Card-Pitt
Encyclopedia
Card-Pitt was the name for the team created by the temporary merger of two National Football League
(NFL) teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers
and the Chicago Cardinals
, during the 1944 season
. The teams were forced to merge, because both had lost many players to World War II
military service. After the season, the merger was dissolved and with the war over by the start of the following season, traditional operations resumed for both teams. Together, the two teams did poorly as the combined team finished with a 0–10 record in the Western Division. Sportswriters called the team the "Car-Pitts" (carpets). Previously in 1943, the Steelers had combined with the Philadelphia Eagles
as the "Steagles
".
Sixty-five years after merging for a season, the Steelers and Cardinals (now based in Arizona
) met in Super Bowl XLIII
.
joined the NFL. The Cleveland Rams
had just re-joined the league, after finding themselves unable to field a team in 1943. This left the NFL with 11 teams. The league found it impossible to come up with a schedule that would meet the approval of all teams. So NFL commissioner Elmer Layden
contacted Art Rooney
and Bert Bell
of the Steelers and requested that their team merge again. Rooney agreed, on the condition that at least half of the team’s home games were played in Pittsburgh at Forbes Field
.
and Chicago Bears
.
, under the direction of the team’s co-coaches, Walt Kiesling
of Pittsburgh and Phil Handler
of Chicago. Before the start of camp, the coaching staff made the questionable decision of going with a T formation
offense. Some of the Steelers' players had been exposed to the ‘T’ a year earlier, while with the Steagles
; but the Cardinals had used it very little. Card-Pitt also lacked a dependable quarterback
for the season. However, everyone went into the season optimistic.
During the team's first exhibition game against the Philadelphia Eagles
, at Shibe Park with Babe Ruth
in attendance, the Eagles ripped off three first quarter touchdowns on their way to a 22–0 victory. The following week, the team regained its footing, but still lost to the Washington Redskins
, 3–0. It should be noted though that Washington was predicted to win the game by three touchdowns.
. The team played in front of a crowd of 21,000 spectators. During the game, Cleveland started with a 16–0 score, however, Card-Pitt came back and took the lead. However, late in the fourth quarter, with the game in hand, a bad punt resulted in a Cleveland touchdown and win with a final score of 28–23. The very next week at Forbes Field, Card-Pitt won an exhibition game against the New York Giants
for a final score of 17–16.
However, two days before the team's second regular season game against Green Bay, quarterback Coley McDonough was drafted into the U.S. Army
. The Pittsburgh Press
gave the team little chance of defeating the Packers. The Packers and Don Hutson
ended up defeating Card-Pitt, 34–7. However, the quarterback that replaced McDonough, a 155-pound rookie named John McCarthy
, from Saint Francis University
, Loretto, Pennsylvania
, flourished at the position during the loss.
quarterback Sid Luckman
and coach George Halas
. Card-Pitt had a good chance of winning this game. However, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
, Card-Pitt's effort throughout the game could be summed up as "pitiful". In fact, the coaching staff became so irate over the Chicago game, that Kiesling and Handler fined Johnny Butler
, John Grigas
and Eberle Schultz
, $200 apiece for "indifferent play". The players, already fed up with the coaches' strict, dictatorial style, rallied around their teammates and basically went on strike, refusing to practice on Tuesday, until the fined players received a fair hearing. These actions led to a meeting between the players and Rooney. The outcome of the meeting resulted in Grigas and Schultz agreeing to pay their fines and return to practice. Butler was suspended indefinitely and eventually waived, to be claimed by Brooklyn. Rooney later rescinded those fines, except for Butler's.
That week, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports editor, Al Abrams, helped slap the team with a fitting, memorable nickname. In his column, Abrams quoted a disgusted fan as writing, "Why don't they call themselves the Car-Pits? I think it's very appropriate as every team in the league walks over them."
all-pro team. Shouldering almost the entire offensive burden for much of the year, Grigas rushed for 610 yards, an average of 3.3 yards per carry. The team had gone 0–10 for the season, tying the Brooklyn Tigers
for the league's worst record. The day after the season ended, the merger of the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers was dissolved.
Since 1944, only four teams have gone winless in the NFL for an entire season
: the 1960 Dallas Cowboys (0–11–1)
, the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0–14)
, the 1982 Baltimore Colts (0–8–1)
and the 2008 Detroit Lions (0–16)
. In the case of the Colts, the season was shortened by the 1982 NFL Players Association strike. Both the Cowboys and Buccaneers were expansion team
s in the years they went winless.
missed 4 of his 15 extra point tries. Card-Pitt completed only 31 percent of their passes, resulting in just 8 touchdowns. They also threw 41 interceptions in 1944, which is still the third highest total in NFL history. McCarthy threw 13 of those interceptions and completed 0 touchdown passes. His QB rating was only 3.0. They were also the worst run defense in the league and opponents outscored them, 328–108.
with Cleveland, the following year. John Grigas, after going AWOL, finished his career by spending three years with the Boston Yanks, leading the team in rushing in 1946. Don Currivan
, played alongside Grigas for those three seasons, ranking third in the league in receiving in 1947. He also saw action with the Los Angeles Rams club, which lost to Philadelphia in the 1949 NFL Championship game
.
