:Jerry Vainisi
{{Short description|American football executive (1941 – 2022)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Jerry Vainisi
| image =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1941|10|7}}
| birth_place = Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2022|10|4|1941|10|7}}
| death_place = Oak Park, Illinois, U.S.
| alma_mater = {{ubl|Georgetown University|Chicago-Kent College of Law}}
| occupation = {{ubl|General manager/Vice president|Owner|Chairman/CEO}}
| organization = {{ubl|Chicago Bears|Detroit Lions|World League of American Football}}
| predecessor = Jim Finks (Bears GM)
| relatives = Jack Vainisi (brother)
}}
Jerry Vainisi (October 7, 1941 – October 4, 2022)[https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/chicagotribune/name/jerome-vainisi-obituary?id=36734886 Jerome R. Vainisi 1941-2022] was an American football executive and businessman. He served as the general manager and executive vice president of the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL) when they won Super Bowl XX. He also worked for the NFL's Detroit Lions, the World League of American Football, and in private business.
Early life
Vainisi was the youngest of four children born to Anthony and Marie (Delisi) Vainisi in Chicago, Illinois.{{cite web |url=https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/forest-park-il/jerome-vainisi-10957627 |title=Jerome Robert Vainisi |website=dignitymemorial.com |access-date=October 9, 2022}} His oldest brother was Jack Vainisi.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/05/05/marie-vainisi/ |title=Marie Vainisi |last=Noel |first=Josh |date=May 5, 2006 |access-date=August 27, 2018 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214022415/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-05-05/news/0605050190_1_meals-jerry-vainisi-grocery |archive-date=February 14, 2018 |url-status=live}}
Vainisi graduated from Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in 1959.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/513549721/?terms=%22jerry%20vainisi%22%20%22Prairie%20du%20Chien%22&match=1 |title=Jul 14, 1988 |page=43 |newspaper=The La Crosse Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |date=July 14, 1988 |access-date=October 6, 2022}} He earned degrees from Georgetown University and Chicago–Kent College of Law.
Career
Vainisi started his career with Arthur Andersen as an accountant before George Halas Jr. of the National Football League's (NFL) Chicago Bears, a friend of Vainisi's brother, hired him in 1972.{{cite web |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/388151174/?terms=%22Jerry%20Vainisi%22%20georgetown&match=1 |title=August 25, 1983 |page=41 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |via=Newspapers.com |date=August 25, 1983 |access-date=October 6, 2022}} He was the treasurer of the Chicago Bears from 1972 to 1982 before replacing Jim Finks as a general manager.{{cite web |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/bears/ct-chicago-bears-jerry-vainisi-20221005-k6htatf3nzey7nzczpt4xvnnxm-story.html |title=Jerry Vainisi, general manager of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX championship team, dies at 80 |first=Dan |last=Wiederer |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=October 6, 2022 |access-date=October 6, 2022}}
On August 24, 1983, Vainisi replaced Jim Finks as the general manager of the Bears,{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1983/10/06/Chicago-Bears-general-manager-Jerry-Vainisi-has-signed-a/2500434260800/ |title=Chicago Bears general manager Jerry Vainisi has signed a... |work=United Press International |date=October 6, 1983 |access-date=March 12, 2022}} and was general manager for the Bears for their only Super Bowl win in 1985 when the Bears defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XX.{{cite web |url=https://www.forestparkreview.com/2010/09/21/sports-hall-of-fame-pays-tribute-to-head-of-forest-park-bank/ |title=Sports Hall of Fame pays tribute to head of Forest Park Bank |website=Forestparkreview.com |date=September 21, 2010 |access-date=July 14, 2012}} He was one of the people responsible for the removal of the Bears cheerleading squad Chicago Honey Bears in 1985, saying that the squad might be replaced by a high school band, despite not having done so.{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1985/11/16/bears-say-cheerio-to-cheerleaders/ |title=Bears Say Cheerio To Cheerleaders |first=Rich |last=Lorenz |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=November 16, 1985 |access-date=July 14, 2012}} His close relationship with then-head coach Mike Ditka factored in his firing by Bears president Michael McCaskey on January 15, 1987. The rift stemmed from Vainisi and Ditka persuading McCaskey to acquire Doug Flutie, who was the starting quarterback in the Bears' 27–13 divisional playoff loss to the Washington Redskins at Soldier Field on January 3. The Bears dismissed Vainisi twelve days after the loss.{{cite news |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/01/15/Bears-Vainisi-fired/6543537685200/ |title=Bears' Vainisi fired |last=Minkoff |first=Randy |work=United Press International |date=January 15, 1987 |access-date=March 12, 2022}} He was the last Bears general manager until Jerry Angelo took over in 2001.{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagobears.com/team/FrontOfficeBio.asp?front_office_id=2 |title=Front Office Bio |publisher=Chicago Bears |date=June 12, 2001 |access-date=July 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120806013538/http://www.chicagobears.com/team/FrontOfficeBio.asp?front_office_id=2 |archive-date=August 6, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
In 1987, Vainisi became the vice president of player personnel for the Detroit Lions.{{cite news |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-12-08/sports/8802230842_1_eastern-illinois-rose-bowl-interim-coach-wayne-fontes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017065716/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1988-12-08/sports/8802230842_1_eastern-illinois-rose-bowl-interim-coach-wayne-fontes |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |title=Opportunity knocks for the hapless Detroit Lions this... |first1=Linda |last1=Kay |first2=Mike |last2=Conklin |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |date=December 8, 1988 |access-date=July 14, 2012}} He drafted Hall of Fame running back Barry Sanders in the 1989 NFL draft. Vainisi left the Lions in 1990 to create and head the football operations of the World League of American Football (later named NFL Europe).{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/1990/05/23/lions-vainisi-goes-global/ |title=Lions' Vainisi Goes Global |author= |date=May 23, 1990 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune |access-date=July 14, 2012}} In 1995, Vainisi retired from professional football and joined the Chicago law firm Hinshaw & Culbertson, heading the sports and entertainment division. He worked as a sports agent through Hinshaw & Culbertson and bought Forest Park National Bank.{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/14425009/?terms=%22jerry%20vainisi%22%20%22Forest%20Park%20Bank%22&match=1 |title=December 8, 1999 |page=206 |newspaper=The Daily Herald |via=Newspapers.com |date=December 8, 1999 |access-date=October 6, 2022}}
In 2010, he was inducted into the Chicagoland Sports Hall of Fame.{{cite web |last=Offermann |first=Donald |url=http://triblocal.com/oak-park-river-forest/community/stories/2010/08/former-bear-gm-jerry-vainisi-to-sports-hall-of-fame/ |title=Former Bear GM Jerry Vainisi to Sports Hall of Fame — Oak Park & River Forest news, photos and events — |publisher=Triblocal.com |date=August 9, 2010 |accessdate=July 14, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201235239/http://triblocal.com/oak-park-river-forest/community/stories/2010/08/former-bear-gm-jerry-vainisi-to-sports-hall-of-fame/ |archive-date=February 1, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
Personal life
References
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Category:Chicago Bears executives
Category:Detroit Lions executives
Category:NFL Europe executives
Category:Chicago-Kent College of Law alumni