Virginia Halas McCaskey

Virginia Halas McCaskey (born January 5, 1923) is the principal owner of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. She is the eldest child of former Bears coach and owner George Halas, who left the team to his daughter upon his death in 1983, and Minnie Bushing Halas.[2] After the death of Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson in March 2014, she became the oldest owner in the NFL.[3]

Virginia Halas McCaskey
Born
Virginia Halas

(1923-01-05) January 5, 1923
Alma materDrexel University
Net worthUS$2.4 billion (2018)[1]
Spouse(s)
(m. 1943; died 2003)
ChildrenTimothy
Michael
George
Parent(s)George Halas and Minnie Bushing Halas
RelativesGeorge Halas Jr. (brother)

Football career
Chicago Bears
Position:Principal owner
Career history
As executive:
  • Chicago Bears (1983–present)
    Principal owner & corporate secretary
Career highlights and awards

Her formal title within the Bears organization is secretary of the board of directors.[4] However, she is empowered to speak for the interests of her children and grandchildren, effectively giving her 80% ownership of the team.[5]

Career

McCaskey's brother, George "Mugs" Halas Jr., was the heir apparent for the franchise, but he died suddenly of a heart attack in 1979. As a result, when her father died, McCaskey inherited an incredible nucleus of a team and was the owner when the Bears won Super Bowl XX.[6] However, the team struggled in the 1990s and, since 1999 she has been a very hands-off owner.[7] Her son Michael McCaskey was team president from 1983 to 1999 and was chairman of the board until May 6, 2011, when his brother George McCaskey assumed the position.[8] George McCaskey had been the Bears ticket office director since 1991.[9] Team president Ted Phillips currently has operational control; when he became team president, it marked the first time in the team's history that a Halas or McCaskey had not held that title.[10]

Halas's husband, Ed McCaskey, was previously the chairman and treasurer of the Bears. Although McCaskey never had any official share of ownership, he acted as co-owner alongside his wife before his death in 2003.[11]

On January 21, 2007, she accepted the NFC Championship trophy, which bears her father's name. She called it "her happiest day so far", after the Bears had beaten the New Orleans Saints to earn a trip to Super Bowl XLI.[12]

McCaskey is one of a handful of female NFL owners, including Sheila Ford Hamp (Detroit Lions), Amy Adams Strunk (Tennessee Titans), Kim Pegula (Buffalo Bills), Carol Davis (Las Vegas Raiders), Denise DeBartolo York (San Francisco 49ers), Gayle Benson (New Orleans Saints), Janice McNair (Houston Texans), Jody Allen (Seattle Seahawks), and Dee Haslam (Cleveland Browns).

After the death of Arizona Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill in October 2019, McCaskey became the longest-tenured owner in the NFL.[13]

References

  1. "Chicago Bears Valued at Nearly $3 Billion by Forbes". NBC Chicago. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  2. Sean Jensen, "Heirs and Bears: The mysterious McCaskeys", Chicago Sun-Times, April 1, 2010.
  3. Vergara, Andre. "Billionaire Girls' Club: 4 of sports' richest team owners are women". FoxSports.com. Fox Sports Interactive Media, LLC. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  4. "Front Office: Chicago Bears". Chicagobears.com. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  5. Wertheim, Jon. "The Family Ownership Dramas That Roil the NFL". SI.com. Time, Inc. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  6. Sessler, Marc (December 29, 2014). "Virginia McCaskey 'pissed off' with struggling Bears". NFL.com. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  7. "Virginia Halas-McCaskey-Chicago Bears". SI.com. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  8. Gano, Rick (April 21, 2010). "Michael McCaskey to Retire as Bears Chairman". Boston.com. Associated Press. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  9. Briggs, Brad (November 1, 2011). "Addressing issues: A new McCaskey takes the helm". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on November 1, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2020.
  10. "Ted Phillips-President and CEO". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  11. Warren, James (August 30, 1987). "It's 4th Down For Halas Heirs In Family Feud". ChicagoTribune.com. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  12. Fusfeld, Adam (January 29, 2011). "Meet the 88-year-Old Grandmother Who's One Win Away From the Super Bowl". BusinessInsider.com. Business Insider. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  13. Duncan, Jeff (March 29, 2014). "Succession plan in place for New Orleans Saints and Pelicans to remain with Tom Benson's family". NOLA,.com. Retrieved December 24, 2019.
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