From 1984 to Today: the History of the Gsh Letters on Bears Uniforms
The sleeve letters carry weight beyond Chicago because Halas transformed football from a sandlot diversion into an organized national sport. In the 1930s, Halas collaborated with Clark Shaughnessy and Ralph Jones to modernize the T-formation, deploying man-in-motion concepts that dismantled static defenses. In the 1940 NFL Championship Game, Chicago ran that offense to perfection, crushing the Washington Redskins 73-0 in the most lopsided title game in league history.
Halas was also responsible for organizational standards that coaches take for granted today. He was the first to implement daily film breakdown, study opponents using scouting reports, place assistant coaches in the press box with radio headsets, and schedule daily practice sessions. In 1925, he signed University of Illinois superstar Red Grange, barnstorming across the country for 19 games in 66 days to validate professional football in major baseball markets like New York.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted Halas in its inaugural 1963 class. When the league created conference championship trophies, it designated the NFC title as the George Halas Trophy. Wearing his initials is not mere nostalgia; it reflects the individual who drafted the league's operating manual.