Tackle Chet Bulger
and center Vince Banonis
would be a part of the 1947 Chicago Cardinals championship team
, while Banonis would also help the Detroit Lions to league titles in 1952
and 1953
. Card-Pitt's assistant coach, Buddy Parker
, coached those teams.
Week 1 (Saturday September 24, 1944): Cleveland Rams
at Forbes Field
, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring Drives:
Week 2 (Sunday, October 8, 1944): Green Bay Packers
at East Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Scoring Drives:
Week 3 (Sunday October 15, 1944): Chicago Bears
at Wrigley Field
, Chicago, Illinois
Scoring Drives:
Week 4 (Sunday October 22, 1944): New York Giants
at Polo Grounds
, New York, New York
Scoring Drives:
Week 5 (Sunday October 29, 1944): Washington Redskins
at Griffith Stadium
, Washington, D.C.
Scoring Drives:
Week 6 (Sunday November 5, 1944): Detroit Lions
at Forbes Field
, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring Drives:
Week 7 (Sunday November 12, 1944): Detroit Lions
at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
Scoring Drives:
Week 8 (Sunday November 19, 1944): Cleveland Rams
at Comiskey Park
, Chicago, Illinois
Scoring Drives:
Week 9 (Sunday November 26, 1944): Green Bay Packers
at Comiskey Park
, Chicago, Illinois
Scoring Drives:
Week 10 (Sunday December 3, 1944): Chicago Bears
at Forbes Field
, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Scoring Drives:
, G
Vince Banonis
, C
Clarence Booth
, OT
Tony Bova
, LE
Chet Bulger
, RT
John Butler
, HB
Don Currivan
, E
Ted Doyle
, OT
Cliff Duggan
, OT
John Grigas
, FB
Walt Kichefski
, E
George Magulick
, HB
Lou Marotti
, G
Johnny Martin
, WB
Walt Masters
, B
John McCarthy
, QB
Coley McDonough
, QB
Elmer Merkovsky
, G
John Perko
, G
John Popovich
, HB
Walt Rankin
, QB
Marshall Robnett
, C
Eddie Rucinski
, E
Elbie Schultz
, LG
Bernie Semes
, HB
Bob Thurbon
, HB
Clint Wager
, E
Al Wukits
, C
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...
(NFL) teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
and the Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, during the 1944 season
1944 NFL season
The 1944 NFL season was the 25th regular season of the United States National Football League. The Boston Yanks joined the league as an expansion team. Also, the Brooklyn Dodgers changed their name to Brooklyn Tigers. Meanwhile, both the Cleveland Rams and the Philadelphia Eagles resumed their...
. The teams were forced to merge, because both had lost many players to World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
military service. After the season, the merger was dissolved and with the war over by the start of the following season, traditional operations resumed for both teams. Together, the two teams did poorly as the combined team finished with a 0–10 record in the Western Division. Sportswriters called the team the "Car-Pitts" (carpets). Previously in 1943, the Steelers had combined with the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as the "Steagles
Steagles
The Steagles is the popular nickname for the team created by the temporary merger of two National Football League teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, during the 1943 season...
".
Sixty-five years after merging for a season, the Steelers and Cardinals (now based in Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
) met in Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League champion for the 2008 season. The game was played on February 1, 2009,...
.
Origins
In 1944, the Boston YanksBoston Yanks
The Boston Yanks were a National Football League team based in Boston, Massachusetts that played from 1944 to 1948. The team played its home games at Fenway Park. Games that conflicted with the Boston Red Sox schedule were held at the Manning Bowl in Lynn, Massachusetts...
joined the NFL. The Cleveland Rams
Cleveland Rams
The Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League...
had just re-joined the league, after finding themselves unable to field a team in 1943. This left the NFL with 11 teams. The league found it impossible to come up with a schedule that would meet the approval of all teams. So NFL commissioner Elmer Layden
Elmer Layden
Elmer Francis Layden was an American football player, coach, college athletics administrator, and professional sports executive. He played college football at the University of Notre Dame where he starred at fullback as a member of the legendary "Four Horsemen" backfield...
contacted Art Rooney
Art Rooney
Arthur Joseph "Art" Rooney, Sr. , often referred to as "The Chief", was the founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers American football franchise in the National Football League.-Family history:...
and Bert Bell
Bert Bell
De Benneville "Bert" Bell was the National Football League commissioner from 1946 until his death in 1959. As commissioner, he helped chart a path for the NFL to facilitate its rise in becoming the most popular sports attraction in the United States...
of the Steelers and requested that their team merge again. Rooney agreed, on the condition that at least half of the team’s home games were played in Pittsburgh at Forbes Field
Forbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
.
