George McCaskey

George Halas McCaskey (born March 29, 1956) is the current chairman of the National Football League's Chicago Bears. He replaced his brother Michael McCaskey as chairman in 2011.[2]

George McCaskey
McCaskey in 2022
Born
George Halas McCaskey

(1956-03-29) March 29, 1956
NationalityAmerican
EducationArizona State University College of Law (JD) (LLM)
Occupation(s)Ticket office director (1991–2010)
Chairman (2011–present)
OrganizationChicago Bears
PredecessorMichael McCaskey (Chairman)
SuccessorLee Twarling (Ticket office director)[1]
Board member ofChicago Bears
SpouseBarb McCaskey[1]
Parent(s)Virginia Halas McCaskey
Ed McCaskey

Biography

McCaskey, the eighth-oldest child of Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey and Ed McCaskey (who himself was a former Bears chairman), was originally an assistant state attorney in Lee and DeKalb counties. McCaskey also worked in television after graduating with a bachelor's degree (1978) from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctor[3] degree (1981) from Arizona State University College of Law, and was a reporter for an NBC affiliate in Peoria.[1][4] He was the team's senior director of ticket operations since the Bears 1991 season,[5] and was a member of the team's board of directors since 2004.[6]

In 2011, during the NFL lockout, McCaskey's brother Michael retired as chairman of the club after 12 years. Before he assumed his position, he met with Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz, as well as White Sox and Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf. Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys was the first NFL owner with whom he met. McCaskey reflected on meeting Jones, commenting, "He was very gracious, very accommodating. He’s a fascinating guy. I really enjoyed visiting with him, getting to know him. We sat in a suite at Cowboys Stadium and looked out over the field. We then went downstairs and bumped into a tour group. As soon as they saw who he was, they were going crazy. They were taking pictures and he was chatting them up."[2]

McCaskey is the second-highest figure in the Bears organization below his mother Virginia, with team president and CEO Ted Phillips reporting to him.[7] While the president oversees structural changes such as hiring and firing the general manager, the ownership provides input; McCaskey explained in 2012, shortly after the departure of general manager Jerry Angelo, that he did not "feel any particular need to place a personal stamp on the Bears, that my job was to work with and in support of the president and CEO."[8]

References
  1. "'He's-one-of-us'-sums-up-style-of - Chicago Sun-Times". Suntimes.com. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  2. "George McCaskey becomes chairman". Chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on 2011-08-20. Retrieved 2012-07-14.
  3. https://law.asu.edu/content/asu-law-alum-bears-owner-george-mccaskey-says-vegas-ready-nfl
  4. "Chicago Bears: George McCaskey is settling into his new role - Chicago Tribune". Articles.chicagotribune.com. 2011-06-09. Archived from the original on April 25, 2010. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  5. "George McCaskey to prepare for new role". Chicagobears.com. 2010-04-21. Archived from the original on 2010-05-27. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  6. "George McCaskey Takes Over As Bears Chairman « CBS Chicago". Chicago.cbslocal.com. 2011-05-06. Retrieved 2012-07-31.
  7. "Who does what in the Chicago Bears organization?". Chicago Tribune. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  8. Dickerson, Jeff (January 3, 2012). "McCaskey: Angelo was Phillips' decision". ESPN.com. ESPN. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
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