George Halas

Date of Birth: February 2, 1895

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius

Date of Death: October 31, 1983

Biography

George Stanley Halas Sr., known as “Papa Bear” and “Mr. Everything,” was a pioneering figure in American football. Born on February 2, 1895, in Chicago, Illinois, Halas was a professional football player, coach, and owner. He is best known for founding the Chicago Bears, one of the National Football League’s (NFL) original franchises, and for his long and successful tenure as the team’s head coach. Halas was instrumental in the growth and development of the NFL, serving as a player, coach, and team owner over a career that spanned multiple decades. Halas attended the University of Illinois, where he played football, baseball, and basketball. After college, he briefly played professional baseball for the New York Yankees before turning his focus to football. In 1920, Halas helped establish the American Professional Football Association, which would later become the NFL. He was a key figure in shaping the league’s structure and rules, helping to transform it into the premier professional football organization in the world. As the head coach of the Chicago Bears, Halas led the team to six NFL championships and introduced numerous innovations to the game, including the T-formation offense. His contributions to football were so significant that he was one of the charter inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963. George Halas passed away on October 31, 1983, in Chicago, Illinois, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most influential figures in the history of American sports.

5 Interesting Facts about George Halas

1. George Halas was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, inducted in its inaugural class of 1963.

2. He served in both World War I and World War II, earning the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

3. Halas played Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees in 1919 before turning his focus to football.

4. He was the head coach of the Chicago Bears for 40 seasons, the most in NFL history.

5. Halas introduced the T-formation offense, revolutionizing the way football was played and leading to numerous championships.

5 Most Interesting Quotes from George Halas

1. “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.”

2. “Find out what the other team wants to do. Then take it away from them.”

3. “Many people flounder about in life because they do not have a purpose, an objective toward which to work.”

4. “San Francisco is the only city I can think of that can survive all the things you people are doing to it and still look beautiful.”

5. “You can achieve only that which you will do.”

Highest Net Worth Achieved

At the peak of his career, George Halas’s net worth was estimated to be around $30 million, largely due to his ownership of the Chicago Bears and other business ventures.

Children

George Halas had two children with his wife, Minnie Bushing: George Halas Jr., known as “Mugs,” and Virginia Halas McCaskey. Virginia Halas McCaskey inherited the ownership of the Chicago Bears after her father’s death and continues to be involved in the team’s operations.