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Happy Birthday Papa Bear!!

George S. Halas, founder/owner/coach of the Chicago Bears, would have been 123 years old today.

Halas (coaching record--> 318 wins, 148 losses, 31 ties), a pioneer both on and off the field, made the Bears the first team to hold daily practice sessions, to analyze film of opponents to find weaknesses and means of attack, place assistant coaches in the press box during games, place tarp on the field, publish a club newspaper, and to broadcast games by radio. He also offered to share the team's substantial television income with teams in smaller cities, firmly believing that what was good for the league would ultimately benefit his own team. A firm disciplinarian, Halas maintained complete control of his team and did not tolerate disobedience and insubordination by players. He also insisted on absolute integrity and honesty in management, believing that a handshake was sufficient to finalize a deal; few, if any, intermediaries were necessary.

Halas's career ledger reads as follows: 63 years as an owner, 40 as a coach, 324 wins, and 8 NFL titles as a coach or owner. His 324 victories stood as an NFL record for nearly three decades, and are still far and away the most in Bears history; they are three times that of runner-up Ditka.[20] He was a charter member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

~from Wiki

The NFC champions are presented the George S. Halas Trophy each year, and, to this day, the Bears still wear GSH on their jerseys. When Halas died, in 1983 at the age of 88, he was the last surviving participant of the meeting that formed the NFL in 1920.


Happy Birthday Papa Bear!!