If George Halas hadn’t overslept in 1915, narrowly escaping a tragic fate, the NFL as we know it might never have existed.

The world of sports is often marked by pivotal moments that have the potential to alter history. One such moment, over a century ago, involved a tragic maritime disaster that inadvertently led to the creation of the National Football League (NFL). This article explores the circumstances surrounding the SS Eastland disaster and its unexpected influence on American football, particularly through the life of George Halas, a key figure in the league’s establishment.

The SS Eastland Disaster

This year commemorates the 110th anniversary of the SS Eastland disaster, a maritime tragedy that unfolded on July 24, 1915. The SS Eastland, a passenger vessel primarily used for excursions, was transporting employees from Western Electric Company’s Hawthorne Works in Cicero, Illinois, to a company picnic in Michigan City, Indiana. For many of these workers, this outing represented one of the few opportunities for leisure due to their limited means.

However, the SS Eastland was structurally compromised. Following the Titanic disaster three years prior, ships were retrofitted to include extra lifeboats, which added significant weight and made Eastland perilously top-heavy.

While docked in the Chicago River, the ship reached its capacity of 2,572 passengers. It soon began to list to one side and capsized within merely 20 minutes, resting at the bottom of the river. Although the water was only 20 feet deep, many passengers below deck were trapped or crushed by heavy objects. Tragically, 844 passengers and four crew members lost their lives, making it the deadliest maritime disaster in Great Lakes history.

One notable passenger who had a ticket for that fateful trip was George Halas, a 20-year-old temporary worker at Western Electric. Various accounts speculate as to why Halas missed the boat that day. Some suggest he was preoccupied with personal training for football at the University of Illinois, while others claim he intended to catch a later boat for the company’s softball game scheduled for later in the afternoon.

The most intriguing theory posits that Halas simply overslept, suggesting that this minor lapse in attention saved his life. While his friends waited for him, Halas’ companions Ralph Brizzolara and his brother boarded the Eastland, only to be miraculously rescued when the vessel capsized. They never discovered the identity of their rescuer, but Brizzolara continued to partner with Halas in business for years to come.

Incredibly, Halas was initially reported among the casualties. When fraternity brothers came to offer their condolences, they were shocked to find him alive. This close encounter prompted Halas to seize new opportunities, leading him to take on a position with A.E. Staley Company, which sponsored a football team known as the Decatur Staleys. Despite initial success, financial woes soon placed Halas in a position of full control over the team.

In 1920, Halas would attend a pivotal meeting in Canton, Ohio, with representatives from various independent professional football teams, ultimately helping to establish what would be known as the American Professional Football Association (APFA).

The Birth of the National Football League

Initially viewed as a league for less sought-after athletes, the organization began to gain legitimacy with key acquisitions, including convincing Illinois star Red Grange to join the Bears in 1925. In the late 1930s, Halas, alongside coach Clark Shaughnessy, modernized the T-formation system, culminating in the Bears’ record-setting 73-0 victory over the Washington Redskins in the 1940 NFL Championship Game, a margin that remains unparalleled.

Halas served in the Navy during both World Wars and, post-World War II, initiated an annual football game between the Army, Navy, and Air Force, significantly raising funds for military relief efforts during its run from 1946 to 1957.

Among the many innovations attributed to Halas were the institution of daily practice sessions, systematic game film analysis, and enhanced field conditions with protective tarps. He even proposed sharing television revenues with smaller-market teams, showcasing his commitment to the league’s overall health and longevity.

Halas played for the team from its inception as the Hammond All-Stars until 1929 and maintained coaching responsibilities until 1967, only briefly stepping down during that period. Over his prolific coaching career, he recorded only six losing seasons and secured six championships, establishing records that stood for nearly thirty years. He was among the first inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963.

(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)

Legacy and Financial Value of the Chicago Bears

George Halas passed away in 1983 at the age of 88, standing as the last remaining participant in that historic meeting from 1920 that birthed the NFL. He left behind two children, including daughter Virginia and son George Jr., who passed in 1979. Virginia currently holds a significant stake in the team, enriched by the Halas legacy.

Today, the Chicago Bears are valued at $6.5 billion. Virginia Halas McCaskey, who passed away on February 6, 2025, at 102 years old, was worth an estimated $1.3 billion at the time of her death.

It’s fascinating to ponder how the landscape of American football might differ if George Halas had boarded the SS Eastland on that tragic morning in July 1915. Remarkably, after the Eastland was salvaged, it was repurposed as the USS Wilmette, a training vessel for the Illinois Naval Reserve, where Halas likely served during World War I. His journey from potential tragedy to transformative success illustrates the remarkable intersections of fate and opportunity in shaping history.