1931 Chicago Bears season

NFL team season November 2013 March 2026 Chicago Bears 1931 8–5 3rd NFL George S. Halas Ralph Jones Wrigley Field Bears seasons The 1931 season was the Chicago Bears' 12th in the National Football League. The team was unable to improve on their 9–4–1 record from 1930 and finished with an 8–5 record under sophomore head coach Ralph Jones. The club finished in third place once again behind the Green Bay Packers and the Portsmouth Spartans. Background The Bears opened the season well, winning three of their first four games, including victories over the Cardinals and Giants. Chicago then dropped two in a row, both at home to the Packers and Yellowjackets. Four consecutive wins in the middle of the season put the Bears back in contention; however, another weak ending, losing two of their last three, made the season somewhat of a disappointment. Grange and Nagurski again carried the team, with 9 touchdowns between them (7 by Grange). The Bears' biggest weakness was an aging interior line, with few young linemen joining the team who had an impact. They also lacked a consistent kicking game, now that Paddy Driscoll and the Sternaman brothers had all retired. Owner George Halas would remedy these problems over the next few years and get the Bears back on top. Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 September 18 Cleveland IndiansW 21–0 1–0 Loyola Stadium 6,000 Recap 2 September 27 at Green Bay Packers L 0–7 1–1 City Stadium 13,500 Recap 3 October 11 New York Giants W 6–0 2–1 Wrigley Field 7,500 Recap 4 October 18 Chicago Cardinals W 26–13 3–1 Wrigley Field 9,000 Recap 5 October 25 Frankford Yellow Jackets L 12–13 3–2 Wrigley Field 26,000 Recap 6 November 1 Green Bay Packers L 2–6 3–3 Wrigley Field 30,000 Recap 7 November 8 Portsmouth Spartans W 9–6 4–3 Wrigley Field 25,000 Recap 8 November 15 at New York Giants W 12–65–3 Polo Grounds 20,000 Recap 9 November 22 at Brooklyn Dodgers W 26–0 6–3 Ebbets Field 25,000 Recap 10 November 26 Chicago Cardinals W 18–7 7–3 Wrigley Field 14,000 Recap 11 November 29 at Portsmouth Spartans L 0–3 7–4 Universal Stadium 9,000 Recap 12 December 6 Green Bay Packers W 7–6 8–4 Wrigley Field 18,000 Recap 13 December 13 New York Giants L 6–258–5 Wrigley Field 8,000 Recap Standings Roster 1931 Chicago Bears final rosterBacks  8 Carl Brumbaugh QB/S  9 Paul Franklin FB/LB 77 Red Grange RB/CB 33 Herb Joesting FB/LB  7Joe Lintzenich RB/CB  4 Keith Molesworth RB/QB/CB/S  3 Bronko Nagurski FB/LB  2 Dick Nesbitt RB/CB  5 Laurie Walquist RB/CB/S Linemen 15 Bill Buckler G/DG 14 Lloyd Burdick T/DT 20 Zuck Carlson G/DG 11 Link Lyman T/DT 21 Danny McMullen G/DG 18 Don Murry T/G/DT/DG 26 Bert Pearson C/MG 22 Paul Schuette G/DG 19 Cookie Tackwell T/DT/K 13 George Trafton C/MG Ends/Receivers 23 Hoot Drury 25 Gardie Grange 24 Luke Johnsos K Reserve 54 Jesse Hibbs T/DT Rookies in italics Future Hall of Fame players Red Grange, back Link Lyman, tackle Bronko Nagurski, fullback George Trafton, center Other leading players Carl Brumbaugh, quarterback Garland Grange, end Luke Johnsos, end Keith Molesworth, back Other players Joe Lintzenich, FB/HB Players departed from 1930 Joe Sternaman, quarterback (retired) Chicago Bears Category:Chicago Bears seasons Chicago Bears Category:1931 in Chicago