When you watch the Chicago Bears, you might notice two sets of initials on the left sleeve of their iconic navy and orange jerseys: ‘GSH’ and ‘VMH.’ While most uniform decorations are temporary, these letters are a permanent tribute. They represent a story of family, legacy, and the founding of the NFL itself.
Most sports teams have their own ways of honoring former players, owners, and coaches who have passed away. The Bears are no different, but their tribute is woven directly into the fabric of their uniform.
What Do the ‘GSH’ and ‘VMH’ Initials Mean on the Bears’ Jerseys?
The letters are a tribute to the two most important owners in the franchise’s history. The “GSH” represents George S. Halas, the team’s founder and longtime coach.
The “VMH” patch honors his daughter, Virginia Halas McCaskey, who took over as the principal owner after her father’s death in 1983. She remained in that role until her own passing in February of 2025.
The Bears are one of the NFL’s original teams, with roots that predate the league itself. Founded in 1919 in Decatur, Illinois, the team was first known as the Decatur Staleys because it was sponsored by the A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company, a food business known for producing starch.
George Halas was named head coach in 1920, and that August, the American Professional Football Conference, now the NFL, was formed at a Hupmobile dealership in Canton, Ohio.
After moving to Chicago in 1921 and winning its first NFL title, Halas renamed the team the Bears in 1922. He then took over ownership in 1924 for $100 and won six NFL Championships across four different stints as head coach.
His six titles are tied with Curly Lambeau and Bill Belichick for the most by a coach in league history, and his 324 wins are second only to Don Shula’s 347.
Halas, also known as “Papa Bear,” coached for the final time in the 1967 season but remained the team’s owner. Following his death in 1983, the Bears began wearing the “GSH” on their sleeves that very season.
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His daughter, Virginia, took over the ownership reins and oversaw the franchise’s dominant run in the mid-1980s, led by head coach Mike Ditka and general manager Jerry Vainisi. The team made the playoffs in 1984 for the first time since 1979.
The success culminated in 1985 with one of the most dominant single-season performances in NFL history. The Bears finished the regular season 15-1 behind the league’s seventh-ranked offense and one of the greatest defenses the league has ever seen.
While Halas McCaskey’s official title was secretary of the Bears franchise and a member of the team’s board of directors, she voted all of her family members’ shares, making her the principal owner.
Today, the Halas-McCaskey family has the longest tenure of ownership in the NFL. Virginia’s son, George McCaskey, currently serves as the chairman and controlling owner of the Bears, continuing the family’s century-long legacy.
