What Does GSH on the Chicago Bears Jersey Mean?
Posted by JerseyZenith on Oct 25th 2026
- GSH = George Stanley Halas, who founded the team and died on October 31, 1983.
- The patch debuted in 1983 and has been on the left sleeve since 1984.
- "GHS" is a common misspelling; the Bears' patch reads GSH.
- In 2025 the Bears added a matching VMH patch for Virginia Halas McCaskey.
This guide explains the GSH patch on Chicago Bears jerseys: what it means, when it began and where it sits. It also covers the other tribute patches Bears jerseys have carried.
The GSH patch at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What does GSH stand for? | George Stanley Halas |
| Who was he? | Bears founder, player, coach and owner, with the team from 1920 to 1983 |
| When was it added? | 1983, after Halas died on October 31 |
| Where is it today? | The left sleeve of the jersey |
| Has it changed? | The 1983 patch was on the jersey front; Nike enlarged the sleeve patch in 2012 |
Where the patch sits on each Bears jersey
| Jersey | GSH position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Home (navy) | Left sleeve | Navy jersey, orange numbers |
| Away (white) | Left sleeve | Assumed same as home; not checked separately |
| Rivalries 2026 | Front of jersey | A replica of the 1983 patch, per Wikipedia and ColorWay Sports |
| NFL throwback jerseys | Check the product photo | Varies by throwback era |
Your jersey will match what you see in the product photo. If the patch matters to you, check the photo before you order.
Who was George Halas?
George Halas founded the team that became the Bears. It began as the Staleys in 1920, and Halas stayed with the team as a player, coach and owner until 1983. He died on October 31, 1983. The Bears retired his No. 7. Read the Chicago Bears jersey numbers guide for the full list of retired numbers.
GSH or GHS?
Many fans search for "GHS on Chicago Bears jersey." The correct letters are GSH, for George Stanley Halas. Even some references mix up the two spellings. If you see GHS, it means the same patch.
What is the VMH patch?
VMH stands for Virginia Halas McCaskey, George Halas's daughter and the Bears' longtime owner. She died in 2025, and the Bears wore a VMH patch that season. George McCaskey said it was modeled on the 1983 GSH patch, with the same size and colors. ColorWay Sports says the 2025 VMH patch is not mentioned for 2026 jerseys.
Other patches on Bears jerseys
| Year | Patch | Honors |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | No. 34 | Walter Payton |
| 2003 | Orange shamrock "EWM" | Ed McCaskey |
| 2019 | Bears100 | The team's centennial |
| 2023 | No. 51 | Dick Butkus |
| 2025 | VMH | Virginia Halas McCaskey |
| 2026 | No. 89 | Mike Ditka, who died on October 9 |
The Bears put a No. 89 sticker on their helmets on October 11 and a football-shaped No. 89 jersey patch on October 18. Ditka's 89 was the last number the Bears retired, on December 9, 2013. See our guide to the Chicago Bears uniform history for more on the team's looks.
Other details on a Bears jersey
Patches are not the only details fans ask about. The Bears wear navy jerseys at home and white on the road, a split that dates to a 1957 NFL rule. Their pants run the opposite way: white at home and navy with the away jersey. The current navy jersey has orange numbers with white trim. The Nike jersey also moved the sleeve numbers to the shoulders in 2012. Check the Bears home jersey and the Bears away jersey pages for the exact style.
GSH in the Chicago Bears jersey: other ways fans search
People ask about GSH in the Chicago Bears jersey in many ways: GSH on Chicago Bears jersey, the Chicago Bears GSH jersey, a Chicago Bears GSH on jersey patch, or what the GSH Chicago Bears jersey mean. They all mean the same patch: George Stanley Halas. The Chicago Bears jersey GSH meaning is simple, and a GSH football jersey is any jersey carrying that tribute. Fans also ask what GSH stands for on a Chicago Bears jersey; the answer is Halas. A GSH Chicago Bears jersey is one that carries the patch.
GSH on the Bears uniform and jersey
Fans also write it as GSH on Bears uniform, GSH on Bears uniforms or GSH on Chicago Bears uniform, and ask about the GSH Bears uniform. All of them mean the George Stanley Halas patch on the left sleeve.
GSH patch FAQ
What does GSH stand for on the Bears jersey?
George Stanley Halas, the Bears' founder.
When did the Bears add the GSH patch?
In 1983, after Halas died. It has been on the left sleeve since 1984.
Is it GSH or GHS?
GSH. GHS is a common misspelling.
What does VMH mean?
Virginia Halas McCaskey, the Bears' longtime owner, who died in 2025.
What is GSH on Chicago Bears jersey?
The tribute patch for George Stanley Halas.
What does the GSH mean on the Chicago Bears jersey?
George Stanley Halas, the team's founder.
What does GSH stand for on Chicago Bears jerseys?
George Stanley Halas.
What is the GSH on the Chicago Bears jerseys?
A memorial patch on the left sleeve, added after Halas died in 1983.