“Monsters of the Midway” – From The Middle Blog

Chicago Bears History: From the Decatur Staleys to the Monsters of the Midway Few franchises in professional sports have a history as deep as the Chicago Bears. The Bears are one of the two remaining charter members of the NFL, tracing their roots to 1920. Before they became the Chicago Bears, they were the Decatur Staleys, an industrial football team sponsored by the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company. The franchise moved to Chicago in 1921, changed its name to the Bears in 1922 and has been one of professional football’s most important organizations ever since. The Bears have won nine NFL championships, including the 1985 Super Bowl, and their history includes George Halas, Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski, Sid Luckman, Gale Sayers, Dick Butkus, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, Richard Dent, Brian Urlacher, Devin Hester and many other Hall of Fame players. The franchise has also produced some of the most famous defenses in football history. The Birth of the Bears In 1920, the A.E. Staley Company of Decatur, Illinois, sponsored a football team. George Halas, who had experience as both a player and coach, became the team’s representative at the September 17, 1920 meeting in Canton, Ohio, where representatives of 11 other clubs helped form the American Professional Football Association, which became the National Football League in 1922. The franchise fee was only $100. The original team was the Decatur Staleys. In 1921, A.E. Staley gave Halas the team, $5,000 and permission to move the club to Chicago as long as it retained the Staleys name for one season. The move worked. The Chicago Staleys won the 1921 APFA championship. In January 1922, the franchise officially became the Chicago Bears. The Bears were born. George Halas: The Man Who Was the Bears It is almost impossible to tell the story of the Bears without telling the story of George “Papa Bear” Halas. Halas was: Player, Coach, Owner, General manager, Founder, Innovator, and NFL pioneer. He coached the Bears for 40 seasons, divided into four separate 10-year periods. His coaching record was an extraordinary 324-151-31, including playoffs. He led Chicago to six NFL championships as coach: 1921, 1933, 1940, 1941, 1946 and 1963. Halas retired from coaching after the 1967 season. He remained the guiding force of the organization until his death in 1983. Few people in NFL history have had a greater influence on a franchise. Bears Ownership History One of the unusual things about the Chicago Bears is that the franchise has remained in the same family since its earliest days. A.E. Staley Company — 1920 The original Decatur Staleys were owned by the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company. The company sponsored the team and employed many of its players. The Staleys’ financial problems helped lead to the decision to give George Halas control of the franchise and allow him to move it to Chicago. George Halas — 1920-1983 George Halas became the dominant owner and leader of the franchise. For more than six decades, the Bears were essentially his football kingdom. He was involved in virtually every aspect of the organization. The Pro Football Hall of Fame notes that almost all of the Bears’ successes from their beginning through 1983 can be attributed to Halas. Virginia Halas McCaskey — 1983-2025 After George Halas died in 1983, ownership passed to his daughter, Virginia Halas McCaskey. She became one of the most important women in NFL history. McCaskey was born in 1923 and had literally grown up around the Bears. She had watched the franchise from the earliest days of professional football and eventually became its principal owner. She was the owner when the Bears won Super Bowl XX following the 1985 season. McCaskey remained the team’s principal owner until her death on February 6, 2025, at age 102. She had been the longest-tenured owner in the NFL. The McCaskey Family — 2025-present After Virginia McCaskey’s death, the Bears remained a McCaskey family-owned franchise. Her grandson, George H. McCaskey, serves as Bears chairman and is the current principal owner/representative of the family’s ownership. The important point is that the Bears have never been sold to an outside ownership group in their modern history. The same family that began with George Halas continues to control the franchise more than a century later. Every Major Bears Home Stadium The Bears have played their home games in several locations during their long history. Staley Field — Decatur, Illinois 1920 This was the original home of the Decatur Staleys. It was a small facility with a capacity of approximately 1,500. The limitations of playing in Decatur were one reason Halas moved the team to Chicago. Cubs Park — Chicago 1921-1925 After moving to Chicago, the Staleys played at Cubs Park. The ballpark was later renamed Wrigley Field. Wrigley Field 1926-1970 Wrigley Field became the Bears’ home for half a century. The Bears played their final game there on December 13, 1970, defeating the Green Bay Packers 35-17. Wrigley was home to some of the greatest players in early Bears history including: Red Grange, Bronko Nagurski, Sid Luckman, George McAfee, Bulldog Turner, Dick Butkus, and Gale Sayers. Soldier Field 1971-2001 The Bears moved to Soldier Field in 1971. The stadium became the permanent symbol of Bears football. It was the home of Walter Payton, the 1985 championship team and the legendary Bears defenses. Memorial Stadium — Champaign, Illinois 2002 … Continue reading Chicago Bears History: From the Decatur Staleys

