1930 NFL season
Encyclopedia
The 1930 NFL season was the 11th regular season of the National Football League
. Prior to the season, Brooklyn
businessmen William B. Dwyer and John C. Depler bought the Dayton Triangles
, moved it, and renamed it the Brooklyn Dodgers
. The Orange Tornadoes relocated to Newark and the Buffalo Bisons
and the Boston Bulldogs
dropped out. The Portsmouth Spartans entered as a new team.
Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers
were named the NFL champions for the second straight year after they finished the season with the best record.
in New York. The Giants' 13–6 win in Week Eleven gave it the lead, 11–2–0 (.846) to the Packers' 8–2–0 (.800). Missed extra points had a big effect, as four days later, the Giants were beaten on Thanksgiving Day by Staten Island, 7–6, while Green Bay defeated Frankford 25–7 to retake the lead, 9–2–0 (.818) vs. New York's 11–3–0 (.785). The Giants faltered again on Sunday, November 30, when Brooklyn beat them 7–6, again on a missed point after.
In Week Thirteen, the Giants beat the Yellow Jackets, 14–6, while the Packers lost to the Bears, 21–0, cutting Green Bay's hold on first place to 4/10ths of a percentage point, .769 to .765; the Giants finished their season at 13–4–0, while 10–3–0 Green Bay had a final game at Portsmouth. A loss would have given the Packers a 10–4–0 finish and a .714 percentage, and given the Giants .765 a championship. A tie (10–3–1 and .769) or a win (11–3–0 and .785) would assure Green Bay the 1930 title.
Once again, the point after decided the race. On December 14, the Packers scored on Red Dunn's touchdown pass to Wuert Engelmann, but the point after by Verne Lewellen
failed, and their lead was 6–0. Chuck Bennett ran for a touchdown for the Spartans, but the extra point attempt by Tiny Lewis was blocked, and when the game ended, the 6–6 tie gave the Packers the 1930 title.
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Prior to the season, Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
businessmen William B. Dwyer and John C. Depler bought the Dayton Triangles
Dayton Triangles
The Dayton Triangles were an original franchise of the American Professional Football Association in 1920. The Triangles were based in Dayton, Ohio, and took their nickname from their home field, Triangle Park, which was located at the confluence of the Great Miami and Stillwater Rivers in north...
, moved it, and renamed it the Brooklyn Dodgers
Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)
The Brooklyn Dodgers were an American football team that played in the National Football League from 1930 to 1943, and in 1944 as the Brooklyn Tigers. The team played its home games at Ebbets Field. In 1945, because of financial difficulties, the team was merged with the Boston Yanks...
. The Orange Tornadoes relocated to Newark and the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
and the Boston Bulldogs
Pottsville Maroons
The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928...
dropped out. The Portsmouth Spartans entered as a new team.
Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
were named the NFL champions for the second straight year after they finished the season with the best record.
Championship race
Defending champion Green Bay won its first 8 games, including a 14–7 home win over the New York Giants on October 4. By Week Nine, Green Bay was at 8–0–0 and New York right behind at 10–1–0. On November 16, the Packers lost to the Cardinals 13–6, but in New York, the Giants fell to the Bears, 12–0. On November 23, a crowd of 37,000 turned out as the Packers and the Giants met at the Polo GroundsPolo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
in New York. The Giants' 13–6 win in Week Eleven gave it the lead, 11–2–0 (.846) to the Packers' 8–2–0 (.800). Missed extra points had a big effect, as four days later, the Giants were beaten on Thanksgiving Day by Staten Island, 7–6, while Green Bay defeated Frankford 25–7 to retake the lead, 9–2–0 (.818) vs. New York's 11–3–0 (.785). The Giants faltered again on Sunday, November 30, when Brooklyn beat them 7–6, again on a missed point after.
In Week Thirteen, the Giants beat the Yellow Jackets, 14–6, while the Packers lost to the Bears, 21–0, cutting Green Bay's hold on first place to 4/10ths of a percentage point, .769 to .765; the Giants finished their season at 13–4–0, while 10–3–0 Green Bay had a final game at Portsmouth. A loss would have given the Packers a 10–4–0 finish and a .714 percentage, and given the Giants .765 a championship. A tie (10–3–1 and .769) or a win (11–3–0 and .785) would assure Green Bay the 1930 title.
Once again, the point after decided the race. On December 14, the Packers scored on Red Dunn's touchdown pass to Wuert Engelmann, but the point after by Verne Lewellen
Verne Lewellen
Verne Lewellen was an American football player. He played most of his nine year career with the Green Bay Packers and was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1970. He also was the Packers' General Manager from 1954 through 1957. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of...
failed, and their lead was 6–0. Chuck Bennett ran for a touchdown for the Spartans, but the extra point attempt by Tiny Lewis was blocked, and when the game ended, the 6–6 tie gave the Packers the 1930 title.
Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning PercentageNote: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972
| Team | P | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
14 | 10 | 3 | 1 | .769 |
| New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
17 | 13 | 4 | 0 | .765 |
| Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
14 | 9 | 4 | 1 | .692 |
| Brooklyn Dodgers Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) The Brooklyn Dodgers were an American football team that played in the National Football League from 1930 to 1943, and in 1944 as the Brooklyn Tigers. The team played its home games at Ebbets Field. In 1945, because of financial difficulties, the team was merged with the Boston Yanks... |
12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | .636 |
| Providence Steam Roller Providence Steam Roller The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship... |
11 | 6 | 4 | 1 | .600 |
| Staten Island Stapletons Staten Island Stapletons The Staten Island Stapletons also known as the Staten Island Stapes were a professional American football team founded in 1915 that played in the National Football League from 1929 to 1930. The team was based in the Stapleton section of Staten Island. Under the shortened nickname the "Stapes"... |
12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | .500 |
| Chicago Cardinals | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | .455 |
| Portsmouth Spartans | 14 | 5 | 6 | 3 | .455 |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets Frankford Yellow Jackets The Frankford Yellow Jackets were a professional American football team, part of the National Football League from 1924 to 1931, though its origin dates back to as early as 1899 with the Frankford Athletic Association. The Yellow Jackets won the NFL championship in 1926... |
18 | 4 | 13 | 1 | .222 |
| Minneapolis Red Jackets | 9 | 1 | 7 | 1 | .125 |
| Newark Tornadoes | 12 | 1 | 10 | 1 | .091 |