Virginia McCaskey is a pillar of the NFL. She’s been around almost since its founding back in 1920. Her father, George Halas, raised her to love football and left the Chicago Bears franchise to her when he passed in 1983. Since then, she’s done her best to keep the organization among the most respected in the league. It would take hours upon hours to describe all she’s done. Sadly, time is undefeated.
At 99 years old, Mrs. McCaskey has remained in remarkable good health for years. Now it appears her body is finally starting to give out. Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog has well-established sources inside the building. He revealed in a recent column that Virginia’s health has taken a significant downturn. It isn’t clear what the ailment is, but her advanced age isn’t helping matters. There seems to be a feeling that her time runs short.
Virginia is not in good health. In the last few days, word has trickled to DBB that her condition has become more serious. At her age, the word “good” is relative. (I just turned 40 and now my neck always hurts. If I live another 59 years, which is highly unlikely, will I even have a neck?) She’s on the precipice of living a century so one could argue that being alive, in any state, is playing with house money.
There was even a hint of what may come next.
Nobody knows where things will go when she does pass. Considering the McCaskey family’s size, a complicated power struggle could loom. Hughes believes there is one person to watch out for.
I don’t know how long Virginia has left on this fading planet. (It seems like she’ll be getting out at the right time.) I do know that when she passes, the Chicago media landscape will be inundated with eulogies and tributes, followed by months if not years of familial infighting and rumors of potential sale. (Look for Pat Ryan to make his move.)
For those who don’t know, Ryan is a billionaire Chicago businessman who owns a significant minority interest in the Bears. He also has a right-of-first-refusal, meaning he is free to purchase any McCaskey stock in the team that goes on sale. Nobody would be surprised if he seeks to buy the team should the opportunity arise.
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Virginia McCaskey deserves nothing but praise.
People may criticize her for not bringing more success to the city during her 38 years of owning the team. Two Super Bowl appearances and one Super Bowl title are well below the standards of Chicago. That said, nobody can ever accuse the woman of being ignorant of the fans. She has always been pure class to everybody she meets, regardless of background. Nobody speaks ill of the woman. She is a great human being, which can be hard to find among sports owners nowadays.
Virginia McCaskey deserves to see her team win another championship. That dream doesn’t appear in the cards. Still, her final gift to Bears fans could be laying the foundation for their move to Arlington Heights, where a new, state-of-the-art stadium will be built. The organization is now worth over $5 billion, according to Forbes. People can call her many things. A failure is not one of them.
I happen to have met Virginia several of times. My father-in-law taught English to her son Mike, and my sister-in-law lives across the street from her in a very non-palatial average sized family home. She is a very kind, friendly, and warm human being that has fought to keep the Chicago Bear Team a classy act! They maybe don’t win all the time, but their players have class most of the time. After last Sunday’s game, and the news in regards to the new stadium, I see a new era headed for the Chicago Bears. Justin is the kind of… Read more »
Brian e is right. All the clowns down voting that need to do some fing research yall are uninformed sheep
Forever grateful Mrs McCaskey! Be well and hopefully she’s still around to enjoy this season. See the Bears make a surprise run to the playoffs as a wildcard. One can hope. Go Bears!
Wonder if she will make it to the Week 1 game in SF? Maybe she can bring them to a Week 1 victory !!!
She got rid of the Honey Bears. Good riddance