Malkin and Neil Bluhm. That ownership share had been held by Halas' grandchildren Christine and Stephen Halas, according to the Tribune. The McCaskey family retains 80 percent ownership of the franchise, which Halas founded in 1921. George McCaskey does not expect any significant changes in ownership. 'There shouldn't be,' he said. '(Virginia) set this up for a smooth transition. And it's a credit to her. In law school, I heard stories about people who just couldn't contemplate their mortality, and as a result it caused a lot of confusion and problems for the family. But she had the foresight to set it up so we don't have that problem.' Because the Bears haven't won a Super Bowl since 1985 and had only one winning season since 2012, when Lovie Smith was fired as head coach, the McCaskey family isn't inspiring confidence. But the team has set itself up for a renaissance on the field behind first-year head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback, Caleb Williams, the first overall pick in the 2024 draft. Warren was hired away from his position as Big Ten commissioner with a mandate to solve the franchise's need for a stadium along the lines of those that have opened in the last 15 years, including AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Tex.; Sofi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.; Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, and US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. He hopes to break ground before the end of the year, either in suburban Arlington Heights or one of two sites in Chicago.
New York Times
02-04-2025
- Business
- New York Times
Bears' George McCaskey: Succession plan officially in place for family control
PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Chicago Bears are staying with the McCaskey family. That's the message from team chairman George McCaskey. He answered questions Wednesday about what's next for the franchise after the death of his mother, principal owner Virginia McCaskey. 'We've said for many years that we intend to own the Bears for as long as possible,' George McCaskey said at The Breakers after the annual league meeting wrapped up. 'Another 100 years would be great. She set it up for us to accomplish that. She gave us the playbook. She coached us up. Now we've got to execute the plan, and we're prepared to do that. We've got to stick together.' Advertisement The Bears' succession plan was approved by the league. The organization structure isn't expected to change right now. Virginia McCaskey died on Feb. 6. She was 102 years old. George McCaskey has been the team's chairman since 2011. 'She set it up for a smooth transition, and it's a credit to her,' McCaskey said. 'In law school, I heard stories about people who just couldn't contemplate their mortality, and as a result, it caused a lot of confusion and problems for the family, and she had the foresight to set it up so we don't have that problem.' McCaskey said he appreciated the support he felt from 'our friends around the league' during the league meeting. 'People have been very gracious in their comments and it's very much appreciated by the family,' he said. Brian McCaskey, a board member, attended the league meeting. Some adult McCaskey grandchildren also participated. Continuing George Halas' legacy remains a guiding force. 'George Halas was an innovator. I think that's one of the biggest elements of his legacy,' George McCaskey said. 'We want to be striving to improve all the time, to move the franchise forward, to bring championships to Chicago. We want to celebrate our history and strike that balance between what's an appropriate recognition of what's been accomplished before and striving for excellence in the future.' McCaskey said the Bears supported the Green Bay Packers' proposal to eliminate the tush push, which has been made famous by the Philadelphia Eagles. NFL owners tabled the vote for now. The concerns expressed about 'the safety of everybody involved in that play' by NFL chief medical officer Alan Sills and John York, chairman of the NFL owners' health and safety advisory committee, during committee meetings earlier this month stuck with McCaskey, he said. Advertisement 'I know they say that we don't have sufficient injury data on it, but, to us, it appears to be an inherently unsafe play,' McCaskey said. 'For decades, there was a rule on the books making it illegal to push the runner. It went away in 2004, and I always wondered why that happened. Rich McKay, the chairman of the competition committee, explained to us (Tuesday) that the officials said that it was too difficult. It was like a moving scrum down the field, and it was difficult to determine if an offensive lineman was blocking or pushing the runner, so they took it out. That led to the push play. From what I understood (Tuesday), the push play will lead to a broader examination of whether that general rule should be brought back. We think it should be an enhancement to the game, to make it safer for the players.' In December, the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins became the first teams to sell minority stakes to private equity firms. The sales were made after the NFL announced in August 2024 that a total of 10 percent of a team can be owned by private equity funds that have been vetted by the league. McCaskey said it's 'something that we're continuing to look at.' President/CEO Kevin Warren is going to present a report to the Bears' board in May. 'It may be utilized as part of our stadium construction financing plan,' McCaskey said. 'We haven't made a decision yet.' Ben Johnson is the fifth head coach to join McCaskey, in his role as chairman, at the league's annual meeting after Marc Trestman, John Fox, Matt Nagy and Matt Eberflus. 'We're moving forward,' McCaskey said. 'It's his team now, and we like what we've seen from Ben and (general manager) Ryan (Poles) and the way they work together, the way they communicate. By my observation, it appears to be mutual respect and mutual admiration.' Advertisement What about Johnson has made an early impression? 'I've seen him in the weight room,' McCaskey said with a smile. 'I think frenetic would be the best description. He's intense. You can see the competitiveness. He looks like he enjoys life, which is important for an NFL head coach. And his resume speaks for itself. We're very excited about everything he brings to Chicago.'
