1943 NFL season
The 1943 NFL season began on Sunday, September 19 and ended on December 12. World War II had drained the league of its players as hundreds left to serve in the military. The Cleveland Rams suspended operations for this single year due to manpower shortages. Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers merged their rosters into a temporary alliance known as Phil-Pitt. This merger reduced the number of participating teams from ten to eight. Only eight teams played forty contests during the regular schedule. The 1943 season tied the 1932 season for having the fewest teams in league history.
Free substitution rules were adopted by the National Football League in 1943. Players could now shuttle in and out of games without restriction after reporting to an official. Previously, the one-platoon system required athletes to play both offense and defense until a substitution occurred. A player removed under the old rules could not return for the duration of that quarter. The new rule allowed substitutes to replace teammates when the ball was dead and time was out. Players removed were permitted to return after at least one down had transpired. Mandatory head protectors also became required equipment for all participants. These changes eventually gave rise to specialized offensive and defensive units.
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Greasy Neale and Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Walt Kiesling served as co-head coaches of the combined team. Fans called this unique alliance the Steagles. The merged squad played four home games in Philadelphia's Shibe Park and two games in Pittsburgh's Forbes Field. Phil-Pitt won its first two games before leading the Eastern Division at Week Four. The team finished with a 5, 4, 1 record during the regular season. Jack Hinkle led the group in rushing yards with 571 total gains. Ernie Steele and Johnny Butler also contributed significant yardage from the backfield. Tony Bova caught passes for 419 yards while playing wide receiver for the merger.
The league drew a cumulative 1,072,462 fans despite playing fifteen fewer games than the previous year. Washington Redskins and Chicago Bears remained unbeaten going into Week Eleven. The two teams met on November 21 with Washington winning 21, 7. The Bears clinched the Western Division on November 28 after defeating the Cardinals 35, 24. Washington and New York Giants played each other on consecutive Sundays, December 5 and 12. The Giants won both games to force a tie at 6, 3, 1 each. The Redskins ultimately defeated New York 28, 0 to earn the right to play Chicago for the championship. A scoreless tie between Detroit Lions and New York Giants occurred on November 7 as the last such game in NFL history.
The 1943 Championship Game took place at Wrigley Field in Chicago on December 26. There were 34,320 fans in attendance generating $120,500.05 in gross gate receipts. Redskins fullback Andy Farkas scored first with a 1-yard plunge early in the second period. Sid Luckman answered with a 31-yard pass to Harry Clarke. Bronco Nagurski ran for a touchdown to make the halftime score 14, 7. Luckman threw two more touchdowns including a 66-yard scamper by Dante Magnani. Sammy Baugh tried to bring his team back but could only cut the lead to 14 points. Luckman connected with Jim Benton and Harry Clarke for final scores of 41, 21. This was the first playoff game played so late in the year in league history.
Sid Luckman led all quarterbacks with 2,194 passing yards and twenty-eight touchdowns. Don Hutson topped receiving charts with 776 yards and eleven touchdowns for Green Bay Packers. Bill Paschal rushed for 572 yards leading all runners. Harry Clarke gained 556 rushing yards while also catching passes for 535 yards. Tony Canadeo added 489 rushing yards and eight receptions for Green Bay. Lou Brock threw an 86-yard strike which stood as the longest touchdown pass of the year. The Chicago Bears led the league in total yards gained for the third consecutive season. Green Bay recorded forty-two interceptions to lead the league in takeaways.
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Common questions
When did the 1943 NFL season begin and end?
The 1943 NFL season began on Sunday, September 19 and ended on December 12. World War II had drained the league of its players as hundreds left to serve in the military.
Which teams merged to form the Phil-Pitt alliance during the 1943 NFL season?
Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers merged their rosters into a temporary alliance known as Phil-Pitt due to manpower shortages. This merger reduced the number of participating teams from ten to eight for the duration of the season.
What major rule changes occurred in the 1943 NFL season regarding player substitutions?
Free substitution rules were adopted by the National Football League in 1943 allowing players to shuttle in and out of games without restriction after reporting to an official. Mandatory head protectors also became required equipment for all participants under these new regulations.
Who won the 1943 Championship Game played at Wrigley Field in Chicago?
Washington Redskins defeated the Chicago Bears with a final score of 41, 21 in the 1943 Championship Game. The game took place at Wrigley Field in Chicago on December 26 with 34,320 fans in attendance generating $120,500.05 in gross gate receipts.
How many passing yards did Sid Luckman accumulate during the 1943 NFL season?
Sid Luckman led all quarterbacks with 2,194 passing yards and twenty-eight touchdowns during the 1943 NFL season. He threw two more touchdowns including a 66-yard scamper by Dante Magnani to secure victories for his team.