1940 NFL season

American football season November 2013 March 2026 1940-NFL-Official-Guide.jpg 6th NFL guide published by Spalding 1940 Chicago Bears Washington Redskins Chicago Bears September 8 toDecember 8, 1940 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 2025 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.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. 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.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. 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."1940 NFL Draft," Pro Football Reference, www.pro-football-reference.com 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,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. remained unchanged.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. Other important changes were enacted by the NFL for its 1940 season, however. These included: The penalty for clipping was reduced from 25 yardsRule 10-2-5-3, Official Football Rules of the National Football League, 1939, p. 54. to 15 yards."National Football League Rules Changes for 1940," in Official Rules of the National Football League, 1940, inside cover. 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. 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. 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. 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 thumb|right|260px|The National League's Most Valuable Player of 1940 was Brooklyn Dodgers quarterback Clarence "Ace" Parker. y NFL Championship Play-off Game 1940 NFL Championship Game thumb|right|500px|Champions of the National League in 1940, the Chicago Bears. 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).George Strickler (ed.), Official National Football League Roster and Record Manual, 1941. Chicago: National Football League, 1941; pp. 66-67. 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. Team statistics Rank Team Total yards (Rushing) (Passing) Penalized Yards allowed Takeaways 1Green Bay Packers 3,400 1,604 1,796 295 2,532 38 2Washington Redskins 3,289 1,402 1,887 427 2,847 27 3Chicago Bears 3,219 1,818 1,401 605 2,750 38 4Brooklyn Dodgers 2,813 1,546 1,267 285 2,836 32 5Cleveland Rams 2,724 1,142 1,582 260 3,102 39 6Detroit Lions 2,634 1,457 1,177 259 2,357 49 7New York Giants 2,512 1,476 1,036 349 2,219 34 8Chicago Cardinals 2,227 1,315 912 331 2,783 42 9Philadelphia Eagles 2,153 298 1,855 215 2,780 25 10Pittsburgh 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 thumb|right|240px|Rushing leader of 1940 was All-Pro right halfback Byron "Whizzer" White, later a Supreme Court justice. Rank Name Team Yards rushing Attempts Yards per carry 1Byron "Whizzer" White Detroit Lions 514 146 3.52 2 Johnny Drake Cleveland Rams 480 134 3.58 3Tuffy Leemans New York Giants 474 132 3.59 4Banks McFadden Brooklyn Dodgers 411 65 6.32 5Dick Todd Washington Redskins 408 76 5.37 6Clarke Hinkle Green Bay Packers 383 109 3.51 7Ray Nolting Chicago Bears 373 78 4.78 8Joe Maniaci Chicago Bears 368 84 4.38 9Parker "Bullet" Hall Cleveland Rams 365 94 3.88 10Marshall "Biggie" Goldberg Chicago Cardinals 325 87 3.74 Source: Strickler (ed.), 1941 NFL Record & Roster Manual, pp. 56–57. Receiving thumb|right|240px|Rookie Don Looney's 707 yards receiving topped the NFL, earning him second team All Pro honors in 1940. Looney's career was ended by the war and he returned afterwards as an NFL referee. Rank Name Team Receiving yards Receptions Touchdowns 1Don Looney Philadelphia Eagles 707 24 6 2Don Hutson Green Bay Packers 664 45 7 3Dick Todd Washington Redskins 402 20 4 4Perry Schwartz Brooklyn Dodgers 370 21 3 5"Big Jim" Benton Cleveland Rams 351 22 3 6Jimmy Johnston Washington Redskins 350 29 3 7Lloyd Cardwell Detroit Lions 349 20 1 8Coley McDonough Cleveland Rams 315 12 1 9George Platukis Pittsburgh Steelers 290 15 2 10Les McDonald Philadelphia Eagles 289 14 0 Source: Strickler (ed.), 1941 NFL Record & Roster Manual, pp. 60-61. Passing thumb|right|300px|Iconic photo of Redskins stars on the bench in 1942. Star passer "Slingin' Sammy" Baugh in the center, 1940's total-yards-from-scrimmage leader fullback Dick Todd with broken nose at right. Rank Name Team Passing Yards Complete - Attempt Percentage TD : INT 1Sammy Baugh Washington Redskins 1,367 111-for-177 62.7% 12 : 10 2Davey O'Brien Philadelphia Eagles 1,290 124-for-277 44.8% 5 : 17 3Parker Hall Cleveland Rams 1,108 77-for-183 42.1% 7 : 16 4Cecil Isbell Green Bay Packers 1,037 68-for-150 45.3% 8 : 12 5Sid Luckman Chicago Bears 941 48-for-105 45.7% 4 : 9 6Clarence "Ace" Parker Brooklyn Dodgers 817 49-for-111 44.1% 10 : 7 7Foster Watkins Philadelphia Eagles 565 28-for-85 32.9% 1 : 3 8Arnie Herber Green Bay Packers 560 38-for-89 42.7% 6 : 7 9Billy Patterson Pittsburgh Steelers 529 34-for-117 29.1% 3 : 15 10Hugh 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.George Strickler (ed.), Roster and Record Manual, 1941. Chicago: Commissioner's Office, 1941; p. 68. 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. 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 35em 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. Joe Ziemba, Bears vs. Cardinals: The NFL's Oldest Rivalry." Jefferson: McFarland, 2022. Joe Ziemba, From the NFL to Bataan and Back: The Heroic Journey of Notre Dame's Motts Tonelli." Jefferson: McFarland, 2026. Category:NFL seasons