1940 NFL season
 6th NFL guide published by Spalding | |
| Regular season | |
|---|---|
| Duration | September 8 to December 8, 1940 |
| East Champions | Washington Redskins |
| West Champions | Chicago Bears |
| Championship Game | |
| Champions | Chicago Bears |
The 1940 NFL season was the 21st regular season of the National Football League. The ten teams of the league each played an 11 game schedule, for a total of 55 regular season games.
The season ended on December 8, when the Chicago Bears defeated the Washington Redskins in the NFL Championship Play-off Game by a score of 73–0 in front of 36,034 fans. This result still stands as the most one-sided victory (and highest score) in NFL history as of the 2024 season.
Draft
[edit]The 1940 NFL draft was held on December 9, 1939, at Milwaukee's Schroeder Hotel. With the first pick, the Chicago Cardinals selected halfback George Cafego from the University of Tennessee.[1] The meeting of owners was held in conjunction with the 1939 Championship Play-off, held in Milwaukee between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants the following day.[2]
The draft encompassed 22 rounds and saw the selection of 200 players but only produced two future members of the Professional Football Hall of Fame — quarterback and defensive back George McAfee, taken by the Philadelphia Eagles with the second overall pick, and center and linebacker Clyde "Bulldog" Turner, picked by the Chicago Bears seventh overall.[3]
Major changes for 1940
[edit]Rules changes
[edit]The rule requiring players removed for substitutes be ineligible for return until a subsequent quarter, with the exception of two permitted returning players in the fourth quarter,[4] remained unchanged.[5]
Other important changes were enacted by the NFL for its 1940 season, however. These included:
- A penalty committed in the field of play could no longer carry the ball more than half the distance to the offender's goal line.[7]
- For offensive pass interference committed in the end zone, the defense now had the option of placing the ball 15 yards from the previous spot with a loss of down, or taking the ball on the 20 yard line via touchback.[7]
- Penalties for fouls that occur prior to a pass or kick from behind the line of scrimmage were to be enforced from the previous spot. However, penalties for fouls during a free ball or when the offensive team fouls behind their line were to be enforced from the spot of the foul.[7]
Coaching changes
[edit]- Brooklyn Dodgers: Potsy Clark was replaced by Jock Sutherland.
- Chicago Cardinals: Ernie Nevers was replaced by Jimmy Conzelman.
- Detroit Lions: Gus Henderson was replaced by George Clark.
Team name changes
[edit]- The Pittsburgh Pirates were rebranded as the Steelers before the 1940 season.
Stadium changes
[edit]- The Detroit Lions played full time at University of Detroit Stadium, no longer splitting home games with Briggs Stadium
- The Philadelphia Eagles moved from Philadelphia Municipal Stadium to Shibe Park
Final standings
[edit]
| NFL Eastern Division | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | PF | PA | STK | ||
| Washington Redskins | 9 | 2 | 0 | .818 | 6–2 | 245 | 142 | W1 | |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 6–2 | 186 | 120 | W4 | |
| New York Giants | 6 | 4 | 1 | .600 | 5–2–1 | 131 | 133 | L1 | |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 2 | 7 | 2 | .222 | 1–6–1 | 60 | 178 | L1 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | 1–7 | 111 | 211 | L1 | |
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
| NFL Western Division | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | DIV | PF | PA | STK | ||
| Chicago Bears | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 6–2 | 238 | 152 | W2 | |
| Green Bay Packers | 6 | 4 | 1 | .600 | 4–3–1 | 238 | 155 | T1 | |
| Detroit Lions | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | 4–3–1 | 138 | 153 | L1 | |
| Cleveland Rams | 4 | 6 | 1 | .400 | 2–5–1 | 171 | 191 | T1 | |
| Chicago Cardinals | 2 | 7 | 2 | .222 | 2–5–1 | 139 | 222 | L3 | |
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Championship Play-off Game
[edit]
