George Halas facts for kids
Halas' 1952 Bowman trading card
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| Position: | End | ||||
| Personal information | |||||
| Born: | February 2, 1895 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Died: | October 31, 1983 (aged 88) Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||
| Weight: | 182 lb (83 kg) | ||||
| Career information | |||||
| High school: | Crane (Chicago, Illinois) | ||||
| College: | Illinois (1914–1917) Great Lakes Navy (1918) |
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| Career history | |||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||
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| Head coaching record | |||||
| Regular season: | 318–148–31 (.671) | ||||
| Postseason: | 6–3 (.667) | ||||
| Career: | 324–151–31 (.671) | ||||
| Player stats at PFR | |||||
| Coaching stats at PFR | |||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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George Halas
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| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1918, 1942–1946 |
| Rank |  Captain |
| Unit | Seventh Fleet |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Bronze Star |
George Stanley Halas Sr. (born February 2, 1895 – died October 31, 1983) was a famous American football player, coach, and team owner. People called him "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything" because he did so much for the sport. He started the Chicago Bears team in the National Football League (NFL). He also coached the team many times.
George Halas was one of the people who helped create the American Professional Football Association in 1920. This league later became the NFL. In 1963, he was one of the first 17 people to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the oldest head coach in NFL history for a long time. He coached his last game when he was 72 years old.
Contents
Early Life and Sports Journey
George Halas was born in Chicago, Illinois. His parents were immigrants from a country called Bohemia. His mom, Barbara, ran a grocery store, and his dad, Frank, was a tailor. George had a very busy sports life.
In 1915, George almost boarded a ship called the SS Eastland. He was trying to gain weight for college football. Because he was running late, he missed the ship. This ship later sank, and many people died.
George went to Crane High School in Chicago. Then he studied civil engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. He played football, baseball, and basketball there. He even helped his college football team win a championship in 1918.
During World War I, George served in the Navy. He played football for a Navy team. He was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 1919 Rose Bowl game. His team won 17–0, and George scored a touchdown and made a long interception return.
After the war, George played minor league baseball. He even played 12 games as an outfielder for the New York Yankees in 1919. But a hip injury ended his baseball career. Later that year, he played football for the Hammond Pros.
In 1922, George married Wilhelmina "Minnie" Bushing. They were married until she passed away in 1966.
Starting the Chicago Bears
After playing for the Hammond Pros, George Halas moved to Decatur, Illinois. He worked for a company called A. E. Staley. He was a salesperson and played on the company's baseball team. He also became the player-coach for their football team, the Decatur Staleys. George chose orange and navy blue for the team's colors. These were the colors of his old college team.
In 1920, George Halas helped create the American Professional Football Association. This meeting happened in Canton, Ohio. This association later became the NFL.
The Staleys team had money problems, even though they had a great record. George decided to move the team to Chicago. The company owner, Augustus E. Staley, gave George control of the team. He also gave him $5,000 to move the team. George kept the "Staleys" name for the 1921 season. He also partnered with his teammate, Edward "Dutch" Sternaman.
The "Chicago Staleys" started playing at Cubs Park, which is now Wrigley Field. George had a good relationship with the Chicago Cubs owner. The Staleys won their first NFL championship in 1921.
The next year, George Halas changed the team's name to the "Chicago Bears." He thought that if baseball players were "cubs," then football players, who were bigger, should be "bears"!
Halas as Player, Coach, and Owner
George Halas was not just the coach; he also played as an "end" (a player who catches passes and plays defense). He also managed ticket sales and the team's business. He was named to the NFL's all-pro team in the 1920s.
One of his most famous plays was in 1923. He took the ball from Jim Thorpe, a legendary player. George then ran 98 yards for a touchdown. This was a league record for many years.
In 1925, George convinced Red Grange, a famous college player, to join the Bears. This helped make the NFL more popular and respected.
George stopped coaching in 1930 but stayed the team's owner. He became the only owner in 1932. But the Great Depression caused money problems for the Bears. So, George came back as coach in 1933 to save money. He coached the team for another ten seasons. His 1934 team was undefeated until the championship game.
In the late 1930s, George Halas and coach Clark Shaughnessy created a new way to play football called the "T-formation." This style was very powerful. In 1940, the Bears used it to beat the Washington Redskins 73–0 in the NFL Championship Game. This is still the biggest win in NFL history! The Bears won again in 1941. The 1940s became known as the era of the "Monsters of the Midway" for the Bears.
Halas looked for the perfect quarterback for his new offense. He found Sid Luckman, who became a Hall of Fame player for the Bears.
Serving in World War II
George Halas joined the Navy again in 1942 during World War II. He was a lieutenant commander. He served overseas for 20 months. He helped with activities for the Seventh Fleet. He received the Bronze Star award.
While George was in the Navy, the Bears won another championship in 1943. He returned to coaching in 1946 and won another title in his first year back. George also helped set up an annual charity football game. The money from these games went to help military families.
Later Coaching Years and Retirement
After a short break, George Halas returned as head coach from 1958 to 1967. He won his sixth and final league title in 1963. He officially retired from coaching on May 27, 1968. He was the first coach to reach 200 and 300 wins. His six NFL Championships as a head coach tie him with other great coaches like Curly Lambeau and Bill Belichick. In 40 years as a coach, he had only six losing seasons.
Halas's Impact on Football
George Halas was a true leader in football. He made the Bears the first team to:
- Have daily practice sessions.
- Watch films of opponents to find their weaknesses.
- Put assistant coaches in the press box during games.
- Cover the field with a tarp.
- Publish a club newspaper.
- Broadcast games on the radio.
He also believed in sharing the team's television money with smaller teams. He knew that what was good for the whole league would help his team too. George was strict but fair. He wanted his team to be honest and disciplined.
Halas owned the Bears for 63 years and coached for 40 years. He had 324 wins and won 8 NFL titles as a coach or owner. His 324 wins were an NFL record for almost 30 years. He was one of the first people inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.
Honors and Legacy
George Halas was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1963 and 1965. In 1997, he was honored on a U.S. postage stamp. ESPN called him one of the ten most important people in sports in the 20th century.
Today, the George Halas Trophy is given to the champion of the National Football Conference. The George S. Halas Courage Award is also named after him.
The Chicago Bears retired his jersey number 7 to honor him. The Pro Football Hall of Fame is located on George Halas Drive.
Later Life and Death
After the 1967 season, George Halas retired as coach. He was the oldest coach in league history at that time. But he continued to own the team and make important decisions. He was honored in 1970 and 1980 for being involved in the NFL for its first 50 and 60 years.
His son, George Jr., was the president of the Bears from 1963 until he passed away in 1979. One of George Halas's last big decisions was hiring Mike Ditka as head coach in 1982. Ditka had played for Halas in the 1960s.
George Halas died in Chicago on October 31, 1983, at age 88. He was the last person alive who attended the meeting that formed the NFL in 1920. He is buried in St. Adalbert Catholic Cemetery in Niles, Illinois.
His oldest daughter, Virginia Halas McCaskey, became the owner after him. In 1985, the Bears won their only Super Bowl. In their song "Super Bowl Shuffle," they mentioned "Papa Bear Halas."
Super Bowl XVIII was dedicated to George Halas. Before the game, there was a moment of silence for him. Airplanes even flew in a special formation to honor him.
Images for kids
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Halas' 1952 Bowman trading card
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Captain rank insignia
