1957 NFL season

American football season January 2023 March 2026 1957 Detroit Lions Cleveland Browns Detroit Lions (playoff) September 29 –December 22, 1957 The 1957 NFL season was the 38th regular season of the National Football League. After a 5-to-7-game preseason slate, the league's 12 teams played a 12-game league schedule — 72 regular season contests in all. The season ended on Sunday, December 29, with a "World's Championship Playoff" held in the home city of the Western Conference champions,Joseph T. Labrum (ed.), The National Football League Record and Rules Manual: 1958, 39th Season. Bala-Cynwyd, PA: National Football League, 1958; back cover. won 59–14 by the Detroit Lions over the Cleveland Browns. This was followed by the "All Star Pro-Bowl Game" held January 11, 1959, in Los Angeles, a game won by the East, 28–21. Draft The 1957 NFL draft was held on November 26, 1956, and January 31, 1957, at Philadelphia's Warwick Hotel and The Bellevue-Stratford Hotel. With the first pick, the Green Bay Packers selected halfback Paul Hornung from the University of Notre Dame. Major rule changes During sudden-death overtime, rules for time outs are the same as in a regular game, including the last two minutes of the second and fourth quarters. Home teams wore dark jerseys and road team wore white. Previously, NFL teams were allowed to wear whatever uniform color they liked, even if it clashed with the other team, and were not required to have a white jersey. Division races Cleveland won its opener, 6–3 over the Giants and led the Eastern Division from wire to wire. A 17–7 loss to the Eagles in Week Four forced the Browns to share the lead with New York, but the Giants lost the following week and spent the rest of the season trying to catch Cleveland. The Western Division race was more protracted. Baltimore, Detroit, and San Francisco were tied for the lead several times and had identical 7–4 records at the end of the penultimate week.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aYo_AAAAIBAJ&sjid=V1UMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5049%2C5990594 Youngstown Vindicator Ohio Associated Press Olan Ben Frisco, Lions, Colts seek title; Browns at New York December 15, 1957 D1 When two teams tied for first place, they would meet in a one-game playoff. The NFL did have a provision for this situation: "If all three teams win, tie, or lose, then a two-week playoff series begins next Sunday with Baltimore drawing a bye, San Francisco playing Detroit, and the winner meeting the Colts at Baltimore December 29.""Western NFL Championship At Stake Today," The Post-Standard (Syracuse), December 15, 1957, p34 Detroit and San Francisco both won while starting their backup quarterbacks (Tobin Rote and rookie John Brodie, respectively), but the Colts lost, meaning the additional playoff was not required. Week Western Record Eastern Record1 3 teams (Bal, GB, LA) 1–0–0 3 teams (Cards, Cle, Pit) 1–0–02 Baltimore Colts 2–0–0 Cleveland Browns 2–0–03 Baltimore Colts 3–0–0 Cleveland Browns 3–0–04 3 teams (Bal, Det, SF) 3–1–0 Tie (Cle, NYG) 3–1–05 San Francisco 49ers 4–1–0 Cleveland Browns 4–1–06 San Francisco 49ers 5–1–0 Cleveland Browns 5–1–07 San Francisco 49ers 5–2–0 Cleveland Browns 6–1–08 3 teams (Bal, Det, SF) 5–3–0 Cleveland Browns 6–1–19 Baltimore Colts 6–3–0 Cleveland Browns 7–1–110 Baltimore Colts 7–3–0 Cleveland Browns 8–1–111 3 teams (Bal, Det, SF) 7–4–0 Cleveland Browns 8–2–112(tie) Detroit Lions 8–4–0Cleveland Browns 9–2–112San Francisco 49ers 8–4–0 Final standings y Playoffs 1957 NFL playoffs Home team in capitals Western Conference Playoff Game Detroit 31, SAN FRANCISCO 27 NFL Championship Game DETROIT 59, Cleveland 14 Awards AP NFL Most Valuable PlayerJim Brown, Fullback, ClevelandAP NFL Coach of the YearGeorge Wilson, Lions Coaching changes Detroit Lions: Buddy Parker was replaced by George Wilson. Pittsburgh Steelers: Walt Kiesling was replaced by Buddy Parker. Stadium changes The Green Bay Packers moved from City Stadium to New City Stadium, renamed Lambeau Field in 1965 References 2 NFL Record and Fact Book (1-932994-36-X) NFL History 1951–1960 (Last accessed December 4, 2005) Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (0-06-270174-6) Category:NFL seasons