Halas Retires From Coaching

On May 27, 1968, a monumental figure in professional football history, George Halas, stepped down from coaching the Chicago Bears. His departure marked the end of an era defined by six NFL championships and an astounding 318 victories. For many, the enduring image of Halas is that of a stern, aging coach patrolling the Bears' sideline, his intense focus rarely yielding a smile. Yet, his passion for the game ignited much earlier.

[url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:George_Halas_with_Johnny_Unitas,_Terry_Barr,_Gail_Cogdill_and_Bill_Wade.jpg]George Halas with Johnny Unitas, Terry Barr, Gail Cogdill and Bill Wade.jpg
Coach George Halas (center), with (from left) Johnny Unitas, Terry Barr, Gail Cogdill and Bill Wade, before the 1964 Pro Bowl. Ben Olender,

Despite a youthful declaration to his mother that his football days were over, Halas's competitive drive propelled him into the professional ranks with the Hammond Bobcats in 1919. This decision followed a pivotal season with the Great Lakes Naval Training Center football team, culminating in a Rose Bowl triumph in early 1919. The landscape of college football in the fall of 1918 was significantly altered by World War I and the influenza pandemic, leading to the disbandment or reduced schedules of many teams. Military bases, brimming with servicemen possessing high school and college football experience, filled this void.

Prior to his naval service in January 1918, Halas's football involvement at the University of Illinois was limited, primarily due to injuries that allowed him to shine as a baseball star instead. However, this period proved unexpectedly formative. During his downtime at Illinois, Halas had the invaluable opportunity to observe the legendary coach Robert Zuppke. This exposure provided him with a broader understanding of football team organization and function. In his own words, Halas lauded Zuppke as "a tremendous coach...a careful teacher...knew how to get the best out of young men...[and] an innovator," acknowledging the profound influence Zuppke had on his future coaching philosophy.