1943 NFL season
The 1943 NFL season was the 24th regular season of the National Football League. As more players left to serve in World War II, three teams were affected by the depleted rosters. The Cleveland Rams were granted permission to suspend operations for this season. The Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers merged for this one season. The combined team, known as Phil-Pitt (and called the "Steagles" by fans), played four home games in Philadelphia and two in Pittsburgh.
The season ended when the Chicago Bears defeated the Washington Redskins, 41-21, in the NFL Championship Game played the day after Christmas (the first time in NFL history that a playoff game was played so late in the year). Chicago had finished its regular season on November 28, winning the Western Division with an 8-1-1 record. However, the Bears had to wait for three straight weekends while the Eastern Division teams settled on a champion. Washington and the New York Giants ended the regular season by playing against each other on two consecutive Sundays, December 5 and December 12, with the Giants winning both games to force a first-place tie at 6-3-1 each. The Redskins, however, won the playoff game to advance to play the Bears.
Major rule changes
- The free substitution rule is adopted. Enacted in response to the depleted rosters of the World War II period, any or all of the players may be replaced by substitutes after any play.
- The wearing of helmets becomes mandatory for all players.
Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points Against
Note: Teams current name is included within the () if name/location has been changed
| Eastern Division | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington Redskins | 6 | 3 | 1 | .667 | 229 | 137 |
| New York Giants | 6 | 3 | 1 | .667 | 197 | 170 |
| Phil-Pitt "Steagles" | 5 | 4 | 1 | .556 | 225 | 230 |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | 65 | 234 |
| Western Division | ||||||
| Team | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 8 | 1 | 1 | .889 | 303 | 157 |
| Green Bay Packers | 7 | 2 | 1 | .778 | 264 | 172 |
| Detroit Lions | 3 | 6 | 1 | .333 | 178 | 218 |
| Chicago Cardinals | 0 | 10 | 0 | .000 | 95 | 238 |
Playoffs
- Home team in capitals
Eastern Division Playoff Game (December 19, 1943)
- Washington 28, N.Y. GIANTS 0
NFL Championship Game (December 26, 1943)
- CHI. BEARS 41, Washington 21
Awards
| Joe F. Carr Trophy (Most Valuable Player) | Sid Luckman, Quarterback, Chi. Bears |
References
- NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
- NFL History 1941-1950 (Last accessed December 4, 2005)
- 1943 season in details
- Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)
| National Football League seasons | |
|---|---|
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