Who got the first ever shutout in NFL?

Answer 1

The answer to this question can be detailed in three different ways. First: NFL Historical Records including APFA (1920); Second: NFL only (1922); Third: Post NFL/AFL Merger.

The precursor league to the NFL was the American Professional Football Association. The APFA was in existence for two years 1920-1921 before it was renamed the National Football League (NFL).

The modern day NFL recognizes the scores/statistics/records from the APFA as an integral part of their history. If one wanted to consider the APFA scores and results, the very first shut out in professional football would be:

• 9/26/1920 Rock Island Independents 48 St. Paul Ideals 0

If one were to only consider the NFL pre-merger (1922-1969) then there are several games that would be considered the first shutout in the league. In the first week of play in the 1922 season (10/1/1922) there were 7 shutouts. They were, in no particular order:

• Canton Bulldogs 38 Louisville Brecks 0
• Chicago Bears 6 Racine Legion 0
• Chicago Cardinals 3 Milwaukee Badgers 0
• Toledo Maroons 15 Evansville Crimson Giants 0
• Dayton Triangles 36 Oorang Indians 0
• Buffalo All-Americans 7 Hammond Pros 0
• Akron Pros 36 Columbus Panhandles 0

The third way to look at this issue is what was the first shutout in the NFL after the NFL/AFL merger in 1970. The first shut out occurred in the first week of play.

• 9/20/1970 Detroit Lions 40 Green Bay Packers 0