New Bears Chairman Visits Campers in Winnetka

It was only two months ago that George McCaskey took over the position of chairman for the Chicago Bears from his brother, Mike. But he already seems very comfortable in his new role.

McCaskey made a visit to Winnetka on Wednesday, stopping by the Chicago Bears Youth Football Camp at Skokie Playfield to watch 80-plus youngsters go through drills and to answer questions. Twenty-seven such camps are held at various locations from June through July for children ages 6-14.

“This is a great activity,” McCaskey said at the facility on Hibbard Road. “We want to get kids out, we want to get them exercising, get them away from the video kids for a bit, keep them active, make sure they’re healthy and this is a big part of it.”

McCaskey had a lengthy question-and-answer session with the campers, who asked about football team's history, about his favorite players and, of course, the lockout.

The Bears chairman says the most popular question that he gets from the public revolves around the possibility of not having a 2011 NFL season. The league and its players have been deadlocked over a new contract since the previous one expired in March.

“You heard some pretty sophisticated questions from some pretty young people,” McCaskey said. “They’re up on the issues, they know what’s at stake, and to me it’s just another indication that reminds us of how important football is to people.”

As chairman of the board, McCaskey will serve mostly as an ambassador and spokesman for the team, making public appearances and working with other front office personnel. The day-to-day operations will be left with Bears CEO Ted Phillips.

“It’s really working with Ted and supporting his efforts and making sure we have a climate that’s conducive to sustained success,” McCaskey said.

McCaskey is part of the Chicago Bears’ first family. His grandfather, George Halas, founded the team in 1920, and McCaskey’s mother, Virginia, is the team’s principal owner. So football is in his blood.

McCaskey wants to continue the Bears’ long tradition of winning championships. Assuming the 2011 NFL season is played, he said the goal of another title would start with controlling the division and beating the team's top rival, the Green Bay Packers.

At one point on Wednesday, McCaskey noticed a yellow nerf football sitting next to a green one. He walked over and tossed the green one away, came back and said, “You can never have green and yellow too close together like that.”