NFL Championship Game, 1943
Encyclopedia
The 1943 NFL Championship Game was the 11th annual title game of the National Football League
(NFL). The game was held at Wrigley Field
in Chicago
on December 26, 1943, and drew attendance of 34,320.
The contest featured the Western Division champion Chicago Bears
(who compiled an 8–1–1 regular season record) against the Eastern Division champion Washington Redskins
(6–3–1). The previous week
the Redskins had defeated the New York Giants
by a score of 28–0 to determine the champs of the east after the teams ended the regular season with identical records. This playoff game pushed the championship back to it's latest ever date, and the late-December Chicago weather caused the game to be dubbed the "Ice Bowl".
The crowd was smaller than the previous year's and well off the championship game record of 48,120 set in 1938
, but the gross gate receipts of $120,500.50 set a record. In addition to the gate, radio broadcast rights to the game were sold for $5,000. This take meant that each player on the winning club took home $1,135.81 while each member of the losing team got $754.60.
The Bears were led by quarterback Sid Luckman
while Sammy Baugh
was the quarterback for the Redskins.
The Chicago win marked the franchise's third championship in four seasons, their fourth since the institution of the championship game in and their sixth since the NFL was formed in .
, Steinkemper, Babartsky
, Mundee, Ippolito, Logan, Matuza
, McLean
, Luckman
, Famighetti
, Nagursky, McEnulty, Nolting
and Vodicka.
Redskins substitutions: Piasecky
, Lapka
, Wilkin
, Zeno
, Fiorentino
, Leon, Hayden
, Baugh
, Seymour
, Moore
, Gibson
, Akins
and Stasica
.
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). The game was held at Wrigley Field
Wrigley 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...
in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
on December 26, 1943, and drew attendance of 34,320.
The contest featured the Western Division champion Chicago Bears
1943 Chicago Bears season
The 1943 Chicago Bears season was their 24th regular season and 8th postseason completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 8-1-1 record under temporary co-coaches Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos...
(who compiled an 8–1–1 regular season record) against the Eastern Division champion Washington Redskins
1943 Washington Redskins season
The 1943 Washington Redskins began with the team trying to improve on their 10-1 record from 1942. They would end the season by losing the NFL Championship to the Chicago Bears, 41-21.-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:...
(6–3–1). The previous week
NFL playoffs, 1943
The 1943 National Football League season resulted in a tie for the Eastern Division championship between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants. The division championship game was played on December 19, 1943 at the Polo Grounds...
the Redskins had defeated the New York Giants
1943 New York Giants season
The 1943 New York Giants season was the 19th season for the club in the National Football League.-Schedule:-Playoffs:-Standings:-See also:*List of New York Giants seasons...
by a score of 28–0 to determine the champs of the east after the teams ended the regular season with identical records. This playoff game pushed the championship back to it's latest ever date, and the late-December Chicago weather caused the game to be dubbed the "Ice Bowl".
The crowd was smaller than the previous year's and well off the championship game record of 48,120 set in 1938
1938 NFL Championship Game
The 1938 NFL Championship Game was the 6th championship game played in the history of the National Football League. The game was on December 11, 1938, at Polo Grounds in New York City...
, but the gross gate receipts of $120,500.50 set a record. In addition to the gate, radio broadcast rights to the game were sold for $5,000. This take meant that each player on the winning club took home $1,135.81 while each member of the losing team got $754.60.
The Bears were led by 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...
while Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh
Samuel 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...
was the quarterback for the Redskins.
The Chicago win marked the franchise's third championship in four seasons, their fourth since the institution of the championship game in and their sixth since the NFL was formed in .
