Latest news with #VirginiaHalasMcCaskey
CBS News
13-02-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Bears greats turn out to pay final respects to Virginia McCaskey as she is laid to rest
MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. (CBS) -- Longtime Chicago Bears matriarch Virginia Halas McCaskey was laid to rest this morning. Mrs. McCaskey died Thursday, Feb. 6, at the age of 102. She was the eldest child of "Papa Bear" George Halas Sr., a founding father of both the Bears and the National Football League. He came on as a player/coach with the team – originally the Decatur Staleys – in 1920, and built it into an American sports powerhouse. Born in 1923, Mrs. McCaskey learned all about the team from her father, and inherited the team after his death in 1983. Her only brother, George "Mugs" Halas Jr., had died of a heart attack in 1979, leaving her as the sole heir to the franchise. A memorial service for Mrs. McCaskey was held at St. Emily Catholic Church in Mount Prospect, near where Mrs. McCaskey and her husband raised their 11 children. Dozens of current and former members of the Bears organization were in attendance to pay their final respects to Mrs. McCaskey on Wednesday, including current Bears President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin Poles, General Manager Ryan Poles, and Head Coach Ben Johnson. Several former Bears icons were also in attendance—including representatives of the 1985 Super Bowl champion team and the 2006 Super Bowl contenders. Among those who turned out were former head coaches Lovie Smith and Matt Forte, and former linebacker Brian Urlacher, placekicker Robbie Gold, former cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman, defensive tackle Dan Hampton, and former safety Gary Fencik. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, New York Giants owner John Mara, Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy, and Chicago Cubs co-owners Laura and Tom Ricketts also turned out to pay their respects.
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
‘It was a good life': Chicagoland pays respects to the late Virginia Halas McCaskey
DES PLAINES, Ill. (WGN) — Leaders in the political, business and sports world joined Chicago Bears players and fans to pay respects to Virginia Halas McCaskey at a public visitation in the northwest suburbs Tuesday. A steady flow of fans and former Bears players made their way to Oehler Funeral Home in Des Plaines during a day-long public visitation for McCaskey. Former players said her simple presence instilled pride in the team, while fans who came to offer their goodbyes said they'll miss her steady, patient leadership. The longtime principal owner of the Bears was soft-spoken and stylish, a warm and wise presence who mainly stayed in the background. McCaskey often said she was devoted to faith, family and football—and she saw it as her duty to uphold her father's legacy. 'It was a good life, it really was,' McCaskey told WGN's Jarrett Payton in a 2019 sit-down interview. The matriarch of the Monsters of the Midway and 'The First Lady of Football,' she died last Thursday at the age of 102. Since then, there have been countless tributes to McCaskey's extraordinary life, including one at the Super Bowl last Sunday. Previous Coverage: Virginia Halas McCaskey, longtime Bears owner and matriarch, dies at 102, team announces She has been heralded on the front pages of newspapers for her 'legacy of class' and her status as Chicago's 'Mama Bear.' McCaskey was the only daughter of George Stanley Halas, who founded the Bears and co-founded the NFL in 1920. After Halas died in 1983, she took over the reins of the team and helped guide the franchise to victory in Super Bowl XX in 1986, and a second appearance in the Big Game in 2006. In that same 2019 interview with Payton, McCaskey told him what another Super Bowl championship would have meant to her. 'It would mean that my dad's faith in me has been justified, and it would mean that the fans' faith in the Chicago Bears has been justified – and that's enough for me,' McCaskey said at the time. Her legacy also includes the founding of Bears Care, the team charity that has provided $31.6 million in grants to help disadvantaged children in Chicago over the last two decades. McCaskey had 11 children of her own, on top of 21 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. A private funeral service for family and friends is scheduled for Wednesday morning at St. Emily Catholic Church in Mount Prospect. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey dies at 102
The Bears announced that team owner Virginia Halas McCaskey died at the age of 102. McCaskey took control of the team after the death of her father George Halas in 1983. She was on hand for the team's only Super Bowl title after the 1985 season and was alive for eight of their nine overall NFL championships. 'While we are sad, we are comforted knowing Virginia Halas McCaskey lived a long, full, faith-filled life and is now with the love of her life on earth,' McCaskey's family said in a statement. 'She guided the Bears for four decades and based every business decision on what was best for Bears players, coaches, staff and fans. Over the last 41-plus years, Mrs. McCaskey continued the steadfast mission set forth by her father to uphold the values of the City of Chicago, its people and its fans. Mrs. McCaskey understood, not only her father's love and appreciation of football and the team which he played for, coached and owned, but also the love of the Chicago Bears by its fans. She always kept in mind what the Bears meant to the City of Chicago and what the city meant to the Bears." McCaskey's son Michael McCaskey succeeded her as team chairman in 1999. Her son George took over that role in 2011.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Chicago Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey dies at 102
