McCaskey became President & CEO of the Bears after George Halas' death in '83GETTY IMAGES
MICHAEL MCCASKEY, who "took over the reins" of the Bears from his grandfather GEORGE HALAS in '83, died Saturday at 76, according to Brad Biggs of the CHICAGO TRIBUNE. McCaskey became President & CEO of the Bears after Halas' death in '83 and "remained at the helm of the organization in a 27-year run," serving as BOD Chair from '99 until '11, when he "stepped down and was replaced by his brother GEORGE." McCaskey "battled cancer for a considerable time." The oldest of ED and VIRGINIA MCCASKEY’s 11 children, he is survived by two children, JOHN and KATHRYN, and one grandson, JACKSON. During McCaskey’s "long run with the organization, the Bears were crowned Super Bowl XX champions, and he was named NFL executive of the year" following the '85 season. The club "left its old headquarters" at Lake Forest College for Halas Hall in '97 and Soldier Field "was remodeled" in '02, when McCaskey served as BOD Chair. McCaskey "founded Bears Care, the team’s charitable arm," in '05. The team reached the NFC Championship game after the '10 season, "shortly before McCaskey stepped down." McCaskey "called the Super Bowl XX run his proudest moment with the organization" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 5/17).
OF THE MAN: THE ATHLETIC's Dan Pompei wrote McCaskey was "gregarious and bright, well-versed on many subjects, and enjoyed bantering." When "he laughed, it was loud and long." He "will be remembered laughing." He "marched to his own rhythm, and he did so unabashedly." In "his heart, he was an academic and an artist." McCaskey also was "calm, even-keeled, and poised, able to keep perspective through the storms" (THEATHLETIC.com, 5/16).
OF THE EXEC: In Chicago, Mark Potash wrote the timing of McCaskey’s "ascension to the Bears’ throne was a blessing and a curse." He had the "unenviable task of following the ultimate National Football League giant when he became the Bears’ President and CEO after Halas’ death in 1983." Potash: "The massive shoes of one of the NFL’s founding fathers would be impossible to fill -- McCaskey wasn’t groomed for the job; he owned a management consultant business outside of Boston when he took over the Bears in 1983" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 5/17).
