Chicago Bears owner Virginia McCaskey dies at 102

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Virginia Halas McCaskey, longtime owner of the Chicago Bears, has died at age 102, the team announced Thursday.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

"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. "She guided the Bears for four decades and based every business decision on what was best for Bears players, coaches, staff and fans."

Virginia McCaskey has served as the Bears owner since Oct. 31, 1983, on the death of her father, Bears founder George Halas.

Life story

McCaskey was born in 1923 in Chicago and was the oldest George and Min Halas' two children, with her younger brother George S. "Mugs" Halas Jr.

She studied at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa., where she met her future husband, Edward W. McCaskey, the Bears said. The two married on February 2, 1943, in St. Margaret Mary's Church in Bel Air, Md. before Mr. McCaskey would go into military service in World War II after his ROTC training.

Like her father, a co-founder of the NFL, McCaskey kept the team in family hands. She gave operational control and the title of president to her eldest son, Michael McCaskey, who served as chairman until being succeeded by brother George McCaskey in 2011.

During her stewardship, the Bears won a Super Bowl in 1986 and lost a second 21 years later.

McCaskey, the older of Halas' two children, never expected to find herself in charge. Her brother, George "Mugs" Halas Jr., was being groomed to take over the team, but died suddenly of a heart attack in 1979.

McCaskey assumed ownership upon her father's death in 1983, and her late husband, Ed McCaskey, succeeded Halas as chairman. Not long after, she turned over control to Michael, the eldest of her 11 children.

"I think it's important that all of our family remembers that we really haven't done anything to earn this," McCaskey said in a rare interview in 2006. "We're just the recipients of a tremendous legacy. I use the word 'custodian,' and we want to pass it on the best way we can... We've been working on that for a long time."

McCaskey's official title was secretary to the board of directors. Despite her generally hands-off approach and low public profile, she occasionally exercised ultimate authority on team decisions as matriarch of the family.

One of those involved a 1987 lawsuit brought by the children of "Mugs" Halas, which was resolved by a stock buyout of their shares. A more recent reminder came in December 2014, when George McCaskey announced the firings of coach Marc Trestman and general manager Phil Emery at a news conference, and was asked to describe his mother's role in the process. He paused, struggling to describe her unhappiness with the just-ended 5-11 season, and the team's generally fading fortunes.

"She's pissed off," George McCaskey said. "I can't think of a 91-year-old woman that that description would apply, but in this case, I can't think of a more accurate description.

"Virginia McCaskey has been on this earth for eight of the Bears' nine championships, and she wants more, he added a moment later. "She feels that it's been too long since the last (Super Bowl win), and that dissatisfaction is shared by her children, her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren. She's fed up with mediocrity. She feels that she and Bears fans everywhere deserve better."

Virginia McCaskey came by her fandom honestly. According to family members, she often wouldn't serve dessert on Sundays when the Bears lost. In that same 2006 interview, she recalled attending the first playoff game in league history, when she was 9.

The Bears and Portsmouth Spartans finished the 1932 season in the first tie for first place, so the league added a game to determine a champion. Because of snow, the game was moved indoors to the old Chicago Stadium, the Bears won 9-0 playing on an 80-yard field that came right to the walls.

"I remember I didn't save my ticket stub, but one of my cousins had saved his," McCaskey said. "We sat in the second balcony and the ticket price was $1.25.

"I took it to one of the Super Bowls to show (former Commissioner) Pete Rozelle and then I don't know what happened to it afterward," she added. "But that's OK."

Her tenure as the Bears' owner included the establishment of the Bears Care program in 2005. The Bears said that Bears Care has issued grants totaling more than $31.5 million to 225 qualifying agencies to improve the quality of life for people in the Chicago area, especially disadvantaged children and their families. Bears Care also supported health awareness programs focusing on breast and ovarian cancer.

McCaskey had 11 children, eight sons and three daughters. She is survived by her sons - Patrick (Gretchen), Edward Jr. (Kathy), George (Barbara), Richard, Brian (Barbara) and Joseph - and daughters Ellen (Barney) Tonquest, Mary and Anne (Mike) Catron. Her husband passed away in 2003. Their son, Timothy, passed in 2011 and Michael passed in 2020. She is also survived by 21 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Former Bears, industry, fans react to McCaskey's death

Former Bears offensive lineman James Brown tended the bar at the Lantern in downtown Lake Forest on Thursday, a regular hangout for Bears fans and staffers. The mood there was a bit somber with news of the death of Bears matriarch Virginia McCaskey.

"Just having her at some of the games or practices made you want to give a little more effort," Brown said.

Those who knew McCaskey describe a very private woman who was also deeply devoted to the Roman Catholic Church.

Longtime Sun-Times sportswriter Rick Telander said McCaskey was very down to earth.

Chicago football fans may not know much about her personal life, but they respected her.

"She's the heart and soul of the Chicago Bears," Bears fan Mike Cummins said. "Rest in Peace."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell released the following statement Thursday:

"Virginia Halas McCaskey, the matriarch of the Chicago Bears and daughter of George Halas, the founder of the NFL, leaves 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.' 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. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the McCaskey and Halas families and Bears fans around the world."

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker posted the following statement on social media:

"Virginia Halas McCaskey led with faith and passion to not only the Bears, but to the fans all while guiding us to our first Super Bowl title. May her memory be a blessing."

Chicago Cubs executive chairman Tom Ricketts issued the following statement:

"We are deeply saddened by the passing of Virginia Halas McCaskey, a true pioneer whose contributions have left an indelible mark on our city. For half a century, the Chicago Bears called Wrigley Field home and the history of our two teams will forever be intertwined. In addition to her leadership of the Chicago Bears, she was the mother of 11 children, and with her late husband Ed, they set an example of faith, family and service that everyone should admire. Our heartfelt condolences go out to Bears Chairman George McCaskey and their family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know her."

Chicago Bulls and White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf issued the following statement:

"Virginia McCaskey was a force as the matriarch of one of the truly iconic teams in the NFL. Her decades-long impact as the owner of the Chicago Bears has left a lasting legacy across the sports world in Chicago and beyond, and yet, it is her steadfast dedication to her family and community that is truly her living legacy. Our hearts go out to the McCaskey family, the entire Chicago Bears organization and Bears fans everywhere. She will be greatly missed."

Chicago Blackhawks chairman and CEO Danny Wirtz shared the following statement:

The Associated Press contributed to this report.