Virginia Halas McCaskey, owner of the Chicago Bears and daughter of team founder George "Papa Bear" Halas, has died. She was 102. The Bears announced McCaskey's death Thursday morning. "While we are sad, we are comforted knowing Virginia Halas McCaskey lived a long, full, faith-filled life and is now with the love of her life on earth,' the family said in a release from 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.' NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said McCaskey left a legacy of "class, dignity and humanity." "Faith, family, and football — in that order —– were her north stars and she lived by the simple adage to always 'do the right thing,'" Goodell said. "The Bears that her father started meant the world to her and he would be proud of the way she continued the family business with such dedication and passion." McCaskey was born in Chicago in 1923 to Halas and his wife, Min, and was the couple's oldest child and only daughter. She went to Drexel University, where she met her future husband, Edward McCaskey. The couple married in 1943 and lived out East for a few years before returning to Chicago in 1949. While McCaskey was a stay-at-home mother, her husband began working with the Bears at his father-in-law's request in 1967. But when her younger brother, George "Mugs" Halas, died suddenly in 1979 and her father died in 1983, McCaskey found herself as the owner of the Bears. "She never sought the spotlight. She understood the importance of emphasizing to family members how important the legacy of the franchise was, not in terms of money or value, but in terms of what the team meant to people in Chicago and beyond," the team said in its statement. — Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) February 6, 2025 McCaskey might have kept a low profile, but she was a passionate fan. After the Bears went 5-11 in 2014, leading to the dismissals of coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery, her son George, the Bears chairman, said McCaskey was "pissed off." "At one point in our conversations, I asked her for her assessment of our season, and she said, as only a mother can, 'I'm very, very disappointed,'' George McCaskey said then. Though the Bears have been a disappointment in recent decades, McCaskey saw them reach the Super Bowl twice and win it all in the 1985 season. When the Bears beat the New Orleans Saints to make Super Bowl 41, McCaskey beamed as she accepted the George Halas Trophy, named for her father and given to the NFC champions. "It's beautiful," she said at the time. "Just beautiful." McCaskey was a hands-off owner, leaving most decisions about the team to family members and trusted advisers. But even as the NFL became a multibillion dollar enterprise, she and the McCaskeys still saw the Bears as a team they had stewardship over more than owned. McCaskey grew close with several long-tenured players and their families, treating them as if they were her extended family. In a tribute posted on X, Jarrett Payton, Pro Football Hall of Famer Walter Payton's son, called McCaskey "one of the kindest, most loving, & thoughtful individuals I've ever had the privilege to meet." "You always welcomed my family into yours with open arms, treating us as if we were your own," he wrote. "Our hearts are heavy, & our thoughts & prayers are with the entire McCaskey family during this difficult time," Payton said in the post, including a photo of him and McCaskey and another of the Bears matriarch with him, sister Brittney and their children. Rest in peace, Virginia McCaskey, one of the kindest, most loving, & thoughtful individuals I've ever had the privilege to meet. You always welcomed my family into yours with open arms, treating us as if we were your own. Our hearts are heavy, & our thoughts & prayers are with… — Jarrett Payton (@paytonsun) February 6, 2025 McCaskey also was a driving force in the Bears' charitable efforts. Bears Care, founded in 2005, has distributed more than $31.5 million to benefit education, youth sports, medical research and health awareness. She also supported several programs personally. "At the core of everything she did was Mrs. McCaskey's faith. A devout Catholic, she always reflected on what God would want her to do in daily life," the team statement said. "She focused on trying to help encourage people to be better to one another and once stated she was always working on her faith through good times and bad." It's not clear what will happen to the Bears with McCaskey's death. Nine of McCaskey's 11 children are still alive, and George McCaskey has been the team's chairman since 2011. McCaskey also had 21 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren. This story has been updated with new information. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Virginia Halas McCaskey, Bears matriarch and owner, dies at 102
