The late Virginia Halas McCaskey is among five individuals in the Contributor category eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of its Class of 2027.
Members of the Contributor Subcommittee made their selections through multiple reduction votes from an original field of 42 Nominees. The subcommittee will discuss the remaining Nominees at length when they meet virtually Nov. 17 to select one Candidate for the full Selection Committee to consider when it determines a new class of enshrinees in early 2027.
In addition to Mrs. McCaskey, the others under consideration are Ralph Hay, Robert Kraft, Doug Williams and John Wooten.
Mrs. McCaskey served as the Bears' principal owner from 1983 until she passed away Feb. 6, 2025, at the age of 102. She was born Jan. 5, 1923, less than three years after her father, Hall of Famer George Halas, founded the Bears as the Decatur Staleys and helped create what would become the NFL.
No single individual witnessed as much pro football history as Mrs. McCaskey. As a toddler, she accompanied her dad and the Bears during the Red Grange barnstorming tour in 1925-26. Grange, a Hall of Famer who was football's most popular superstar in his day, carried her in front of him through train stations so fans wouldn't recognize him and mob him for autographs.
In 1932, Mrs. McCaskey attended the NFL's first indoor game, watching the Bears capture the league championship by blanking the Portsmouth Spartans 9-0 at Chicago Stadium. In the 1940s, she witnessed the "Monsters of the Midway" win four league championships while modernizing pro football with the introduction of the "T" formation.
Mrs. McCaskey assumed control of the Bears in her 60s upon her father's passing in 1983. The team followed by capturing five straight NFC Central Division championships from 1984-88 and capped a magical 1985 season with a 46-10 rout of the Patriots in Super Bowl XX. One of her proudest moments came when she was presented the George S. Halas Trophy after the Bears won the NFC championship with a 39-14 victory over the Saints Jan. 27, 2007, at snowy Soldier Field.
ChicagoBears.com takes a look back at some of our favorite moments with the late Bears owner through the years.
Mrs. McCaskey was a fixture at Bears games for decades, both at home and on the road. Every year she hosted a Bears wives' luncheon and appeared at the Bears Care Gala and the Ed Block Courage Award luncheon. On occasion, she spoke to Bears rookies and visited training camp. At Halas Hall, she had an office and a reserved parking spot next to her father's statue just outside the front door.
Hall of Fame reduction votes also are occurring in the Players and Coach categories. Eventually, 15 Candidates will be presented at the Selection Committee's annual meeting in advance of Super Bowl LXI: 13 Players, one Coach and one Contributor. While there is no set number for any class of enshrinees, the Hall of Fame's selection process bylaws stipulate that 3-7 new members shall be selected.
The Hall of Fame's Class of 2027 will be announced at "NFL Honors" in Los Angeles in February and enshrined in Canton, Ohio, next August.
