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The Chicago Bears and the NFL family lost a significant figure on Saturday. According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, Bears owner and former team president and CEO (from 1999 to 2011) Michael McCaskey sadly passed away.
McCaskey has owned the team since 1983, when he took over for George S. Halas, his grandfather.
McCaskey was in the middle of a long battle with cancer, and tragically lost his life on Saturday.
His family put out a statement about the situation. In it, they reminisced on the wonderful times that McCaskey had with the organization and with his family.
“Mike was already successful in every sense of the word when he took over for George S. Halas after the passing of ‘Papa Bear’ in 1983,” said the McCaskey family in a statement issued by the team. “We are grateful to Mike for overseeing arguably the greatest team in NFL history, and for his many years of service to the Bears and to us.”
The Bears also released a statement. CEO and team president Ted Phillips expressed his gratitude for McCaskey and how saddened the news has made the Chicago family.
“My heart is heavy as I think about Michael McCaskey and can’t believe he is no longer with us,” said Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips… Michael always strived to do things the right way with high character and with the Bears best interests always paramount. Michael was a good man, gone much too soon. He presided over the only Super Bowl Championship Chicago Bears team in 1985, and I know he is still smiling about that magical season. God bless Michael and his family.”
McCaskey lived an interesting life. One that included a lot more than just being the owner of the Bears. He was also a Yale graduate and member of the Peace Corps. McCaskey also had a doctorate in business and taught at some very prestigious colleges.
It's likely that McCaskey would tell you that his grandest achievement was his family though.
Obviously, this is extremely sad news. And we can only give our condolences and love to the McCaskey family and the Bears' organization. It sounds like everyone that knew the man loved him, so this definitely hurts a lot of people.
