Former Bears executive has sadly passed away,
Jerry Vainisi, the Chicago Bears general manager when they won their lone Super Bowl championship, has passed away at the age of 80, the team announced on Wednesday.
"I will always appreciate the few years I spent with Jerry and am forever grateful for his decision to hire me as the Bears controller in 1983, which started my 40-year career with the Bears," team President Ted Phillips said in a statement. "My thoughts and prayers are with him and his entire family."
In 1972, Vainisi began his career with the Bears as the club's controller. His later titles included treasurer and in-house counsel prior to serving as the general manager from 1983-1987.
The Chicago Bears had a record of 47-17 during Vainisi's tenure and fielded arguably one of the greatest teams the league has seen in 1985.
After his time in Chicago, Vainisi worked for the Lions and then helped create and head the football operations for the World League of American Football. Vainisi's career continued after football when he took over Hinshaw & Culbertson's sports and entertainment law division in Chicago. He then bought Forest Park Bank before becoming its chairman and CEO.
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