“Papa Bear”

George Halas, the founder of the Chicago Bears, is a very important figure in the history of the Bears franchise and in the entire NFL.  Halas was a player and the coach for the Decatur Staleys in 1920.  In that same year, Halas became a charter member in starting what would later become the National Football League.

In 1921, Halas was given control of the team by Augustus E. Staley and moved the team to Chicago.  In 1922, Halas would change the name of the team from the Staleys to the Bears.  Halas chose the Bears as a tribute to the Chicago Cubs, who let the team play at Wrigley Field.  Halas was a major player for the entire Bears franchise even in its early years.  He not only played both offense and defense on the team, he also handled all the business of the team, including ticket sales.  It’s even been said that he sold tickets before games.  Halas’ team would enjoy much success in those early seasons, having 84 wins and only 31 losses between the years 1920 and 1929.  Halas retired as both a player and a coach in 1930, but remained owner of the team.  He continued to coach on and off until finally retiring in 1967, as the oldest coach in league history.  He would still remain owner of the team, however, until his death in 1983.

George Halas was a pioneer in both the making of the Chicago Bears, and the National Football League, a true “Papa Bear”.