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
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
Rules changes
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
- 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
- The Pittsburgh Pirates were rebranded as the Steelers before the 1940 season.
Stadium changes
- 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
| 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
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
| 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
Rushing
| 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
| 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
| 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
Joe F. Carr Trophy
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
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
- ^ 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
- 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.