Ah, the storied rivalries of the NFL—where helmets clash, fans roar, and allegiances run deeper than a well-dug end zone. Buckle up, my friend, because we’re about to dive into some gridiron history that’ll make your heart race faster than a wide receiver sprinting for the goal line! The Birth of the NFL: From APFA to Gridiron Glory The Roaring Twenties and the APFA 🏈The NFL’s roots trace back to the early 1920s when professional football was a scrappy, regional affair. In 1920, a group of team owners met in Canton, Ohio, and formed the American Professional Football Association (APFA). Ten teams from four states—Ohio, Indiana,(the team from Indiana played in 1919, with a record of 4-1-1). Unfortunately the OHIO representatives wanted to form a new professional league. The Indiana team played only one game losing to the Illinois Rock Island Independents 45-0. This game and the Columbus Panhandles – Dayton Triangles, were the first two games played in the new league. As for the Flyers, they were relegated to playing local teams. The Ohio teams refused to play them with the excuse they wanted to play “better teams” and cancelled all games with the Flyers. NO player from the Flyers were were listed on the 1920 “All Star” and no player has been enshrined in the Hall Of Fame. INJUSTICE! I think so, and this should be rectified for no other reason than being the FIRST PRO team to play the game. (Just for your information the Flyers HC: was KEN HUFFMAN Home Field was WALNUT STREET STADIUM. The other team; not previously mentioned were the Cleveland Tigers. Teams making up the league were from Ohio were Akron, Cleveland,Canton, and Dayton. Indiana were the Muncie Flyers, Hammond Pros. New York Jeffersons. Illinois Rock Island Independents, Decatur Staleys, and Racine Cardinals. On September 17, 1920 the The Ohio group re-organized. Illinois, and New York—joined forces. Jim Thorpe, the legendary athlete, served as the league’s first president The Birth of a Pigskin Empire The Roaring Twenties and the NFL’s Humble Beginnings Back in the 1920s, when flappers were flapping and jazz was jazzing, a group of football enthusiasts decided it was high time to organize professional football. They gathered in a Hupmobile dealership (yes, you read that right) in Canton, Ohio, and thus, the NFL was born. It was like the Big Bang, but with more shoulder pads and fewer cosmic rays. The original teams were a colorful bunch: the Akron Pros, the Decatur Staleys (who later became the Chicago Bears), and the Dayton Triangles (because nothing says “football” like geometry). These early squads played in cow pastures, city parks, and any patch of grass large enough to accommodate a scrum. Imagine a bunch of burly dudes chasing a leather ball while dodging cows. It was like a real-life version of “Madden NFL: Barnyard Edition.” The Name Change and the NFL Emerges Two years later, in 1922, the APFA rebranded itself as the National Football League (NFL). The name change reflected the league’s growing ambition and national reach. The NFL aimed to establish itself as the premier professional football organization in the United States. The original teams included familiar names like the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and New York Giants. The Early Years: Leather Helmets and Grit The NFL’s early years were marked by gritty games played on muddy fields. Leather helmets, woolen uniforms, and a no-nonsense attitude defined the era. Teams crisscrossed the country, playing in small stadiums and sometimes even on baseball fields. The league faced financial challenges, but it persevered. The Rise of the NFL Championship Game In 1933, the NFL introduced the playoff system, culminating in the NFL Championship Game. This annual showdown determined the league champion. The Chicago Bears, led by the legendary George Halas, dominated the early years, winning several titles. The Green Bay Packers, with their iconic coach Vince Lombardi, also left an indelible mark on NFL history. The Merger with the AFL The 1960s brought significant changes. The American Football League (AFL) emerged as a rival to the NFL. The two leagues engaged in fierce competition for players and fans. However, in 1966, they decided to merge, creating the modern NFL. The Super Bowl, which pits the champions of each conference against each other, became the pinnacle of professional football. The Super Bowl Era and Beyond The Super Bowl transformed the NFL into a cultural phenomenon. From Joe Namath’s guarantee in Super Bowl III to Tom Brady’s multiple championships, the game became a spectacle watched by millions worldwide. The league expanded, adding new teams like the Seattle Seahawks and the Jacksonville Jaguars. Innovations like instant replay and free agency shaped the game. Today: A Global Sporting Empire Fast-forward to today, and the NFL stands as a global sporting empire. The league boasts 32 teams, each with its passionate fan base. Stars like Patrick Mahomes, Aaron Donald, and Lamar Jackson electrify stadiums and screens. The NFL’s commitment to social justice initiatives, player safety, and community engagement continues to evolve. The Great Depression and the NFL’s Survival Dance The 1930s weren’t all moonshine and swing music. The Great Depression hit the NFL harder than a linebacker blitz. Teams folded faster than origami cranes in a windstorm. But a few resilient franchises soldiered on. The Green Bay Packers, led by the legendary Curly Lambeau, kept the flame alive. Meanwhile, the New York Giants were like the Gatsby of football, throwing extravagant parties (and passes) in the Big Apple. World War II and the NFL’s Patriotic Huddle When World War II rolled around, the NFL faced a dilemma: Should they keep playing while the world was at war? The answer was a resounding “Yes!” Football became a symbol of American resilience. Players traded their helmets for helmets (the military kind) and went off to fight. Meanwhile, the Cleveland Rams moved to Los Angeles, presumably to catch some rays and work on their tan lines between games. The Swinging Sixties and the NFL’s Pop Culture Blitz… Continue reading A SHORT HISTORY OF NFL FOOTBALL