The daughter of the Bears founder and football pioneer George Halas, she witnessed much of N.F.L. history from a young age, then took the team’s reins in 1983.

Virginia McCaskey, who inherited the Chicago Bears from her father, George Halas, but avoided the spotlight during four-plus decades as principal owner, has died.

She inherited the Bears from her father in 1983, one of the few women in sports to hold such a powerful position.