McCaskey: ‘It’s good to see the buzz is back’
(ALSO, THE BEARS’ ONE AND ONLY SUPER BOWL APPEARANCE WAS THE 20TH EDITION OF THE BIG GAME. NEXT YEAR’S SUPER BOWL WILL BE PLAYED IN 2020. SO THERE’S THAT, TOO.)
The Bears chairman talks about the team’s turnaround and what lies ahead.
GEORGE MCCASKEY SOUNDS OFF ON ALL THINGS BEARS, FROM PACE TO NAGY, TRUBISKY TO MACK ... AND, YES, HUNT.
Ayear ago, Bears Chairman George McCaskey arrived at a crossroads. After a 5-11 season dropped the Bears to 14-34 over the previous three, he jettisoned coach John Fox but extended general manager Ryan Pace’s contract.
Now, after coach Matt Nagy’s first season, the Bears are fresh off a 12-4 turnaround that included a division championship and a home playoff game.
“We appreciate the fans for sticking with us,” McCaskey said. “The four years prior made it challenging to be a Bears fan. The fact that they stuck with us is really gratifying, humbling. It’s good to see the buzz is back.”
McCaskey sat down Thursday for an interview about a wide range of topics. Here is the interview, edited for length and clarity.
Going back to this point a year ago, you didn’t have to stick with Ryan but you did. You reiterated the commitment to him, and here you are. Over the course of the season, how did he validate the faith you had in him?
I wouldn’t say there was anything he did that validated it. One of the things we were impressed by with Ryan when we interviewed him for the job was his organizational abilities, his thoroughness. He had to reshape the roster, and that took some time.
You guys didn’t have to believe in that vision, though. In other words, your patience and faith ended up 12-4, division champions. Was any part of that particularly satisfying to you?
No. I wouldn’t say that. It was a great year, but we didn’t reach our ultimate objective. That remains.
Through the year, what impressions did Nagy make upon you as you watched him grow into the job?
One of the impressive things about Matt was the same impression I had of Ryan as a first-year GM. He certainly wasn’t conducting himself like things were throwing him for a loop or things were surprising him or he didn’t know how to handle situations. He looked very comfortable in the role from the very start. He just showed a lot of poise and wherewithal. I think that comes down to Matt, from the first moment of the interview, said he wasn’t going to try to pretend to be something he wasn’t. He was going to be himself, be genuine. I think that has shown through. I think players recognize that and reacted favorably because of that.
What did you make of Chicago’s reception of him as, for example, the postgame dance parties started to come out and Matt’s personality was imparted onto the team?
I think it happened before “Club Dub” became popular. Even though he’s not from here, I think he showed the qualities of being a Chicago guy. There’s no pretense to him. There’s no guile. It’s not a put-on. He’s just himself.
On the other side of the ball from Matt’s expertise, what did watching this defense do for you? What feelings, emotions or memories did it conjure in you?
Chicago loves great defense. I remember back in the mid-’90s, I think it was a season ticket holder that said to me when we had two 1,000-yard receivers and Erik Kramer was throwing the ball lights out, but we had trouble stopping people — the guy said to me: “All these years I was praying for a decent offense. Now that we have one, I want to go back to great defense.” (Laughs) And we played well, I think, as a defense prior to the 2018 season. But the big thing was, in my mind, we weren’t getting the takeaways. That changed big-time in 2018.
How do you think Mitch Trubisky is doing as a franchise quarterback, with everything that involves? How is he meeting that expectation for you?
I think it starts from his work ethic. You hear all about: “First one in the building. Last one to leave.” He lives it. Great teammate. Great leader. I think the guys really respond to him because they know how hard he works and how much it means to him. He just seems like one of those guys that just loves playing the game of football. That’s fun to see. And he’s just a good guy. You want guys like that to succeed. I just saw a photo of him in his Pro Bowl quasi-jersey. He looks pretty good.
I have not heard your version of events from Labor Day weekend and the Khalil Mack trade. How did that all go down from your standpoint? On the eve of the season, this superstar comes to the team and gets this huge contract. What do you remember about that weekend?
I wasn’t really involved in it. Ryan said that he and Matt had conversations going back to training camp. The first I really heard about it was — the trade was on a Saturday, and Ted (Phillips, team president) told me the Thursday before: “It looks like this Khalil Mack thing might happen. It’s going to cost us two (first-round picks).” I said, “OK.” And he said, “It’s going to blow the committed cash budget.” And I said, “Go get him.” That was about it.
It’s not like a teenager going to his dad with his hand out saying, “I need quarters to go play in the arcade.” You needed the richest contract for a defensive player in NFL history. You now see No. 52 jerseys everywhere at Soldier Field. He almost immediately became the face of your defense. For you guys to make that commitment — and Ryan talks about conviction and being bold — how did this sudden big expenditure fit with your plan overall?
