Many NFL owners have been in charge of their teams for quite some time. There is one, in particular, who has helmed an NFL franchise the longest, though.
Who holds the title of league’s longest-running owner ahead of the 2024 season?
Longest-Running NFL Owner Revealed
The Chicago Bears have the league’s longest-running owner, as Virginia Halas McCaskey holds that title. She’s also the oldest owner across the sports landscape at the age of 101.
So how did McCaskey become the NFL’s longest-running owner?
McCaskey is one of 10 women with a principal ownership stake in an NFL team. Shelia Ford Hamp, the principal owner and chairwoman of the rival Detroit Lions, is another woman with a similar job title. The difference for McCaskey is that she’s older and has been doing this longer than any of them.
McCaskey was never supposed to own the Bears. Her father, George Halas, was set to pass on the team to her brother, also named George. Unfortunately, her brother predeceased her father. So when Virginia’s father died in 1983, Virginia inherited the team.
The Halas Family Has Owned an NFL Team for Over 100 Years
The NFL as we know it has largely existed since 1967, the first year of the AFL/NFL Championship (dubbed the Super Bowl following the official merger in 1970). However, the Bears existed long before then.
Halas founded the Bears in 1919. That’s right, the Bears have been an NFL franchise for over 100 years. That, coincidentally, is about how long current owner McCaskey has been alive.
Born Virginia Halas, she married Ed McCaskey in 1943, taking on his last name. Ed was heavily involved with the Bears as well, acting as co-owner with her until his death in 2003.
Following Ed’s death, McCaskey resumed sole control of the team. During Ed’s time as co-owner, though, he never had any official ownership stake in the team.
The Bears’ Successes Under the Halas Family
The good news for older Bears fans is the team was one of the most successful in NFL history. The bad news is nearly all of their success occurred when the term “NFL” did not include the term “AFL.”
The NFL did not have a postseason until 1932. That very first season, the Bears were NFL champions. They went on to win NFL championships in 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, 1946, and 1963. During that time, they also made four other title games, which they lost.
Unfortunately, that 1963 championship would be the Bears’ final success for a long time.
The Bears’ Struggles Since the Merger
Following the Bears’ win in 1963, they didn’t make the playoffs again until 1977 and didn’t win a playoff game until 1984. Fortunately, that 1984 season was the start of a lengthy run of relevancy for the Bears.
“The ’85 Bears” are considered the greatest defense of all time. The Bears captured their first and only Super Bowl crown by holding their three opponents to a combined 10 points in the postseason. All 10 of those points were scored by the Patriots in the Super Bowl.
From 1984 through 1994, the Bears made the playoffs eight times. However, after their 1985 Super Bowl win, they would only reach the NFC Championship Game one more time during that span, losing to the 49ers in 1988.
Since 1994, the Bears have made just six playoff appearances and won three playoff games. They reached the Super Bowl in 2006, losing to Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Chicago did make one other run to the NFC title game, but it lost to Aaron Rodgers and the rival Green Bay Packers in the 2010 conference championship.
The Bears’ last playoff win came during that ’10 playoff run, a 35-24 divisional round home victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
The Future of the Bears
McCaskey has 10 living children and over 40 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. At over 100 years of age, she’s well aware of the importance of considering the future of the organization.
The longest-running NFL owner has expressed confidence that the Bears will remain in her family after she’s gone.
Now, the new generation of Bears players is spearheaded by Caleb Williams, the league’s top overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. The past Heisman Trophy winner has already put on a show during the preseason, which is fueling higher expectations in the Windy City with the league’s longest-running owner watching.