Finding a partner
Finding a merger partner proved challenging. Before the NFL’s annual meetings in April 1944, rumors had Pittsburgh joining up with either Cleveland or the Brooklyn Tigers. Cleveland would have been a logical geographic choice; however, Layden didn’t think it was fair to the Steelers to ask them to merge with a team that had been defunct a year earlier. Rooney rejected a proposal to merge with Brooklyn and was hesitant to the idea of merging with the new Boston Yanks. Finally, Rooney agreed to combine his Steelers with the Cardinals, who had gone winless in 1943. The merger would compete in the tougher Western Division, which included the perennial powerhouses, Green Bay PackersGreen 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...
and 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...
.
Pre-Season
Training camp began August 15, 1944, in Waukesha, WisconsinWaukesha, Wisconsin
Waukesha is a city in and the county seat of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, in the Upper Midwest region of the United States. The population was 70,718 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in the county and 7th largest in the state. The city is located adjacent to the Town of Waukesha...
, under the direction of the team’s co-coaches, Walt Kiesling
Walt Kiesling
Walter Andrew Kiesling was an American football player and coach.-Playing career:A native of Saint Paul, Minnesota, Kiesling played both offensive and defensive line at the University of St. Thomas...
of Pittsburgh and Phil Handler
Phil Handler
Philip Jacob Handler was a football player and coach who spent his entire professional career in the city of Chicago. On three separate occasions, Handler served as head coach of the Chicago Cardinals, and later as an assistant coach for the Chicago Bears...
of Chicago. Before the start of camp, the coaching staff made the questionable decision of going with a T formation
T formation
In American football, a T formation is a formation used by the offensive team in which three running backs line up in a row about five yards behind the quarterback, forming the shape of a "T"....
offense. Some of the Steelers' players had been exposed to the ‘T’ a year earlier, while with the Steagles
Steagles
The Steagles is the popular nickname for the team created by the temporary merger of two National Football League teams, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Philadelphia Eagles, during the 1943 season...
; but the Cardinals had used it very little. Card-Pitt also lacked a dependable quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the season. However, everyone went into the season optimistic.
During the team's first exhibition game against the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, at Shibe Park with Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
in attendance, the Eagles ripped off three first quarter touchdowns on their way to a 22–0 victory. The following week, the team regained its footing, but still lost to the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, 3–0. It should be noted though that Washington was predicted to win the game by three touchdowns.
Slow start
Card-Pitt opened the regular season portion of its schedule on September 24, 1944, at Forbes Field against the Cleveland Rams, who were led by former Steelers head coach Aldo DonelliAldo Donelli
Aldo "Buff" Teo Donelli was an American football and soccer player. He is a member of the National Soccer Hall of Fame.-Club:...
. The team played in front of a crowd of 21,000 spectators. During the game, Cleveland started with a 16–0 score, however, Card-Pitt came back and took the lead. However, late in the fourth quarter, with the game in hand, a bad punt resulted in a Cleveland touchdown and win with a final score of 28–23. The very next week at Forbes Field, Card-Pitt won an exhibition game against the 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...
for a final score of 17–16.
However, two days before the team's second regular season game against Green Bay, quarterback Coley McDonough was drafted into the U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. The Pittsburgh Press
Pittsburgh Press
The Pittsburgh Press is an online newspaper in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, currently owned and operated by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Historically, it was a major afternoon paper...
gave the team little chance of defeating the Packers. The Packers and Don Hutson
Don Hutson
Donald Montgomery Hutson was the first star wide receiver in National Football League history. He is considered by many to have been the first modern receiver....
ended up defeating Card-Pitt, 34–7. However, the quarterback that replaced McDonough, a 155-pound rookie named John McCarthy
John McCarthy (American football)
John Patrick McCarthy was a professional football player in the National Football League. He played in the league for just one season in 1944. McCarthy played for "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
, from Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University
Saint Francis University is a four-year, coeducational Catholic liberal arts university in Loretto, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1847 and conducted under the tradition of the Franciscan Friars of the Third Order Regular...
, Loretto, Pennsylvania
Loretto, Pennsylvania
Loretto is a borough in Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is officially part of the Johnstown, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area as recognized by the US Census Bureau, but local sources list it as part of the Altoona, Pennsylvania area due to its proximity to...
, flourished at the position during the loss.