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
NFL teams pay tribute to Bears owner Virginia McCaskey following her passing
Thursday was a somber day for the Chicago Bears as team owner and matriarch Virginia Halas McCaskey passed away at the age of 102. McCaskey was the oldest child of Bears founder George Halas and took control of the team following his passing in 1983. For over four decades, McCaskey presided over the organization, which included their only Super Bowl victory during the 1985 season. McCaskey saw 14 playoff appearances, 11 division championships, and two NFC titles during her tenure as team owner. In 2014, McCaskey became the oldest owner in the league following Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson's death and became the longest-tenured principal owner across all North American major sports following Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell's death. She was the mother to 11 children, including chairman George McCaskey. When news of her passing began to circulate, many paid tribute to her memory and legacy in the NFL—including the other NFL organizations. Here are the statements from the franchises around the league. The Packers send their deepest condolences to the McCaskey and Halas families, the Chicago Bears and their fans. — Green Bay Packers (@packers) February 6, 2025 — Detroit Lions (@Lions) February 6, 2025 We are saddened by the passing of Virginia Halas McCaskey, a tremendous leader in the NFL and the matriarch of the Chicago Bears. — Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) February 6, 2025 💙 — Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) February 6, 2025 A statement from Saints Owner Gayle Benson on the loss of Virginia Halas McCaskey: — New Orleans Saints (@Saints) February 6, 2025 We are saddened to hear of the passing of Virginia send our condolences to the Chicago Bears & the McCaskey family. — Tampa Bay Buccaneers (@Buccaneers) February 6, 2025 A statement from Arthur M. Blank on the passing of Virginia McCaskey — Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) February 7, 2025 — Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 7, 2025 The Giants organization is saddened to hear of the passing of Virginia McCaskey. We join the Bears and the rest of the NFL in celebrating the life of Mrs. was a woman of great faith who was devoted and passionate in leading the Bears as her father did. And she was… — New York Giants (@Giants) February 6, 2025 We join the NFL community in sending our heartfelt condolences to the family of Virginia Halas McCaskey and the entire Chicago Bears honor Virginia's legacy and impact on the National Football League. Her passion and dedication to the game was unmatched and she… — Washington Commanders (@Commanders) February 6, 2025 We send our heartfelt condolences to the Chicago Bears and the McCaskey family. — Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) February 6, 2025 Statement from #Steelers President Art Rooney II on the passing of Virginia McCaskey: — Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) February 6, 2025 The Titans join the Chicago Bears and the NFL in mourning the loss of Virginia McCaskey. She leaves a legacy of class, dignity, passion for the Bears, and love of her family that will be forever remembered. We send our deepest condolences to the Bears community. — Tennessee Titans (@Titans) February 6, 2025 Rest in peace, VIRGINIA HALAS MCCASKEY. A legend of a lady, she will be greatly missed. Colts hearts and prayers go out to the McCaskey family. ❤️🙏 — Jim Irsay (@JimIrsay) February 6, 2025 Statement from Janice S. McNair: — Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) February 6, 2025 A statement from Patriots Chariman and CEO Robert Kraft on the passing of Virginia Halas McCaskey. — New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 6, 2025 We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Virginia Halas McCaskey, the revered owner and anchor of the Chicago Bears. She was a pillar in our League for the last half-century, doing so with compassion, class, and humility, even in competition. We extend our heartfelt… — New York Jets (@nyjets) February 6, 2025 We offer our deepest condolences to the McCaskey family and the Bears organization as we remember and honor the impact, leadership and profound legacy of Mrs. Virginia Halas McCaskey. — Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) February 6, 2025 Virginia McCaskey leaves an incredible legacy as a matriarch, football icon, and dear friend. We'll always remember her fondly, and our heartfelt condolences go out to the McCaskey Family ❤️ — Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) February 6, 2025 — Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) February 6, 2025 We extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the McCaskey family and the Chicago Bears on the loss of Virginia Halas McCaskey. A trailblazer who made a profound impact on the NFL, Mrs. McCaskey leaves behind an indelible legacy of leadership, grace and love of… — Denver Broncos (@Broncos) February 6, 2025 The Raiders Family mourns the passing of Virginia Halas McCaskey. — Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) February 6, 2025 This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: NFL teams pay tribute to Bears owner Virginia McCaskey
