The Chicago Bears will make their preseason debut Sunday, as will a brand new patch featured prominently on their jerseys.
The orange football-shaped patch incorporates the initials “VMH” on it, and can be worn on their jerseys by way of your complete 2025 season.
Bears followers will recall that long-time proprietor of the crew Virginia McCaskey handed away earlier this yr on the age of 102, and the patch pays homage to her full identify of Virginia Halas McCaskey, with the “M” emboldened and within the middle of the patch.
Some Bears followers could also be confused as to why the “M” within the identify is within the middle, however in line with Southern Dwelling and different publications, the “VMH” is definitely the right strategy to show initials on a monogram, paying homage to the late McCaskey after her dying earlier this yr.
Recognized affectionately because the matriarch of the NFL, McCaskey was the longest-tenured NFL proprietor, having served because the proprietor of the Bears since her father and crew founder, George S. Halas, handed away on Oct. 31, 1983.
McCaskey was born in 1923 in Chicago to oldsters Min and George Halas. She was the oldest of the couple’s two kids, each of whom had been raised within the premiere soccer household.
George Halas based the Bears and the NFL and served as a participant and coach, whereas proudly owning the Bears from the crew’s inception to his dying in 1983.
“After the passing of her father, Mrs. McCaskey discovered herself because the principal proprietor of the Chicago Bears franchise,” the Bears stated in a launch. “She by no means sought the highlight. She understood the significance of emphasizing to members of the family how vital the legacy of the franchise was, not by way of cash or worth, however by way of what the crew meant to individuals in Chicago and past.”
McCaskey has been the principal proprietor ever since, though her son Michael took over as crew chairman in 1999, then one other son, George, took the helm in 2011.
She was survived by her sons Patrick, Edward Jr., George, Richard, Brian and Joseph, in addition to daughters Ellen, Mary and Ann. She additionally has 21 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 4 great-great-grandchildren.