The NFL's champion was determined with a single "Championship Play-off Game" on December 8 between the Western champion Chicago Bears and the Eastern champion Washington Redskins at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. A total of 36,034 fans were in attendance, generating gross gate receipts of $112,508 ($3.12 per patron).[8] The game still stands as the greatest whitewash in the history of the NFL, with Bill Osmanski of the Bears breaking free on a 68 yard touchdown run on the third play of the game and Chicago never looking back en route to a 73–0 victory.[8]
Team statistics
[edit]| Rank | Team | Total yards | (Rushing) | (Passing) | Penalized | Yards allowed | Takeaways |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Green Bay Packers | 3,400 | 1,604 | 1,796 | 295 | 2,532 | 38 |
| 2 | Washington Redskins | 3,289 | 1,402 | 1,887 | 427 | 2,847 | 27 |
| 3 | Chicago Bears | 3,219 | 1,818 | 1,401 | 605 | 2,750 | 38 |
| 4 | Brooklyn Dodgers | 2,813 | 1,546 | 1,267 | 285 | 2,836 | 32 |
| 5 | Cleveland Rams | 2,724 | 1,142 | 1,582 | 260 | 3,102 | 39 |
| 6 | Detroit Lions | 2,634 | 1,457 | 1,177 | 259 | 2,357 | 49 |
| 7 | New York Giants | 2,512 | 1,476 | 1,036 | 349 | 2,219 | 34 |
| 8 | Chicago Cardinals | 2,227 | 1,315 | 912 | 331 | 2,783 | 42 |
| 9 | Philadelphia Eagles | 2,153 | 298 | 1,855 | 215 | 2,780 | 25 |
| 10 | Pittsburgh Steelers | 1,977 | 1,102 | 875 | 336 | 2,742 | 23 |
| Source: Strickler (ed.), 1941 NFL Record & Roster Manual, pp. 54-55. "Takeaways" = Interceptions + Fumble recoveries | |||||||
Individual leaders
[edit]Rushing
[edit]
| Rank | Name | Team | Yards rushing | Attempts | Yards per carry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Byron "Whizzer" White | Detroit Lions | 514 | 146 | 3.52 |
| 2 | Johnny Drake | Cleveland Rams | 480 | 134 | 3.58 |
| 3 | Tuffy Leemans | New York Giants | 474 | 132 | 3.59 |
| 4 | Banks McFadden | Brooklyn Dodgers | 411 | 65 | 6.32 |
| 5 | Dick Todd | Washington Redskins | 408 | 76 | 5.37 |
| 6 | Clarke Hinkle | Green Bay Packers | 383 | 109 | 3.51 |
| 7 | Ray Nolting | Chicago Bears | 373 | 78 | 4.78 |
| 8 | Joe Maniaci | Chicago Bears | 368 | 84 | 4.38 |
| 9 | Parker "Bullet" Hall | Cleveland Rams | 365 | 94 | 3.88 |
| 10 | Marshall "Biggie" Goldberg | Chicago Cardinals | 325 | 87 | 3.74 |
| Source: Strickler (ed.), 1941 NFL Record & Roster Manual, pp. 56–57. | |||||
Receiving
[edit]
| Rank | Name | Team | Receiving yards | Receptions | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Don Looney | Philadelphia Eagles | 707 | 24 | 6 |
| 2 | Don Hutson | Green Bay Packers | 664 | 45 | 7 |
| 3 | Dick Todd | Washington Redskins | 402 | 20 | 4 |
| 4 | Perry Schwartz | Brooklyn Dodgers | 370 | 21 | 3 |
| 5 | "Big Jim" Benton | Cleveland Rams | 351 | 22 | 3 |
| 6 | Jimmy Johnston | Washington Redskins | 350 | 29 | 3 |
| 7 | Lloyd Cardwell | Detroit Lions | 349 | 20 | 1 |
| 8 | Coley McDonough | Cleveland Rams | 315 | 12 | 1 |
| 9 | George Platukis | Pittsburgh Steelers | 290 | 15 | 2 |
| 10 | Les McDonald | Philadelphia Eagles | 289 | 14 | 0 |
| Source: Strickler (ed.), 1941 NFL Record & Roster Manual, pp. 60-61. | |||||
Passing
[edit]
| Rank | Name | Team | Passing Yards | Complete - Attempt | Percentage | TD : INT | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sammy Baugh | Washington Redskins | 1,367 | 111-for-177 | 62.7% | 12 : 10 | |
| 2 | Davey O'Brien | Philadelphia Eagles | 1,290 | 124-for-277 | 44.8% | 5 : 17 | |
| 3 | Parker Hall | Cleveland Rams | 1,108 | 77-for-183 | 42.1% | 7 : 16 | |
| 4 | Cecil Isbell | Green Bay Packers | 1,037 | 68-for-150 | 45.3% | 8 : 12 | |
| 5 | Sid Luckman | Chicago Bears | 941 | 48-for-105 | 45.7% | 4 : 9 | |
| 6 | Clarence "Ace" Parker | Brooklyn Dodgers | 817 | 49-for-111 | 44.1% | 10 : 7 | |
| 7 | Foster Watkins | Philadelphia Eagles | 565 | 28-for-85 | 32.9% | 1 : 3 | |
| 8 | Arnie Herber | Green Bay Packers | 560 | 38-for-89 | 42.7% | 6 : 7 | |
| 9 | Billy Patterson | Pittsburgh Steelers | 529 | 34-for-117 | 29.1% | 3 : 15 | |
| 10 | Hugh McCullough | Chicago Cardinals | 529 | 43-for-116 | 37.1% | 4 : 21 | |
| Sources: Strickler (ed.), 1941 NFL Record & Roster Manual, pp. 58-59. Pro Football Reference for TD passes. | |||||||
Awards
[edit]Joe F. Carr Trophy
[edit]The Joe F. Carr Trophy was presented annually by the National League as its Most Valuable Player award.