Starters
| Bears | Position American football positions In American football, each team has eleven players on the field at one time. Because the rules allow unlimited substitution between plays, the types of players on the field for each team differ depending on the situation... |
Redskins |
|---|---|---|
| Jim Benton | Left end | Bob Masterson Bob Masterson Robert Patrick Masterson was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the Washington Redskins... |
| Dom Sigillo | Left tackle | Lou Rymkus Lou Rymkus Louis Joseph Rymkus was a football player and coach in the National Football League who was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1988 and also served as the first head coach of the American Football League's Houston Oilers for 1960, winning the league's first championship, but being... |
| Dan Fortmann Dan Fortmann Dr. Daniel John Fortmann was a professional American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears. He played college football at Colgate University and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1936 NFL Draft... |
Left guard | Clyde Shugart Clyde Shugart Clyde Earl Shugart was an American football guard in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Iowa State University and was drafted in the fifteenth round of the 1939 NFL Draft.-Early life:Shugart was born in Ames, Iowa and attended Ames High School... |
| Bulldog Turner Bulldog Turner Clyde Douglas Turner was a professional football player for the Chicago Bears.-NFL playing career:... |
Center | George Smith |
| George Musso George Musso George Francis Musso was an American National Football League lineman, playing both offensive guard and tackle as well as defensive middle guard... |
Right guard | Steve Slivinski Steve Slivinski Stephen Paul Slivinski is a former American football guard in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Washington and was drafted in the thirteenth round of the 1939 NFL Draft.... |
| Al Hoptowit | Right tackle | Joe Pasqua Joe Pasqua Joseph Bernard Pasqua was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Cleveland Rams, the Washington Redskins, and the Los Angeles Rams. He attended Southern Methodist University.... |
| George Wilson | Right end | Joe Aguirre Joe Aguirre Joseph A. Aguirre was an American football tight end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, as well as for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference . He also spent time in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Eskimos, and... |
| Bob Snyder Bob Snyder Bob Snyder was a football player and coach who spent more than three decades in the sport, including his most prominent position as head coach of the National Football League's Los Angeles Rams.-College career:... |
Quarterback | Ray Hare Ray Hare Raymond Lewis Hare was an American football running back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Brooklyn Tigers. Hare also played in the All-America Football Conference for the New York Yankees. He attended Gonzaga University.... |
| Harry Clarke | Left halfback | George Cafego George Cafego George Cafego was a college, and professional American football player and coach. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1969.-High school and collegiate career:... |
| Dante Magnani Dante Magnani Dante Alfred Magnani was an American football player who played nine seasons in the National Football League. Magnani, a running back, played college football for the St. Mary's College Galloping Gaels in Moraga, California.-External links:* The New York Times obit... |
Right halfback | Frank Seno Frank Seno Frank Seno was an American football running back and defensive back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, the Chicago Cardinals, and the Boston Yanks. He attended George Washington University.... |
| Bob Masters Bob Masters Bob Masters is a former professional American football player who played running back for six seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears... |
Fullback | Andy Farkas Andy Farkas Andrew Geza Farkas was an American football fullback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Detroit Lions.-Early life:Farkas was born in Clay Center, Ohio of Hungarian origins, and attended St... |
Substitutions
Bears substitutions: Pool, BerryConnie Mack Berry
Connie Mack Berry was an American who played professional football, baseball, and basketball....
, Steinkemper, Babartsky
Al Babartsky
Albert John Babartsky was a professional American football offensive tackle who played in the National Football League for six seasons for the Chicago Cardinals and the Chicago Bears. He was a member of the Seven Blocks of Granite at Fordham University-External links:...
, Mundee, Ippolito, Logan, Matuza
Al Matuza
Albert Charles "Al" Matuza was a professional American football offensive lineman in the National Football League. He played three seasons for the Chicago Bears ....
, McLean
Ray McLean
Ray "Scooter" McLean was a football player and coach at both the collegiate and professional levels, but may be best remembered for preceding Vince Lombardi as head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 1958....
, 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...
, Famighetti
Gary Famiglietti
Gary Famiglietti was a professional American football player who played running back for nine seasons for the Chicago Bears and Boston Yanks. He was born in Medford, Massachusetts and attended college at Boston University. He was drafted in the 3rd round of the 1938 NFL Draft.Famiglietti's most...
, Nagursky, McEnulty, Nolting
Ray Nolting
Raymond A. Nolting was an American football running back for the Chicago Bears, as well as a college football coach. He played college football at Cincinnati, before spending 6 seasons with the Bears. He rushed for over 2,000 yards, and had over 500 receiving yards before retiring in 1943...
and Vodicka.
Redskins substitutions: Piasecky
Al Piasecky
Alexander Piasecky was an American football end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at Duke University....
, Lapka
Ted Lapka
Theodore Aloysius Lapka is a former American football end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He was born in Hawthorne, Illinois. He attended DePaul University and St. Ambrose University. He had one receiving touchdown, and missed the 1945 season while fighting in World...
, Wilkin
Willie Wilkin
Wilbur B. Wilkin was an American football offensive tackle in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. Wilkin also played in the All-America Football Conference for the Chicago Rockets. He attended St. Mary's College of California....
