From 1984 to Today: the Complete History of the Chicago Bears' Gsh Uniform Mark
Few franchises possess a connection to league origins quite like Chicago. In 1920, the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company in Decatur, Illinois, hired Halas to run the company's football team. Later that year, Halas drove to an automobile showroom in Canton, Ohio, to organize what became the American Professional Football Association, renamed the National Football League in 1922.
Halas relocated the Decatur Staleys to Chicago in 1921, playing at Wrigley Field before rebranding the squad as the Bears in 1922. Over the subsequent six decades, Halas served as owner, promoter, player, and head coach. Across four separate coaching stints spanning 324 wins and six NFL championships, his identity merged seamlessly with Chicago sports culture.
When Hall of Fame discussions take place, Halas sits at the very center of the table. He helped institute revenue-sharing models, pushed for the creation of championship games, and signed college sensation Harold "Red" Grange to legitimize professional football in mainstream America. The initials on the sleeve represent the creation of professional football in the United States.