- Clarence "Ace" Parker, quarterback, Brooklyn Dodgers
All-Professional Team
[edit]The "1940 All-Professional Team" was selected by National Professional Football Writers' Association.[9] The New York Giants and Washington Redskins were each represented by four members of the 22-man squad. There were also 22 players added to an "Honorable Mention" list.[9]
| First Team ————————————————— Second Team | |||||
| Name | Team | Position | Name | Team | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Don Hutson | Green Bay Packers | LE | Don Looney | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| Joe Stydahar | Chicago Bears | LT | Jim Barber | Washington Redskins | |
| Danny Fortmann | Chicago Bears | LG | Steve Slivinski | Washington Redskins | |
| Mel Hein | New York Giants | C | "Bulldog" Turner | Chicago Bears | |
| John Wiethe | Detroit Lions | RG | Doug Oldershaw | New York Giants | |
| "Bruiser" Kinard | Brooklyn Dodgers | RT | John Mellus | New York Giants | |
| Perry Schwartz | Brooklyn Dodgers | RE | Jim Poole | New York Giants | |
| "Ace" Parker | Brooklyn Dodgers | QB | Davey O'Brien | Philadelphia Eagles | |
| Sammy Baugh | Washington Redskins | LHB | Cecil Isbell | Green Bay Packers | |
| "Whizzer" White | Detroit Lions | RHB | Dick Todd | Washington Redskins | |
| Johnny Drake | Cleveland Rams | FB | Clarke Hinkle | Green Bay Packers | |
References
[edit]- ^ Associated Press, "Cardinals Pick Cafego of Vols: Tennessee Star is First Choice in Annual Pro Draft," Eau Claire [WI] Leader, Dec. 10, 1939, p. 14.
- ^ Steve Snider, "Packers, Giants to Clash for Pro Grid Title Today: 32,000 Pay $80,000 to See Big Game in Milwaukee," Eau Claire [WI] Leader, Dec. 10, 1939, p. 14.
- ^ "1940 NFL Draft," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com
- ^ This modification launched in 1938. See: Joe F. Carr (ed.), Official Guide of the National Football League, 1938. New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1938; p. 72.
- ^ Official Rules of the National Football League, 1940, in Carl L. Storck (ed.), Official Guide of the National Football League, 1940. New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1940; rules p. 20.
- ^ Rule 10-2-5-3, Official Football Rules of the National Football League, 1939, p. 54.
- ^ a b c d "National Football League Rules Changes for 1940," in Official Rules of the National Football League, 1940, inside cover.
- ^ a b George Strickler (ed.), Official National Football League Roster and Record Manual, 1941. Chicago: National Football League, 1941; pp. 66-67.
- ^ a b George Strickler (ed.), Roster and Record Manual, 1941. Chicago: Commissioner's Office, 1941; p. 68.
Further reading
[edit]- Tom Bennett, et al. (eds.), The NFL's Official Encyclopedic History of Professional Football. Revised and expanded edition. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co., 1977.
- Bob Carroll, et al. (eds.), Total Football II: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League. New York: HarperCollins, 1999.
- NFL Communications Department and Santo Labombarda (eds.), Official National Football League 2024 Record and Fact Book. New York: National Football League, 2024.
- Joseph S. Page, Pro Football Championships Before the Super Bowl: A Year-by-Year History, 1926–1965. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 2011.