Fines controversy
The third game of the season saw the team against fellow Western Division bottom dwellers, the Chicago Bears. Injuries and war had ravaged the Bears' roster, depriving them of MVPMost Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
quarterback Sid Luckman
Sid Luckman
Sidney Luckman, known as Sid Luckman, was an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League from 1939 to 1950...
and coach George Halas
George Halas
George Stanley Halas, Sr. , nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was a player, coach, owner and pioneer in professional American football. He was the iconic longtime leader of the NFL's Chicago Bears...
. Card-Pitt had a good chance of winning this game. However, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, also known simply as the "PG," is the largest daily newspaper serving metropolitan Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.-Early history:...
, Card-Pitt's effort throughout the game could be summed up as "pitiful". In fact, the coaching staff became so irate over the Chicago game, that Kiesling and Handler fined Johnny Butler
Johnny Butler
John Stephen Butler , is a former professional baseball player who played shortstop from 1926-1929....
, John Grigas
John Grigas
John Joseph Grigas was an American football player who played 5 seasons in the National Football League.-External links:*...
and Eberle Schultz
Elbie Schultz
Eberle H. Schultz was a former football player in the National Football League from 1940 to 1947. Over the course of his career, Schultz played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Rams and the Los Angeles Rams...
, $200 apiece for "indifferent play". The players, already fed up with the coaches' strict, dictatorial style, rallied around their teammates and basically went on strike, refusing to practice on Tuesday, until the fined players received a fair hearing. These actions led to a meeting between the players and Rooney. The outcome of the meeting resulted in Grigas and Schultz agreeing to pay their fines and return to practice. Butler was suspended indefinitely and eventually waived, to be claimed by Brooklyn. Rooney later rescinded those fines, except for Butler's.
That week, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sports editor, Al Abrams, helped slap the team with a fitting, memorable nickname. In his column, Abrams quoted a disgusted fan as writing, "Why don't they call themselves the Car-Pits? I think it's very appropriate as every team in the league walks over them."
The brawl
After losing a rematch against the Giants, the team played Washington. Wearing bizarre blue jerseys, instead of the normal Chicago Cardinal ones, the entire Card-Pitt team found themselves in brawl with the Redskins, midway through the game. Soon, police stormed the field, to break up what had become a near-riot. Coaches Kiesling and Handler found themselves in the middle of the brawl, while Rooney, a former boxer, dashed about halfway across the field to join his team, before it dawned on him that for an NFL owner to get into a fight with opposing players would be a breach of protocol. The Redskins would go on to win the game, 42–20. Card-Pitt's Cliff Duggan found himself with a $200 fine for his role in the fist fight. However, an upset Rooney volunteered to pay Duggan's fine for him.0–10
After losses against the Rams, Packers and Lions, Grigas left the team to go home to Massachusetts. He had gone 0–2, in winning the league rushing title. During 1944, while in the running for yet another title, he discovered that years of losing had taken its toll and retired. His team was left to be defeated by the Bears, 49–7. Grigas, despite his sudden departure, was named to the New York Daily NewsNew York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
all-pro team. Shouldering almost the entire offensive burden for much of the year, Grigas rushed for 610 yards, an average of 3.3 yards per carry. The team had gone 0–10 for the season, tying the Brooklyn Tigers
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...
for the league's worst record. The day after the season ended, the merger of the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers was dissolved.
Since 1944, only four teams have gone winless in the NFL for an entire season
Imperfect season
An imperfect season is defined as a team losing all of their games. It is the antithesis of a perfect season, and is often referred to as such in a tongue-in-cheek manner...
: the 1960 Dallas Cowboys (0–11–1)
1960 Dallas Cowboys season
The 1960 Dallas Cowboys season was the inaugural season for the franchise in the National Football League. The team finished with no wins, 11 losses, and 1 tie, which placed them last in the Western Conference, and was the worst record in the NFL for that season.-Offseason:The NFL granted a...
, the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0–14)
1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
The NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers played their debut season in 1976, making league history as the first team to play an entire 14-game season without winning or tying a single game. They did not score until their third game and did not score a touchdown until their fourth. They lost by a touchdown or...
, the 1982 Baltimore Colts (0–8–1)
1982 Baltimore Colts season
The 1982 Baltimore Colts season was the 30th season for the team in the National Football League, and the Colts' penultimate season in Baltimore. The Baltimore Colts finished the National Football League's 1982 season with a record of 0 wins, 8 losses and 1 tie. They finished fifth in the AFC East...
and the 2008 Detroit Lions (0–16)
2008 Detroit Lions season
The 2008 Detroit Lions season was the 79th season for the franchise in the National Football League. Although the Lions had a flawless preseason with a 4-0 record, the Lions became the first team in NFL history to compile an 0-16 record in regular season play. They were mathematically eliminated...
. In the case of the Colts, the season was shortened by the 1982 NFL Players Association strike. Both the Cowboys and Buccaneers were expansion team
Expansion team
An expansion team is a brand new team in a sports league. The term is most commonly used in reference to the North American major professional sports leagues, but is applied to sports leagues worldwide that use a closed franchise system of league membership. The term comes from the expansion of the...
s in the years they went winless.
