Modern football officially started on November 6, 1869, when students from Rutgers and Princeton held an intercollegiate football contest using rules from the London Football Association. Over the next 100 years, the game of football was refined, and powerhouse players emerged in the National Football League (NFL).
The 1940 NFL season marked significant growth for the league. With a world recovering from the Great Depression, the NFL served as a distraction and source of entertainment for the people of the United States.
There were many incredible players as part of the ten teams competing in the 1940 NFL season. We’ll look at the top NFL players of this time and who to keep an eye out for next time you’re out card collecting.
Overview of the 1940 NFL Season
Despite the challenges of the time, the 1940 NFL season proved to be a great one for the sport of football. Ten teams competed in the NFL that year:
- Chicago Bears
- Green Bay Packers
- Detroit Lions
- Cleveland Rams
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- New York Giants
- Washington Redskins
- Brooklyn Dodgers
- Chicago Cardinals
Key Rule Changes in the 1940 NFL Season
By 1940, the NFL was in its 21st regular season. This season brought several key rule changes:
Foul penalties changed. Penalties for fouls that happened before a pass or kick that were behind the line of scrimmage were now enforced from the previous location. Penalties for fouls during a free ball or that happened when the offensive team fouled behind their line were enforced from the spot of their foul.
The new penalty for a forward pass that wasn’t from scrimmage was five yards. Finally, if the offensive team committed a pass interference in the end zone of their opponent, the defense had a choice of losing a down and 15 yards from the earlier spot or a touchback.
Highlights of the 1940 NFL Championship Game
The 1940 NFL Championship Game was the 8th title game in the NFL League. The game took place at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., on December 8th. The Chicago Bears emerged as champions of the season, defeating the Washington Redskins in the final championship game.
This game is often known as the 73-0 game because the Bears were able to shut out the Redskins. The eleven touchdowns scored by the Bears marked the most one-sided victory in the history of the NFL.
Standout NFL Players of the 1940 Season
If you are interested in sports card memorabilia, the 1940 NFL season is full of legendary players. Here are a few of the greats to look out for.
Sammy Baugh
Sammy Baugh was a quarterback for the Washington Redskins. He was the first draft choice pick in Washington’s 1937 draft. He is known for winning a triple crown twice during the seven years he was part of the NFL, when he lead the league in passing, punting, and interceptions.
Sammy Baugh had 187 touchdown passes, registered 21,886 yards, and had a 45.1 punting average. He intercepted 31 passes while playing defensive halfback.
Baugh would get inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the class of 1963. He was also chosen to be a part of both the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and again as part of the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Byron (Whizzer) White
Heisman trophy runner-up and 1937 All-American Whizzer White deserves to be on the list of top NFL players in 1940. Before getting drafted into the NFL, White had received a Rhodes scholarship and was headed to study at Oxford University.
Before heading off to school, White led the NFL in rushing in his first year with the organization. After his first year in the NFL, he went on to continue his education but came back in 1940 and played with the Detroit Lions for two seasons.
During his time playing for the Lions, he was enrolled at Yale Law School. He graduated with honors in 1946 and was a clerk for Chief Justice Fred Vinson. White was made part of the College Football Hall of Fame in 1952 and posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2003.
Sid Luckman
Hailing from Columbia University, Sid Luckman played for the Chicago Bears as a quarterback from 1939-1950. He was the Bears’ first draft choice in the 1939 draft.
Luckman was known for being the “T-Formation” quarterback. The “T-Formation” is when the quarterback lines up under center. This type of formation makes the play harder for the other team to predict.
Luckman was a prolific passer and helped lead the Bears to the Championships in 1940. With so many accolades, it’s not surprising he was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 1965.
Don Hutson
Don Hutson, who played for the Green Bay Packers, was one of the first standout wide receivers in pro football. He is known for leading the league in both receiving yards and touchdown catches in the 1940 season.
Hutson scored his first touchdown in the second game of his Green Bay Packers career. He went on to have 99 career touchdown receptions. This record wouldn’t be broken for forty years.
George McAfee
George McAfee was a standout halfback for the Chicago Bears, known for his speed and agility, particularly in kick returns and rushing plays.
McAfee threw a touchdown pass in the season opener, securing a win for the Bears over Green Bay. He continued his powerhouse playing for eight years until he served in World War II.
McAfee was selected to be part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame with the class of 1966. He still averaged the highest number of career yards per punt return and holds the record to this day.
1940 NFL Season: Impact and Legacy
The 1940 NFL season was marked as a special time when the game of football bonded the weary American people together. The greats of the season paved the way for other football players and made a lasting impact on this beloved game.
One way to commemorate the legacy of the 1940s football players is by collecting their sports cards. Here at American Legends, we are experts in dealing with the handling and trading of vintage cards.
Do you have a collection you are looking to sell? Are you looking to add to your own collection of vintage football and baseball cards? Get the process started by contacting us today.
