1933 NFL season

• 1. League Expansion And Restructuring

  ›

  The 1933 NFL season marked the league's fourteenth regular year. It also signaled a major shift in how the game was organized. Three new franchises joined the fold that autumn. The Pittsburgh Pirates entered as a fresh team. The Philadelphia Eagles arrived to compete for the first time. Cincinnati Reds became the third expansion club, though they would not last long. Boston Braves changed their name to the Boston Redskins before play began. Staten Island Stapletons departed the official roster but kept scheduling games against league teams anyway. The total number of teams grew from eight to ten. This expansion set the stage for a structural change that had been brewing since the previous playoff controversy. Owners decided to split the league into two divisions for the first time ever. Division winners would meet in a single championship match instead of relying on a tiebreaker system.

• 2. Rule Reforms And Field Changes

  ›

  A controversial touchdown in the 1932 Playoff Game triggered immediate rule adjustments. Bronko Nagurski scored under disputed conditions and forced the league to rethink its forward pass rules. Passers could now throw from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. Previously, quarterbacks needed at least five yards of depth before releasing the ball. Hashmarks appeared on the field for the first time. These lines sat ten yards in from each sideline. All plays started with the ball placed on or between these hashmarks. Goal posts moved from the end lines to the goal lines. This reversal aimed to increase field goals and reduce tie games. A punt hitting an opponent's goal posts without being touched resulted in a touchback. Kicking a ball behind the goal line that hit the posts and rolled out became a safety. These changes reflected a desire to make the game more exciting and less prone to stalemates.

• 3. Championship Game History

  ›

  The season concluded with a historic matchup between Chicago Bears and New York Giants. It was the first ever NFL Championship Game played under the new divisional format. The Chicago Bears defeated the New York Giants to claim the title. No other teams had advanced to this stage since the divisions were created. The victory crowned George Halas' squad as champions of the 1933 season. This single game decided the entire year's outcome after regular play ended. The structure ensured that only two teams reached the final showdown. Fans witnessed the birth of what would become the league's most prestigious annual event. The result settled all debate about who deserved the top spot that year.

• 4. Statistical Milestones And Records

  ›

  Official statistics tracking entered its second year during the 1933 campaign. Certain metrics like interceptions or punting averages remained unrecorded by the league. Harry Newman led all passers with 973 yards for the New York Giants. Glenn Presnell of the Portsmouth Spartans followed with 774 passing yards. Arnie Herber of the Green Bay Packers threw for 656 yards. Jim Musick topped rushers with 809 yards for the Boston Redskins. Cliff Battles added another 737 rushing yards on behalf of the same team. Paul Moss caught 283 receiving yards while playing for Pittsburgh Pirates. Ray Tesser contributed 282 receiving yards for the Pirates as well. Kink Richards scored seven touchdowns for the Giants. Shipwreck Kelly also recorded seven touchdowns for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Ken Strong and Glenn Presnell each finished with six scores. These numbers represented the first reliable data set retained by the NFL.

• 5. Coaching Instability And Management

  ›

  Multiple teams experienced head coach changes throughout the season. Lud Wray left the Boston Redskins to be replaced by William Dietz. Benny Friedman stepped down from the Brooklyn Dodgers before Cap McEwen took over. George Halas fired Ralph Jones and assumed direct coaching duties for the Chicago Bears. Halas made this move primarily to save money for his franchise. Al Jolley coached three games for the Cincinnati Reds while Mike Palm handled seven others. Jack Chevigny was replaced by Paul J. Schissler at the Chicago Cardinals. Forrest Douds became the inaugural head coach for the new Pittsburgh Pirates. Lud Wray served as the first head coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. These transitions reflected financial pressures and strategic shifts across the league.

• 6. Stadium Relocations And Venues

  ›

  The renamed Boston Redskins moved their home games from Braves Field to Fenway Park. This shift marked a significant change in venue for the franchise. The Green Bay Packers began hosting selected home games in Milwaukee that year. One game took place at Borchert Field during 1933. The team would later play two or three home games annually in Milwaukee until 1994. Other clubs used different facilities like Ebbets Field, Comiskey Park, and Polo Grounds. The Portsmouth Spartans played at Universal Stadium while the Brooklyn Dodgers used Ebbets Field. Each team maintained its own unique home ground throughout the season. These stadium choices influenced attendance patterns and local fan engagement across multiple cities.