How bad were they?
Card-Pitt punters averaged just 32.7 yards per kick, an NFL record for futility that still stands today. The team was 0–2 in field goals; Conway BakerConway Baker
Conway Oscar Baker was an offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Chicago Cardinals from 1936 until 1945. He was also a member of the combined Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers squad known in as Card-Pitt in 1944.-References:**...
missed 4 of his 15 extra point tries. Card-Pitt completed only 31 percent of their passes, resulting in just 8 touchdowns. They also threw 41 interceptions in 1944, which is still the third highest total in NFL history. McCarthy threw 13 of those interceptions and completed 0 touchdown passes. His QB rating was only 3.0. They were also the worst run defense in the league and opponents outscored them, 328–108.
Life after Card-Pitt
Eberle Schultz's fortunes turned most quickly, he went from a winless 1944 season to a NFL championship1945 Cleveland Rams season
at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OH* Game attendance: 32,178In the first quarter, the Redskins had the ball at their own 5-yard line. Dropping back into the end zone, quarterback Sammy Baugh threw, but the ball hit the goal post and bounced back to the ground in the end zone...
with Cleveland, the following year. John Grigas, after going AWOL, finished his career by spending three years with the Boston Yanks, leading the team in rushing in 1946. Don Currivan
Don Currivan
Donald F. "Don" Currivan was a professional American football end in the National Football League. He played seven seasons for the Chicago Cardinals , the Boston Yanks , and the Los Angeles Rams...
, played alongside Grigas for those three seasons, ranking third in the league in receiving in 1947. He also saw action with the Los Angeles Rams club, which lost to Philadelphia in the 1949 NFL Championship game
NFL Championship Game, 1949
The 1949 National Football League championship game was the 17th annual title game for the NFL. It was played on December 18, 1949 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. The game is remembered for the driving rain that caused the field to become a mud pit...
.
Tackle Chet Bulger
Chet Bulger
Chester Noyes Bulger was an offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Chicago Cardinals. Bulger was born in Rumford, Maine, and after graduating from Stephen's High School, he attended Auburn University on a track and field scholarship, where he then walked onto the football team...
and center Vince Banonis
Vince Banonis
Vincent Joseph Banonis was an American football center and defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Chicago Cardinals from 1942–1950 and the Detroit Lions from 1951–1953. He attended the University of Detroit. Banonis was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in...
would be a part of the 1947 Chicago Cardinals championship team
1947 Chicago Cardinals season
The 1947 Chicago Cardinals season resulted in the Cardinals winning their second NFL Championship.-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:-Roster:-NFL Championship Game:...
, while Banonis would also help the Detroit Lions to league titles in 1952
1952 Detroit Lions season
Detroit Lions 17, Cleveland Browns 7 Scoring*DET - Layne 2-yard run *DET - Walker 67-yard run *CLE - Jagade 7-yard run *DET - FG Harder 36-References:***...
and 1953
1953 Detroit Lions season
The 1953 Detroit Lions season resulted in the Lions winning their third NFL Championship.-Schedule:-Standings:-Roster:-NFL Championship Game:Detroit Lions 17, Cleveland Browns 16 Scoring*DET - Walker 1 yard run...
. Card-Pitt's assistant coach, Buddy Parker
Buddy Parker
Raymond "Buddy" Parker is a former football player and coach in the National Football League who served as head coach for three teams: the Chicago Cardinals, the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers....