, Zeno
Joe Zeno
Joseph H. Zeno was an American football guard in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Boston Yanks.-Early life:...
, Fiorentino
Al Fiorentino
Albert M. Fiorentino was an American football guard in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Boston Yanks. He played college football at Boston College....
, Leon, Hayden
Ken Hayden
Kenneth Mack Hayden was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Arkansas....
, Baugh
Sammy Baugh
Samuel 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...
, Seymour
Bob Seymour
Robert Arnold Seymour was an American football running back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. Seymour also played in the All-America Football Conference for the Los Angeles Dons. He played college football at the University of Oklahoma and was drafted in the tenth...
, Moore
Wilbur Moore
Wilbur John Moore was an American football running back in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins. He played college football at the University of Minnesota and was drafted in the ninth round of the 1939 NFL Draft.-External links:...
, Gibson
Joe Gibson
Billy Joe Gibson was an American football defensive back and end in the National Football League for the Cleveland Rams and the Washington Redskins . Gibson also played in the All-America Football Conference for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He played college football at the University of Tulsa....
, Akins
Frank Akins
Frank Scott Akins was an American football running back who played for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He played college football at Washington State University and was drafted in the 30th round of the 1943 NFL Draft....
and Stasica
Leo Stasica
Leo Walter Stasica was an American football running back and quarterback in the National Football League for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the Washington Redskins, and the Boston Yanks. He attended the University of Illinois and the University of Colorado. Stasica was drafted in the third round of the...
.
Scoring breakdown
- First Quarter
- no scoring
- Second Quarter
- WAS - FarkasAndy FarkasAndrew Geza Farkas was an American football fullback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the Detroit Lions.-Early life:Farkas was born in Clay Center, Ohio of Hungarian origins, and attended St...
1 yard run (MastersonBob MastersonRobert Patrick Masterson was an American football wide receiver in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the Washington Redskins...
kick); 7–0 WAS - CHI - Clarke 31 yard pass from LuckmanSid LuckmanSidney Luckman, known as Sid Luckman, was an American football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League from 1939 to 1950...
(SnyderBob SnyderBob Snyder was a football player and coach who spent more than three decades in the sport, including his most prominent position as head coach of the National Football League's Los Angeles Rams.-College career:...
kick); 7–7 tie - CHI - NagurskiBronko NagurskiBronislau "Bronko" Nagurski was a Canadian-born American football player. He was also a successful professional wrestler, recognized as a multiple-time world heavyweight champion.-Youth and collegiate career:...
3 yard run (Snyder kick); 14–7 CHI
- WAS - Farkas
- Third Quarter
- CHI - MagnaniDante MagnaniDante Alfred Magnani was an American football player who played nine seasons in the National Football League. Magnani, a running back, played college football for the St. Mary's College Galloping Gaels in Moraga, California.-External links:* The New York Times obit...
36 yard pass from Luckman (Snyder kick); 21–7 CHI - CHI - Magnani 66 yard pass from Luckman (kick failed); 27–7 CHI
- WAS - Farkas 17 yard pass from Baugh (Masterson kick); 27–14 CHI
- CHI - Magnani
- Fourth Quarter
- CHI - BentonJim Benton (football player)James Warren Benton was a record setting Arkansas, Southwest Conference, NCAA and National Football League pass receiver who was selected for the NFL 1940s All-Decade Team...
26 yard pass from Luckman (Snyder kick); 34–14 CHI - CHI - Clarke 10 yard pass from Luckman (Snyder kick); 41–14 CHI
- WAS - AguirreJoe AguirreJoseph A. Aguirre was an American football tight end in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, as well as for the Los Angeles Dons of the All-America Football Conference . He also spent time in the Canadian Football League with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Edmonton Eskimos, and...
25 yard pass from Baugh (Aguirre kick); 41–21 CHI
- CHI - Benton
Game statistics
| Bears | Game Statistics | Redskins |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | First downs | 11 |
| 44–168 | Rushes–yards | 27–45 |
| 276 | Passing yards | 182 |
| 14–27–0 | 10–22–4 | |
| 66 | Punt return yards | 37 |
| 5–32 | 5–48.4 | |
| 21 | Kickoff return yards | 167 |
| 0–0 | Fumbles–lost | 1–0 |
| 9–81 | Penalties–yards | 2–20 |