Late Bears owner Virginia McCaskey didn’t make the cut as Hall of Fame voters narrowed the field of contributor candidates from 21 to nine Thursday.
McCaskey, the daughter of Bears founder George Halas, owned the franchise for 42 years before her death at 102 in February. The team is playing with a commemorative patch on its jerseys and wearing no alternate uniforms in her honor this season.
McCaskey still presided over the team, attended games and the NFL owners’ meetings well into her 90s after taking over ownership in 1983.
The nine semifinalists are Bud Adams, Roone Arledge, Ralph Hay, Bucko Kilroy, Robert Kraft, Art Rooney Jr., Clark Shaughnessy, Seymour Siwoff and Buddy Young. The voting panel will pick one of them next week to send along to the full selection committee.
The Bears had three former players inducted this year: return man Devin Hester, defensive tackle Steve McMichael and defensive end Julius Peppers.
