2020 October Legends Closing Oct 31 & Nov 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/31/2020
George Halas was a pioneer of the National Football League, and the founder of the Chicago Bears. As if that weren’t enough, Halas coached the Bears to 324 wins and 6 NFL Championships during his 40-year coaching career. His integrity and respect for his players was legendary and earned the nickname “Papa Bear”. Following his passing in October of 1983, the trophy given to the NFC Champion following the NFC Championship Game was renamed in his honor in 1984 and continues to keep his namesake on the annually presented trophy.
Offered here is the 1986 George S. Halas Trophy that was an extra made, identical to the one presented to the 1986 NFC Champion New York Giants. The Giants defeated the Washington Redskins 17-0 on January 11, 1987 to advance to the franchise’s first ever Super Bowl, where they would go on to defeat John Elway and the Denver Broncos.
The trophy is a beautiful, impressive work of art in the shape of a football. The foundation is solid oak with the top and bottom surfaces being flat. The bottom is lined with black felt with one of two plates attached to the front of the wooden part being raised lettering that reads, “GEORGE S. HALAS TROPHY.” The plate below is gold-colored and engraved with “1986 CHAMPION OF THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL CONFERENCE NEW YORK GIANTS NFC Championship Game, NEW YORK GIANTS 17 WASHINGTON REDSKINS 0 Sunday January 11, 1987, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford N.J." The top surface is perfectly smooth, colored silver and flat with two ornaments mounted. One is a sculpture of 10 football players in action against a concave wall, while the other is a block letter “N” (approximately 2 ½ inches tall) with three stars stamped on both sides. The trophy measures 9 inches from base to highest point, 10 inches wide measuring the middle of football and 16 inches long. EX-NRMT condition. The Giants dominated the league, posting 14-2 regular-season record before blowing out the San Francisco 49ers 49-3 in the Divisional Round and Washington 17-0 in the NFC Championship. Please note that there is tarnish on the gold-colored plate on the front, along with some scratches on the wood, but is overall excellent condition.