Chicago Tribune
02-04-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
George McCaskey has no intention for family to sell the Chicago Bears: ‘Another 100 years would be great'
PALM BEACH, Fla. — Chicago Bears Chairman George McCaskey is determined to keep the franchise in his family's hands for a long time to come, emphasizing Wednesday that he has no desire to entertain thoughts of a sale or power shift. 'We've said for many years that we intend to own the Bears for as long as possible,' McCaskey said at the NFL owners meetings. 'Another 100 years would be great.' That was a firm declaration from the highest-ranking member of the McCaskey family as outside curiosity circulates regarding the team's future. Less than eight weeks after the death of principal owner Virginia Halas McCaskey, George McCaskey said his mother long ago established a sustainable succession plan that the NFL approved. 'She gave us the playbook,' McCaskey said. 'She coached us up. Now we've got to execute the plan. And we're prepared to do that. We've got to stick together.' As with any kind of significant plans among any family, spirited debate and differing desires remain part of the process. McCaskey acknowledged he isn't oblivious to those dynamics, and his 'stick together' rallying cry carries purpose. 'Part of (my parents') process was to have us study other family businesses,' McCaskey told the Tribune. 'That was to anticipate and avoid pitfalls. And I think history shows that in any family, two of the biggest enemies are greed and jealousy. So we are working on trust and communication to avoid those pitfalls.' Asked whether the family has been successful on that front, McCaskey shrugged. 'It's an ongoing process,' he said. 'It's a constant challenge.' When the Bears played their final home game last season — a brutal 6-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 26 — a dejected Soldier Field crowd reacted to the team's 10th consecutive defeat with loud chants of 'Sell the team! Sell the team!' During such a turbulent, failure-filled season, it would be easy to discount such pleas as emotion-fueled reaction. But for some time now, critics of the Bears' long run of mediocrity — the team has a .412 winning percentage and zero playoff wins since McCaskey became chairman in 2011 — have reasonably wondered whether the team's path to greater glory might require different ownership. The Bears haven't enjoyed three consecutive winning seasons since the late 1980s and are approaching the 40th anniversary of their lone Super Bowl triumph. McCaskey was asked how he would respond to those who consider the 'Sell the team!' sentiment as prudent advice. 'We consider ourselves uniquely qualified to carry out George Halas' legacy,' he said. 'And we have every intention of doing that.' McCaskey is joined on the Bears board of directors by three of his brothers — Pat, Brian and Ed Jr. — plus Pat Ryan and team President/CEO Kevin Warren. While team officials have declined to detail how Virginia McCaskey's shares of the team were divided, George McCaskey said he doesn't anticipate a shift in the ownership structure. 'There shouldn't be,' he said. 'She set this up for a smooth transition. And it's a credit to her. 'In law school, I heard stories about people who just couldn't contemplate their mortality, and as a result it caused a lot of confusion and problems for the family. But she had the foresight to set it up so we don't have that problem.' McCaskey further commended his mother and late father, Ed, for doing 'a remarkable job while they were with us of letting us know exactly what was going on, what their plan was, how it would be carried out and what was expected of us.' On his end, McCaskey remains determined to fulfill those expectations and will keep pushing for a unified family vision.
