Once upon a time, Virginia McCaskey inherited memorabilia from a cousin, a collection that included a box of old ticket stubs. In it, she said, was a torn admittance to the NFL’s 1932 championship game between the Chicago Bears and Portsmouth Spartans.

Virginia Halas McCaskey was thrust into role as principal owner of the Chicago Bears after the deaths of her brother and father.

Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey died Thursday at the age of 102. The NFL community was devastated by the loss of the NFL matriarch.