George Halas

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Halas was one of the co-founders of the American Professional Football Association (now the NFL) in 1920, and in 1963 became one of the first 17 inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Halas was the oldest person in NFL history to serve as a head coach, aged 72 years and 318 days when he coached the final game of his career in December 1967, a record that stood for over 50 years until Romeo Crennel became the interim head coach of the Houston Texans in October 2020, aged 73 years and 115 days. Halas was born in Chicago, Illinois, into a family of Czech-Bohemian immigrants. He attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, playing football for coach Bob Zuppke, as well as baseball and basketball, and earning a degree in civil engineering. He helped Illinois win the 1918 Big Ten Conference football title. Serving as an ensign in the Navy during World War I, he played for a team at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station, and was named the MVP of the 1919 Rose Bowl. Halas played minor league baseball, eventually earning a promotion to the New York Yankees, where he played 12 games as an outfielder in 1919. However, a hip injury effectively ended his baseball career. Halas said that he was succeeded as the Yankees' right fielder by Babe Ruth, but in reality, it was Sammy Vick. Halas signed his first professional football contract with the independent Hammond All-Stars. He moved to Decatur, Illinois, to take a position with the A. E. Staley Company, and served as player-coach of the company-sponsored football team the Decatur Staleys. In 1920, Halas represented the Staleys at the meeting which formed the American Professional Football Association in Canton, Ohio. After the 1921 season, company founder Augustus E. Staley turned over control of the team to Halas so he could move the team to Chicago. Halas then took on teammate Edward "Dutch" Sternaman as a partner. The newly minted "Chicago Staleys" set up shop at Cubs Park, soon to be known as Wrigley Field. The Staleys won their first NFL championship that year. The following year, Halas renamed his team the "Chicago Bears." Halas was not only the team's coach but also played end and handled ticket sales and the business of running the club. His playing highlight occurred in a 1923 game when he stripped Jim Thorpe of the ball, recovered the fumble, and returned it 98 yards—a league record which wou

In Their Own Story

The transition from Decatur to Chicago defined the franchise's identity. In 1920, Halas represented the Staleys at the meeting that formed the American Professional Football Association in Canton, Ohio. After a 10–1–2 season, financial troubles plagued the team until company founder Augustus E. Staley turned control over to Halas in 1921, granting him a $5,000 bonus to keep the name for one more year before moving to Chicago. There, they set up shop at Cubs Park (later Wrigley Field), leveraging Halas's relationship with Cubs owner William Wrigley Jr. When renaming the team in 1922, Halas reasoned that since baseball players were 'Cubs', football players must be 'Bears'. He didn't stop there; in 1939, he purchased the rights to the Newark Tornadoes, renamed them the Bears, and used them as a farm team to incubate talent that didn't make the Chicago roster. This aggressive expansion of influence showed his vision extended far beyond a single city.

Reader's Guide

The source article does not specify the total number of NFL championships won by Halas or the Bears during his tenure. It mentions championships in 1921, 1932, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1943, and 1946, but does not list 1963 or provide a definitive count. The source also does not mention any distinction shared with Art Rooney or Curly Lambeau regarding winning as both player and owner.

Did You Know?

• Halas was the oldest person in NFL history to serve as a head coach, aged 72 years and 318 days when he coached the final game of his career in December 1967.
• Halas missed the capsizing of the SS Eastland in 1915 because he was running late while trying to gain weight to play Big Ten football.
• Halas selected his alma mater's colors—orange and navy blue—for the Decatur Staleys' uniforms.
• Halas's playing highlight occurred in a 1923 game when he stripped Jim Thorpe of the ball, recovered the fumble, and returned it 98 yards—a league record which would stand until 1972.

Executive Evolution and Strategic Vision

In 1920, Halas co-founded the American Professional Football Association (now the NFL). In 1921, he moved the Decatur Staleys to Chicago after Augustus E. Staley turned over control of the team. He renamed the team the 'Chicago Bears' in 1922. Halas served as owner and handled business operations, including ticket sales. In 1930, he stepped back from coaching but remained owner, becoming sole owner in 1932. He returned to coach in 1933, again in 1946, and for a final decade from 1958 to 1967. In 1939, he purchased the Newark Tornadoes rights, renamed them the Bears, and used them as pro football's first true farm team before folding it in 1941. He revived it briefly as the Newark Bombers in 1946 before folding it again. In 1946, he also launched the Akron Bears of the American Football League.

Family Dynamics and Personal Life

Halas was born in Chicago to Barbara (Poledna) and Frank Halas, immigrants from Pilsen, Austria-Hungary. He had a brother named Walter. On February 18, 1922, he married Wilhelmina 'Minnie' Bushing; they remained married until her death in 1966.

Sudden Death and Controversial Aftermath

George Halas Sr. died on October 31, 1983.

Legacy and Franchise Ownership Struggles

In 1920, Halas represented the Staleys at the meeting forming the American Professional Football Association in Canton, Ohio. In 1963, he became one of the first 17 inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the oldest person in NFL history to serve as a head coach at age 72 years and 318 days when he coached his final game in December 1967; this record stood for over 50 years until Romeo Crennel broke it in October 2020. Halas won six NFL Championships as a head coach, tied for the most all time with Curly Lambeau and Bill Belichick. He was the first coach to reach 200 wins (in 1950) and 300 wins (in 1965). In 40 years as a coach, he endured only six losing seasons.