The Chicago Bears are owned by the McCaskey family, descendants of legendary founder George Halas. George McCaskey now serves as chairman and controlling owner, a role that shifted following the death of his mother, Virginia Halas McCaskey, in early 2025 at age 102.
Virginia was the last living link to the Bears’ founding — she was George Halas’s daughter and had held the principal ownership title since 1983. Her passing marked the true end of an era for one of the NFL’s original franchises.
Quick Facts
| Team | Chicago Bears |
|---|---|
| Chairman & Controlling Owner | George McCaskey |
| Family Ownership Since | 1920 (founding) |
| Founded | 1920 (as the Decatur Staleys) |
| League | NFL (NFC North) |
| Home | Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois |
| Family Stake | ~77.5% (Ryan family holds the remainder) |
Ownership History
| Year | Development |
|---|---|
| 1920 | George Halas co-founds the team as the Decatur Staleys, later renamed the Chicago Bears in 1922 |
| 1983 | Following Halas’s death, daughter Virginia Halas McCaskey becomes principal owner, a title she’d hold for over four decades |
| 1999 | Son Michael McCaskey serves as team president through the late 1990s before a leadership transition |
| 2011 | George McCaskey, one of Virginia’s sons, becomes chairman of the board, taking on a more public ownership role |
| Early 2025 | Virginia Halas McCaskey dies at age 102; George McCaskey becomes controlling owner |
| 2025-2026 | Family reaffirms no intention to sell the franchise amid new-stadium planning discussions; Forbes lists the team value at $8.2 billion, with some minority-stake activity implying up to $8.9 billion |
Key Ownership Highlights
- The McCaskey family has never sold the team since Halas’s founding in 1920 — over a century of continuous family control, one of the longest in American professional sports.
- The family holds about 77.5% of the organization, with the Ryan family owning the remaining minority stake.
- George McCaskey has publicly stated the family plans to own the Bears “until the second coming,” pushing back firmly on periodic speculation about a sale tied to new-stadium financing needs.
- Virginia McCaskey’s 102-year life and 42 years as principal owner made her one of the most enduring figures in NFL ownership history.
Related Ownership Profiles
The Chicago Bears’ home stadium has its own ownership story — see who owns Soldier Field.
FAQ
Who owns the Chicago Bears now?
George McCaskey chairs the team and serves as controlling owner, following the 2025 death of his mother, longtime principal owner Virginia Halas McCaskey.
Are the Bears going to be sold?
No. The McCaskey family has repeatedly stated they have no intention of selling the franchise, even amid stadium-related financial pressures.
How is the McCaskey family related to George Halas?
Virginia Halas McCaskey was George Halas’s daughter. Her children, including current chairman George McCaskey, are Halas’s grandchildren, making the current ownership the third generation of the founding family.