, coached those teams.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Time (ET Eastern Time Zone The Eastern Time Zone of the United States and Canada is a time zone that falls mostly along the east coast of North America. Its UTC time offset is −5 hrs during standard time and −4 hrs during daylight saving time... ) |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 24, 1944 | Cleveland Rams Cleveland Rams The Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League... |
L 30–28 | |
| 2 | October 8, 1944 | at 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... |
L 34–7 | |
| 3 | October 15, 1944 | at 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... |
L 42–7 | |
| 4 | October 22, 1944 | at 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... |
L 23–0 | |
| 5 | October 29, 1944 | at Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
L 42–20 | |
| 6 | November 5, 1944 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 27–6 | |
| 7 | November 12, 1944 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 21–7 | |
| 8 | November 19, 1944 | Cleveland Rams Cleveland Rams The Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League... |
L 33–6 | |
| 9 | November 26, 1944 | 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... |
L 35–20 | |
| 10 | December 3, 1944 | 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... |
L 49–7 |
Standings
| NFL Western Eastern and Western Divisions (NFL) 1933-69 The Eastern and Western Divisions of the National Football League, renamed the American and National Conferences in 1950 and then the Eastern and Western Conferences in 1953, were organized as a result of the disputed NFL championship of 1932... |
|||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| Green Bay Packers 1944 Green Bay Packers season The 1944 Green Bay Packers season was their 24th season in the National Football League. The club posted an 8-2 record under coach Curly Lambeau, earning them a first-place finish in the Western Conference. The Packers ended the season beating the Giants 14-7 in the NFL Championship Game, their 6th... |
8 | 2 | 0 | .800 | 238 | 141 | W-1 |
| Chicago Bears 1944 Chicago Bears season The 1944 Chicago Bears season was their 25th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 6-3-1 record under temporary co-coaches Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos. The club was unable to return to the NFL Championship Game to try to claim their fourth title of the... |
6 | 3 | 1 | .667 | 258 | 172 | W-2 |
| Detroit Lions 1944 Detroit Lions season The 1944 Detroit Lions season was their 15th in the league. The team improved on their previous season's output of 3-6-1, winning six games. They failed to qualify for the playoffs for the ninth consecutive season.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
6 | 3 | 1 | .667 | 216 | 151 | W-4 |
| Cleveland Rams 1944 Cleveland Rams season The 1944 Cleveland Rams season was the team's seventh year with the National Football League.-Schedule:-Standings:... |
4 | 6 | 0 | .400 | 188 | 224 | L-2 |
| Card-Pitt | 0 | 10 | 0 | .000 | 108 | 328 | L-10 |
Week 1 (Saturday September 24, 1944): Cleveland RamsCleveland RamsThe Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League...
at Forbes FieldForbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 20,968
- Referee:
Scoring Drives:
- Cleveland – FG Zontini 27
- Cleveland – Kabealo 6 run (West kick)
- Cleveland – Benton 10 run (West kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Schutz 10 lateral from ThurbonBob ThurbonRobert William "Bob" Thurbon was a professional American football halfback in the National Football League and the All-America Football Conference . He was born in Erie, Pennsylvania. He played one season each for the NFL's Steagles and Card-Pitt and the AAFC's Buffalo Bisons....
after 52 kick return (Baker kick) - Chicago-Pittsburgh – RucinskiEddie RucinskiEdward Anthony Rucinski was a professional American football player who played end for six seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cardinals and "Card-Pitt" of the National Football League....
40 pass from McDonough (Baker kick) - Chicago-Pittsburgh – Grigas 3 run (Baker kick)
- Cleveland – Benton 18 pass from Colella (West kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Butler 67 pass from McDonough (Baker kick)
- Cleveland – Benton 5 pass from Reisz (West kick)
Week 2 (Sunday, October 8, 1944): Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe 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...
at East Stadium, Green Bay, WisconsinGreen Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 16,535
- Referee:
Scoring Drives:
- Green Bay – Hutson 55 pass from Comp (Sorenson kick)
- Green Bay – Starreturn 2 run (Hutson kick)
- Green Bay – Hutson 7 pass from Comp (Hutson kick)
- Green Bay – Brock 30 run (kick failed)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Butler 33 pass from Grigas (Robbnett kick)
- Green Bay – Perkins 83 interception (Hutson kick)
Week 3 (Sunday October 15, 1944): Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe 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...
at Wrigley FieldWrigley Field
Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, Chicago, Illinois
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 29,940
- Referee:
Scoring Drives:
- Chicago Bears – McLean 8 run (Gudauskas kick)
- Chicago Bears – Fordham 1 run (kick failed)
- Chicago Bears – Berry 51 pass from Long (Gudauskas kick)
- Chicago Bears – Berry 15 pass from Ronzani (Gudauskas kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Thurbon 25 run (Baker kick)
- Chicago Bears – Grygo 8 run (Gudauskas kick)
Week 4 (Sunday October 22, 1944): New York GiantsNew York GiantsThe 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...
at 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...
, New York, New York
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 40,734
- Referee:
Scoring Drives:
- New York – Paschal 4 run (Strong kick)
- New York – Safety, McCarthy's punt blocked out of end zone by Cope
- New York – Paschal 3 run (Strong kick)
- New York – Paschal 45 run (Cuff kick)
Week 5 (Sunday October 29, 1944): Washington RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
at Griffith StadiumGriffith Stadium
Griffith Stadium was a sports stadium that stood in Washington, D.C. from 1911 to 1965, between Georgia Avenue and 5th Street, and between W Street and Florida Avenue, NW. An earlier wooden baseball park had been built on the same site in 1891...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 35,540
- Referee:
Scoring Drives:
- Washington – Aguirre 58 pass from Filchock (Aguirre kick)
- Washington – Aguirre 47 pass from Filchock (Aguirre kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Grigas 1 run (Baker kick)
- Washington – Moore 75 run (Weldon kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Grigas 8 run (kick failed)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Currivan 7 pass from Grigas (Baker kick)
- Washington – Seymour 3 run (Weldon kick)
- Washington – Seymour 23 pass from Filchock (Weldon kick)
- Washington – Turley 35 pass from BaughSammy BaughSamuel Adrian "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh was an American football player and coach. He played college football for the Horned Frogs at Texas Christian University, where he was a two-time All-American. He then played in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins from 1937 to 1952...