I think Ryan put it very well: It was an opportunity to get a premier player at a premier position, and a guy in his prime who has an established track record. When you have those opportunities, Ryan said, you don’t want to be sitting on your hands. He made a good defense even better. That’s probably an understatement. He transformed not just the defense, but the team. To see a guy of that ability who works as hard as he does, that’s a great example for the other players. And the fans have responded.
What was the experience of hosting a playoff game like for you?
I was happy that our fans had an opportunity for a home playoff game. After what they’ve been through, they had earned that. It was bitterly disappointing not to give them a win at home. But the excitement in the building down the stretch — the (first) Vikings game, the Rams game, the Packers game and the playoff game — Matt called on our fans to provide a home-field advantage for us, and they came through and really got into it. That was gratifying to see.
With the help of the siren too.
(Laughs)
Did you like the siren?
I haven’t decided on the siren. I told our people it can be overdone. I think Bears fans, especially, they don’t want stuff foisted on them. They’ve got to embrace it. You can put it out there for them. But you have to let them decide whether it’s going to go forward. If you try to force it, Bears fans will tell you: “No, we’ve got this. We’ll decided whether we like it.” It’s really up to them.
What did you think of kicker Cody Parkey going on the “Today” show?
First of all, he’s an outstanding person. I’ve been very impressed with him since the moment he walked in the door. I didn’t know what the mechanics were as far as how Cody came to be on the show. I think Matt knows more about that than I do.
How is your mother doing, and what was her reaction to the season? I know she just had her 96th birthday.
Doing great. Her 96th was the day before the playoff game. She wouldn’t let us celebrate. I think she wanted to rest up for the game. I happened to see her on her birthday just because I had to take something over to her. She was absolutely beaming. Just radiating joy — and I don’t think it was because of her birthday. The next day, just to see her so disappointed, that was tough to see. We’ve got to do it for her.
Yes, there is a lot ahead in 2019. Is there anything new with the team’s celebration of its 100th season?
We’re looking forward to it. We just had Pete Abitante (NFL vice president of special projects) talk to our staff Wednesday. He’s coordinating the league’s 100th celebration, so we’ve been working with Pete to make sure that ours dovetails nicely. We’re the only team that is also celebrating its 100th year along with the league. It’s going to be a lot of fun. The next Super Bowl is on George Halas’ birthday. In our 100th season. So …
So you’re saying those stars are starting to align?
(Laughs all around) It would be fitting. That’s what I’m saying.
In that pursuit of a Super Bowl, I need to ask about one player: Kareem Hunt. Ryan left the door open, at least to this question. Is it fair to assume you’re familiar with the circumstances of Kareem’s situation?
Yes.
Are you open to the possibility of him being a Bear?
Well, Ryan said we’re not there yet. I think that’s the best way to put it. He’s not eligible right now. He may not become eligible for quite some time. The important thing, as Matt pointed out, is that he addresses his personal situation before worrying about football. I think that’s a demonstration of the kind of guy Matt is. He called him to have a non-football conversation because they had a player-coach relationship. I think that says a lot about Matt.
The reaction to what Matt and Ryan said was that the Bears didn’t shut the door. They could have said “no.” And you’re not saying “no” now. So I just want to be clear that you’re not saying “no,” but you’re also acknowledging where the process is from a realistic standpoint.
We’re not there yet. Ryan hasn’t said anything to me about Kareem Hunt. And Matt hasn’t said anything to me about Kareem Hunt.
Your mother’s place in the team seems to be a rare dynamic among NFL teams because they don’t all have females at the top, and Hunt’s crime is violence against a woman. Is this something that you would eventually speak to your mother about? Or something she would have strong opinions about because of the nature of Kareem’s circumstance?
Well, I object to the suggestion that a female owner of a team should be more offended by domestic violence than a male owner of a team.
That’s entirely fair.
This is a vexing social problem that everybody needs to be concerned about. Violence by a man against a woman should offend everyone regardless of gender. But to get to the specifics of your question: She and I are like-minded. She entrusts me with this responsibility to make this assessment on behalf of ownership.
The Halas Hall renovations and expansion are coming together. What are you most looking forward to about the completion of the project?
The thing I’m most looking forward to is the end of the inconvenience for our players and our coaches.
I saw you on your scooter when the weather was warmer. I don’t know if a lot of NFL owners would be out there on their scooters pedaling to the remote parking lot.
By the way, there are a couple people with electronic scooters. That offends the sensibilities of the purists among us. (Laughs)
Do you foresee any changes to the training camp arrangement (in Bourbonnais) because of all the amenities you will have here at Halas Hall?
I don’t know. I just don’t know how logistically we could expect to bring the same kind of numbers of people onto the property.
“We’re not there yet. Ryan hasn’t said anything to me about Kareem Hunt. And Matt hasn’t said anything to me about Kareem Hunt.” — George McCaskey