who owns chicago bears
The Chicago Bears are primarily owned by the McCaskey family, heirs of founder George Halas, with businessman Pat Ryan holding a significant minority stake.
Current ownership snapshot
- The McCaskey family controls a large majority of the franchise through shares passed down from Bears founder George Halas.
- After a 2025 minority-stake transaction, the McCaskey family’s total interest is reported at roughly three‑quarters of the club, while the Ryan interests hold the remaining minority block.
- The late Virginia Halas McCaskey had been the principal owner for decades; leadership responsibility is expected to remain within the family, with her son George McCaskey continuing as chairman.
Key figures involved
- McCaskey family : Primary owners and long-time controllers of the franchise, descended from George Halas, who originally bought and built the team.
- Pat Ryan : Chicago businessman and former Aon CEO, long-standing minority owner whose stake sits around one-fifth of the team after adjustments from the 2025 deal.
- Recent changes include the purchase of a 2.35% stake previously held by the estate of Andrew McKenna, further consolidating ownership between the McCaskey and Ryan families.
Simple table of ownership
| Party | Role in Bears ownership |
|---|---|
| McCaskey family | Majority owners; heirs of founder George Halas, controlling voting power of the franchise. | [3][5]
| Pat Ryan | Major minority owner, Chicago businessman with long-term stake in the team. | [7][1][3]
| Estate of Andrew McKenna (former) | Previously held a small minority share (about 2–2.35%), sold in 2025 to McCaskey and Ryan family entities. | [1][5]