(Weldon kick)
Week 6 (Sunday November 5, 1944): Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
at Forbes FieldForbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 17,743
- Referee:
Scoring Drives:
- Detroit – Van Tone 19 pass from Westfall (Sinkwich kick)
- Detroit – Westfall 15 pass from Sinkwich (Sinkwich kick)
- Detroit – Sinkwich 5 run (Sinkwich kick)
- Detroit – Van Tone 10 pass from Sinkwich (Sinkwich kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Bova 8 pass from Grigas (kick failed)
Week 7 (Sunday November 12, 1944): Detroit LionsDetroit LionsThe Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
at Briggs Stadium, Detroit, MichiganDetroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 13,239
- Referee:
Scoring Drives:
- Detroit – Van Tone run (Sinkwich kick)
- Detroit – Sinkwich run (Sinkwich kick)
- Detroit – Sinkwich run (Sinkwich kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Thurbon 1 run (Baker kick)
Week 8 (Sunday November 19, 1944): Cleveland RamsCleveland RamsThe Cleveland Rams were a professional American football team based in Cleveland, Ohio.The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland, Ohio. The NFL considers the franchise as a second incarnation of the previous Cleveland Rams team that was a charter member of the second American Football League...
at Comiskey ParkComiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
, Chicago, Illinois
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 14,732
- Referee:
Scoring Drives:
- Cleveland – Colella 54 pass from Kabealo (kick failed)
- Cleveland – Zontini 1 run (kick failed)
- Cleveland – Pritko 35 pass from Reisz (Zontini kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Bova 46 pass from Grigas (kick failed)
- Cleveland – Gillette 58 run (Zontini kick)
- Cleveland – Petchel 43 pass from Reisz (Zontini kick)
Week 9 (Sunday November 26, 1944): Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe 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...
at Comiskey ParkComiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
, Chicago, Illinois
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 7,158
- Referee:
Scoring Drives:
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Thurbon 1 run (Baker kick)
- Green Bay – Duhart 1 run (Hutson kick)
- Green Bay – Duhart 11 run (Hutson kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Thurbon 37 pass from Grigas (kick failed)
- Green Bay – Hutson 36 pass from Comp (Hutson kick)
- Green Bay – Hutson 6 pass from Comp (Hutson kick)
- Green Bay – Perkins 40 interception (Hutson kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Currivan 72 pass from Grigas (Baker kick)
Week 10 (Sunday December 3, 1944): Chicago BearsChicago BearsThe 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...
at Forbes FieldForbes Field
Forbes Field was a baseball park in the Oakland neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1909 to 1971. It was the third home of the Pittsburgh Pirates Major League Baseball team, and the first home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city's National Football League franchise...
, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
- Game time:
- Game weather:
- Game attendance: 9,069
- Referee:
Scoring Drives:
- Chicago Bears – Berry 9 pass from Ronzani (Gudauskas kick)
- Chicago Bears – Fordham 1 run (Gudauskas kick)
- Chicago-Pittsburgh – Thurbon 1 run (Baker kick)
- Chicago Bears – Famiglietti 23 pass from Ronzani (Gudauskas kick)
- Chicago Bears – Margarita 47 run (Gudauskas kick)
- Chicago Bears – Fordham 2 run (Gudauskas kick)
- Chicago Bears – McEnulty 5 pass from Ronzani (Gudauskas kick)
- Chicago Bears – Turner 48 run (Gudauskas kick)
Roster
Conway BakerConway Baker
Conway Oscar Baker was an offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Chicago Cardinals from 1936 until 1945. He was also a member of the combined Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers squad known in as Card-Pitt in 1944.-References:**...
, G
Vince Banonis
Vince Banonis
Vincent Joseph Banonis was an American football center and defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Chicago Cardinals from 1942–1950 and the Detroit Lions from 1951–1953. He attended the University of Detroit. Banonis was elected into the College Football Hall of Fame in...
, C
Clarence Booth
Clarence Booth
Clarence E. Booth is a former American football player in the National Football League.-Career:...
, OT
Tony Bova
Tony Bova
Anthony J. Bova was a professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1940s. He graduated from Saint Francis University, located in Loretto, Pennsylvania in 1943...
, LE
Chet Bulger
Chet Bulger
Chester Noyes Bulger was an offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Chicago Cardinals. Bulger was born in Rumford, Maine, and after graduating from Stephen's High School, he attended Auburn University on a track and field scholarship, where he then walked onto the football team...
, RT
John Butler
John Butler (running back)
John William Butler was a professional football player in the National Football League drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1942. He would go on to play for both Steelers merged teams . In 1943 Butler was drafted into the military due to World War II, however he was physically disqualified for duty...
