Virginia McCaskey, owner of the Chicago Bears and daughter of NFL co-founder George Halas, died Thursday at 102.
McCaskey’s death was announced by her family. Her exact cause of death was not reported.
“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 McCaskey 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.”
A rare woman in power in the NFL, McCaskey preferred to remain in the background of Bears operations. While she was intensely invested in the team’s success, she delegated most control to her late husband, Ed McCaskey, and their 11 children.
“Maybe I’m not competent, but Ed and I found the people to do the job,” she said in 2007 after the Bears won the NFC Championship Game and earned the right to play in Super Bowl XLI.
Born Jan. 5, 1923, in Chicago, Virginia Marion Halas never expected to take over her family’s NFL franchise. Her father, George Halas, was one of the founders of the nascent professional league, and he poured his heart into its and his team’s success.
Virginia’s younger brother, George “Mugs” Halas Jr., was groomed for decades to run the team. However, he died of a shocking heart attack in December 1979. When George Sr. died four years later, the team landed in the hands of Virginia and Ed.
The Bears had almost immediate success, winning the Super Bowl after the 1985 season, but have since largely struggled to reach those heights. During her time in charge, McCaskey remained committed to keeping the team in the family.
McCaskey is survived by nine of her 11 children and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by Ed in 2003 and two of her sons, Tim and Michael.