Michael McCaskey, former Bears chairman, dead at age 76

LAKE FOREST, Unwell. — Michael McCaskey, who led the Chicago Bears for virtually a few decades adhering to the death of his grandfather George Halas, died Saturday following a prolonged fight with cancer, the staff claimed. He was seventy six.

A Yale graduate and the oldest of Ed and staff matriarch Virginia McCaskey’s eleven small children, Michael joined the loved ones business enterprise in 1983 as president and CEO adhering to the death of Halas, a founding father of the NFL and the franchise. He succeeded Ed McCaskey as chairman in 1999 and remained in that purpose till brother George McCaskey took around in 2011.

The Bears produced twelve playoff appearances and captured their lone Tremendous Bowl title through Michael McCaskey’s tenure major the franchise. He was preferred NFL Govt of the Yr by his peers adhering to the 1985 championship season.

“Mike was presently profitable in every sense of the word when he took around for George S. Halas following the passing of ‘Papa Bear’ in 1983,” the McCaskey loved ones claimed in a statement. “We are grateful to Mike for overseeing arguably the finest staff in NFL historical past, and for his a lot of a long time of company to the Bears and to us. The oldest of eleven siblings has a lot of obligations thrust on him, not all of them pleasurable, but Mike dealt with them all with grace and persistence.”

Nevertheless his death was not introduced on by the novel coronavirus, the McCaskeys claimed they are not equipped to “gather and grieve jointly at this time” due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our hearts go out to all those who have missing loved types to COVID-19,” they claimed. “Our concentration in the coming times will be to rejoice Mike’s everyday living, and be what ever source of support we can be to (son) John and (daughter) Kathryn and all those they enjoy.”

He is also survived by his ninety seven-12 months-outdated mother and grandson Jackson.

“Michael McCaskey proudly carried forth the legacy of his grandfather and NFL pioneer George Halas as staff president and chairman and played an instrumental purpose in the achievement and acceptance of the Bears,” commissioner Roger Goodell claimed in a statement. “The Bears’ memorable 1985 season and their Tremendous Bowl XX victory aided further propel the NFL onto a international stage. Michael was a driving pressure in growing the NFL’s intercontinental footprint with the to start with American Bowl game in London that includes the Bears and the Dallas Cowboys in 1986. He was also devoted to serving his group.”

McCaskey served on several NFL committees. He was also instrumental in the Bears transferring their headquarters from the original Halas Corridor at Lake Forest Faculty to a condition-of-the-art home close by in 1997, supplying them an indoor apply facility on their possess campus.

Halas Corridor was not long ago expanded to involve 4 outside apply fields and 305,five hundred sq. toes of indoor education and office environment room.

McCaskey co-launched in 2005 the Bears’ charitable basis, which has granted around $21 million to much more than 100 companies in the Chicago area concentrating on training, youth athletics, healthcare investigate and overall health awareness.

He was also a member of the NFL’s Extensive Array Organizing Committee, Expansion Committee, Stadium Committee and Finance Committee.

McCaskey expended two a long time as a Peace Corps volunteer training science, English and new music to junior large students in Ethiopia. He gained a doctorate in in business enterprise from Circumstance Western Reserve College in 1972 and taught organizational habits and management programs at UCLA for a few a long time ahead of signing up for the college of the Harvard Business University.

“His intense enjoy of the Bears was unmatched, as was his mental capacity and thirst for expertise on a myriad of subjects,” Bears president Ted Phillips claimed. “Michael shown a professorial presence that could be demanding, but was also inspiring. I will be without end grateful for the a lot of possibilities for growth that he provided me, as very well as for his rely on and support. Michael normally strived to do things the ideal way with large character and with the Bears greatest pursuits normally paramount.

“Michael was a very good male, absent substantially too quickly. He presided around the only Tremendous Bowl championship Chicago Bears staff in 1985, and I know he is still smiling about that magical season.”