, HB
Don Currivan
Don Currivan
Donald F. "Don" Currivan was a professional American football end in the National Football League. He played seven seasons for the Chicago Cardinals , the Boston Yanks , and the Los Angeles Rams...
, E
Ted Doyle
Ted Doyle
Theodore Dennison Doyle was a professional football player who played in the National Football League from 1938 until 1945. He is best known for playing guard for the Pittsburgh Pirates and as they would later be known as, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Doyle also played for both of the merger teams the...
, OT
Cliff Duggan
Cliff Duggan
Gilford R. Duggan was a professional football player in the National Football League and later the All-America Football Conference. He played in the NFL from 1940-1945. He played for the New York Giants, Chicago Cardinals and "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the...
, OT
John Grigas
John Grigas
John Joseph Grigas was an American football player who played 5 seasons in the National Football League.-External links:*...
, FB
Walt Kichefski
Walt Kichefski
Walter Raymond Kichefski was a professional football player in the He played in the league from 1940–1942 and again in 1944. Walt played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Steelers...
, E
George Magulick
George Magulick
George Magulick was a professional football player in the National Football League. He played in only season for "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The teams merger was result of the manning shortages experienced...
, HB
Lou Marotti
Lou Marotti
Louis J. Marotti was a professional football player in the National Football League. He played in the league from 1943-1945. He played for the Chicago Cardinals and "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cardinals...
, G
Johnny Martin
Johnny Martin (American football)
John Jay Martin was a professional football player in the He played in the league from 1941-1945. Martin played for the Chicago Cardinals, Boston Yanks and "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The teams merger was...
, WB
Walt Masters
Walt Masters
Walter Thomas Masters is a former MLB pitcher and an American football halfback and quarterback in the National Football League....
, B
John McCarthy
John McCarthy (American football)
John Patrick McCarthy was a professional football player in the National Football League. He played in the league for just one season in 1944. McCarthy played for "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers...
, QB
Coley McDonough
Coley McDonough
Coleman Regis "Coley" McDonough was a professional American football quarterback in the National Football League. He played four seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Cardinals. In 1944 McDonough also played for "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between...
, QB
Elmer Merkovsky
Elmer Merkovsky
Albert J. Merkovsky was a professional football player in the National Football League. He played in the league from 1944-1945. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Steelers...
, G
John Perko
John Perko
John Joseph Perko was a professional football player for eight seasons in the National Football League. He played for Pittsburgh Pirates-Steelers his entire career. In 1944, he also played on the Steelers-Chicago Cardinals merged team, "Card-Pitt"...
, G
John Popovich
John Popovich
John Popovich is a former American football player and coach in the United States. He played in the National Football League from 1944 to 1945, for the Pittsburgh Steelers and "Card-Pitt", a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and the Steelers...
, HB
Walt Rankin
Walt Rankin
Walter Velpo Rankin was a professional football player in the National Football League. He played running back for five seasons for the Chicago Cardinals. During World War II, Rankin served in the United States Military...
, QB
Marshall Robnett
Marshall Robnett
Marshall Foch Robnett was a professional football player in the National Football League. He played professionally from 1943 until 1945 for the Chicago Cardinals and was included on their merged team with the Pittsburgh Steelers, known as "Card-Pitt", in 1944....
, C
Eddie Rucinski
Eddie Rucinski
Edward Anthony Rucinski was a professional American football player who played end for six seasons for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Chicago Cardinals and "Card-Pitt" of the National Football League....
, E
Elbie Schultz
Elbie Schultz
Eberle H. Schultz was a former football player in the National Football League from 1940 to 1947. Over the course of his career, Schultz played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Rams and the Los Angeles Rams...
, LG
Bernie Semes
Bernie Semes
Bernard Semes was a professional football player in the National Football League during the year of 1944. He played for "Card-Pitt" a team that was the result of a temporary merger between the Chicago Cardinals and Pittsburgh Steelers...
, HB
Bob Thurbon
Bob Thurbon
Robert William "Bob" Thurbon was a professional American football halfback in the National Football League and the All-America Football Conference . He was born in Erie, Pennsylvania. He played one season each for the NFL's Steagles and Card-Pitt and the AAFC's Buffalo Bisons....
, HB
Clint Wager
Clint Wager
Clinton Belmar Wager was a professional football and basketball player. He played in the National Football League from 1942-1945 for the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cardinals and the Cardinals-Pittsburgh Steelers merged team, "Card-Pitt". However he also played in the National Basketball Association in...
, E
Al Wukits
Al Wukits
Albert Robert Wukits was a professional football player in both the National Football League and the All-America Football Conference...
, C
See also
- Defunct National Football League franchises
- National Football League franchise moves and mergers