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1934 NFL season
Regular season
DurationSeptember 9 – December 9, 1934
East Champions New York Giants
West Champions Chicago Bears
Championship Game
Champions New York Giants
1934 NFL season is located in USA Midwest and Northeast
Giants
Giants
Eagles
Eagles
Dodgers
Dodgers
Pirates
Pirates
Redskins
Redskins
Bears
Bears
Cardinals
Cardinals
Packers
Packers
Reds
Reds
Lions
Lions
Gunners
Gunners
NFL teams: West, East

The 1934 NFL season was the 15th regular season of the National Football League (NFL). Before the season, the Portsmouth Spartans moved from Ohio to Detroit, Michigan, and were renamed the Detroit Lions.

The season ended on December 9 with the NFL Championship Game played for the new Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy. In this final game the New York Giants defeated the Chicago Bears 30–13 at the Polo Grounds in what has become known as the "Sneakers Game".

Overview

The 1934 season reflected the maturation of the NFL, with a split of the league's 10 teams into Eastern and Western divisions for the first time and their "play-off" for a national title and championship trophy. [1] The modern passing game was also born with the elimination of the draconian five yard penalty for an incomplete forward pass, thereby shifting offensive strategic calculations dramatically.

Major rule changes

  • A hand-to-hand forward pass made behind the line of scrimmage that becomes incomplete (hits the ground before it is caught) is to be ruled as a fumble.
  • Incomplete passes no longer result in a five-yard penalty [2]

Suspension of the Cincinnati franchise

The Cincinnati Reds lost their first eight games, then were suspended for not paying league dues. The St. Louis Gunners, an independent team, played the last three games of the Reds' 1934 schedule in their stead.

Final standings

NFL Championship Game

N.Y. Giants 30, Chi. Bears 13 at Polo Grounds, New York City, December 9, 1934

League leaders

Halfback Beattie Feathers of the Chicago Bears rushed for more than 1,000 yards for the first time in league history. [3] This shattered the previous league record by nearly 300 yards. [3]

Arnold "Flash" Heber captured the passing title with 799 yards gained through the air. [3]

Statistic Name Team Yards
Passing Arnie Herber Green Bay 799
Rushing Beattie Feathers Chicago Bears 1004
Receiving Harry Ebding Detroit Lions 264

Coaching changes

Stadium changes

Awards

The Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy was established as the league's award for the NFL champion, and was awarded through 1967. The host team for the NFL Championship Game would now alternate between the two divisions, with the Eastern Division champion hosting in even-numbered years, and the Western champion hosting in odd-numbered years. [5]

References

  1. ^ Joe F. Carr (ed.), Official Guide of the National Football League. New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1935; pp. 40-41.
  2. ^ Schultz, Mark. "NFL100: 90-year old rules made for a different game". Football Zebras. Retrieved October 6, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Ned Irish, "National Football League Statistics," in Joe F. Carr (ed.) Official Guide of the National Football League 1935. New York: American Sports Publishing Co., 1935; pp. 43–44.
  4. ^ "Cincinnati Football Reds". Cincy Sports History. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved June 13, 2011.
  5. ^ "Thorp memorial trophy for pro football champs". The Day. New London, Connecticut. Associated Press. July 2, 1934. p. 14.

Further reading