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unusual facts about George Halas, Jr.



1917–18 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team

Co-captain George Halas, for example, left the team in January 1918 to help out with the war effort.

The starting lineup included co-captain Earl Anderson and B.E. Mittleman at the forward positions, J.S. Probst and P.C. Taylor at center, and co-captain George Halas and Burt Ingwersen as guards.

1921 APFA season

The Chicago Staleys (to be renamed the Chicago Bears after the end of the season), led by wide receiver George Halas, and the Buffalo All-Americans, led by quarterback Tommy Hughitt, were the two top teams in the league; each playing all of their games at home, Buffalo and Chicago amassed 6–0 records in league play.

1942 NFL Championship Game

The game pitted the undefeated Western Division champion Chicago Bears (11–0), co-coached by Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos after George Halas had entered the U.S. Navy and led by quarterback Sid Luckman versus the Eastern Division champion Washington Redskins (10–1) who were led by coach Ray Flaherty and quarterback Sammy Baugh.

1956 NFL season

After the game Lions' coach Buddy Parker appealed to the commissioner to punish what the Lions felt was the dirty play of George Halas's Bears, but no ruling was forthcoming.

1969 Pittsburgh Steelers season

Art Rooney would win a coin toss with George Halas to determine who would select Louisiana Tech quarterback Terry Bradshaw (the consensus number 1 selection among league teams) with the number one pick in the 1970 draft.

Bo Molenda

One day, George Halas visited and asked Molenda if he would like to return home.

Chic Harley

Following his college playing career, Harley was contacted by George Halas to play for the NFL team Halas was organizing, a team that would ultimately become the Chicago Bears.

Doug Buffone

His retirement from football also signaled the end of an era for the Bears as he was the last active Bear to have played for George Halas.

George Preston Marshall

Marshall, along with George Halas, suggested two major rules changes designed to open up the game and increase scoring which were subsequently adopted.

Harvey Chrouser

After a few years of starting at Wheaton, he took a break to serve in the United States Navy as a Lieutenant Commander under George Halas.

Herman Ball

Ball was fired on October 18, a decision that helped bring about a bizarre situation in which his successor, former Bears assistant Hunk Anderson, was announced as Washington's new head coach, but was prevented from starting his new job because of contract issues with Chicago's George Halas.

Jim Dooley

In February 1968, Dooley was returned to the offensive side of the ball, but that status changed just months later when Chicago's legendary coach, 73-year-old George Halas, announced his retirement on May 27 due to arthritis.

Keith Molesworth

Molesworth played football for the independent professional Ironton Tanks, who helped defeat the Bears in November 1930 and impressing George Halas in the process.

Morgan O'Brien

Morgan O'Brien was an engineer at the A. E. Staley Company, located in Decatur, Illinois, as well as a football fan who assisted George Halas in managing the administrative matters of the Decatur Staleys (renamed the Chicago Bears in 1922).

Player-coach

During the 1920s, legendary player-coaches in the NFL include Curly Lambeau (who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1919-1929, and served as their head coach from 1919-1949) and George Halas who held similar roles for the Chicago Bears, a team for which he was also part-owner and business manager.

Raymond R. Schumacher

Upon returning home, Ray played for the Akron Bears before George Halas signed both Raymond and his brother Harold to the Chicago Bears at the same time.

Richard Dent

Marshall picked up the loose ball and returned it for a touchdown, a moment said to be a perfect end to the Bears' season (at home) and others say the snow was "Papa Bear" George Halas giving his thumbs-up to the team.

Ted Phillips

He is currently only the fourth president of the 90-year-old organization, the others being Michael McCaskey, George Halas, Jr., and "Papa Bear" George Halas.

Willie Thrower

Bears coach George Halas was unhappy with Blanda's play and pulled him, sending in Thrower.


see also