Ten Best Pro Football Hall of Famers you maybe never heard of (Numbers 5 to 1.)

Because of the NFL's "If it happened before the Super Bowl Era, It Doesn't Count" Culture, there is a LOT of Pro Football History that the Casual Pro Football Fan simply does not know about. Great Players, Teams, Championship Games, Breaking The Color Barrier one year before Jackie Robinson made his debut with The Brooklyn Dodgers, etc. (I did discuss this briefly with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the Cleveland Browns Season Ticket Holder Teleconference. Would like to discuss changing this mentality with him some more.)

Part of this are Hall Of Fame Players who for the most part, are forgotten (Except in the Cities they played in and by the teams' fan bases.) and are not brought up when it comes to "The Greatest (Insert Position Here) of All Time" discussions.

So with this in mind, here is my list of The Ten Best Pro Football Hall of Famers you maybe never heard of. (Numbers 5 to 1.)

1. OTTO GRAHAM
Quarterback: Cleveland Browns 1946-49 (AAFC) 1950-55 (NFL)
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965.

Whenever the Subject of "Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time" is discussed, Otto Graham is rarely, if ever brought up. This is simply because his entire career took place before The Super Bowl era, and even before The Sport really took off on Television. The Fact is, he SHOULD BE in the Discussion.

These Days, If any Quarterback leads his team to Six Straight Super Bowls, winning three of them, that Quarterback would be in the "Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time" discussion. Well, that hasn't happened yet in the Super Bowl Era. However, The Pre-Super Bowl Era equivalent of this DID happen in the early 1950's, and it was Otto Graham who pulled this off.

When The Cleveland Browns came into The NFL in 1950 from the All-America Football Conference (AAFC), They were already an established Championship team as they won all four AAFC Titles (In fact. The 1948 Browns were Undefeated.). Their first NFL Season in 1950, they opened up with the defending (1949) NFL Champions, Philadelphia Eagles and defeated them 35-10. They defeated The L.A. Rams 30-28 for the NFL Championship. The Browns with Graham at Quarterback went to Six Straight NFL Championships from 1950 to 1955 and winning three of those (1950, 1954 and 1955.)

If you include the AAFC Years from 1946 to 1949, Where The Browns won every single Title, (The NFL does not.) that would make TEN Straight Trips to the Championship Game, winning Seven of them. That is dominating an Era. Unfortunately, it's being ignored for the most part.

2. DON HUTSON
End: Green Bay Packers 1935-1945
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963

Hutson was The NFL's First "Super End". (An End back then for the most part is a Wide Receiver today. The term "Tight End" evolved around the 1950's.) Hutson also was a Safety and Placekicker. He was The Receiving Champion in Eight of his Eleven Seasons, Was All-NFL (Now, All-Pro) Nine of his Eleven Seasons, The NFL Scoring Leader Five Times and was The NFL MVP in 1941 and 1942. Was also part of Three NFL World Championship Teams (1936, 1939 and 1944.), Was named the All-Time End on the NFL's 50th Anniversary Team in 1969. At the time he retired after the 1945 Season, he held 18 NFL Records.

3. (SLINGIN') SAMMY BAUGH
Quarterback: Washington Redskins 1937-1952
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963

Another Quarterback that should be included in any and all "Greatest Quarterbacks of All Time" Discussions, it could be said that Baugh was The NFL's first "Gunslinger" Quarterback with his Arm Strength. He helped bring the Passing Game into The NFL.

He was also a Punter and Defensive Back. (Averaged 45.1 Yards Per Punt and had 31 Interceptions in his NFL Career.) In 1943, He pulled off the rare feat of leading The NFL in Passing, Punting and Interceptions. Was All-NFL Seven Times and was The NFL Passing Leader Six Times.

4. BRONISLAW (BRONKO) NAGURSKI
Fullback: Chicago Bears 1930-1937, 1943
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963

Nagurski was Pro Football's Original Power Running Back. Paving the way for the likes of Marion Motley, John Henry Johnson, Jim Brown, Larry Csonka, Christian Okoye, Mike Alstott and Peyton Hillis. Running Backs who gave out punishment when they ran the ball. Nagurski was also a Linebacker. (Remember, this is back when players played on both sides of the ball.) He even filled in as an Offensive Tackle if there was an injury.

Nagurski was All-NFL Five Times. He also threw two touchdown passes (The second ended up as a lateral.) in the NFL's First Official World Championship Game in 1933 vs The New York Giants. He later came out of retirement for the 1943 Season (Due to the Player Shortage because of World War II.) and helped the Bears win The 1943 NFL Championship.

BOBBY LAYNE
Quarterback: Chicago Bears 1948, New York Bulldogs 1949, Detroit Lions 1950-1958, Pittsburgh Steelers 1958-1962
Indicted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1967

A Quarterback with above average skills and statistics, Layne had all the Intangibles and then some when is came to success: Leadership, Determination, Competetiveness and Guts. Layne was one of the great clutch players in NFL History. Some of his Leadership even included leading his teammates in late night hard partying the night before a game. The partying never got in the way of winning.

His greatest Pro Seasons were with The Lions where they won the NFL Championship in 1953, 1954 and 1957. Layne was a Five Time Pro Bowl Selection in 1951, 1952, 1953, 1956 and 1959.

Ten Best Pro Football Hall of Famers you maybe never heard of (Numbers 10 to 6.)

                                 
Because of the NFL's "If it happened before the Super Bowl Era, It Doesn't Count" Culture, there is a LOT of Pro Football History that the Casual Pro Football Fan simply does not know about. Great Players, Teams, Championship Games, Breaking The Color Barrier one year before Jackie Robinson made his debut with The Brooklyn Dodgers, etc. (I did discuss this briefly with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the Cleveland Browns Season Ticket Holder Teleconference. Would like to discuss changing this mentality with him some more.)

Part of this are Hall Of Fame Players who for the most part, are forgotten (Except in the Cities they played in and by the teams' fan bases.) and are not brought up when it comes to "The Greatest (Insert Position Here) of All Time" discussions.

So with this in mind, here is my list of The Ten Best Pro Football Hall of Famers you maybe never heard of. (Numbers 10 to 6.)

6. STEVE VAN BUREN
Halfback: Philadelphia Eagles 1944-1951
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965

Was All-NFL Six Straight Years and won the Rushing Title Four Times. Listed as a Halfback but played more like a Fullback with a hard hitting, bruising style. The Eagles never finished above Fourth Place until he arrived. Helped lead the Eagles to The NFL Titles in 1948 and 1949. He scored the only Touchdown vs The Chicago Cardinals in Blizzard Conditions in the 1948 NFL Title Game. He rushed for 196 yards in the 1949 NFL Title Game.

In 1945, Van Buren pulled of a Rare Triple Crown when he led the NFL in Rushing, Scoring and Kickoff Returns.

7. SID LUCKMAN
Quarterback: Chicago Bears 1939-1950
Inshrined into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965

Luckman was the first T-Formation Quarterback in the NFL. The Bears' Success with Luckman and the T-Formation spurred other NFL Teams to go to this offense.

Luckman was a Five Time All-Pro, Led the NFL Three Times in Touchdown Passes, Was the NFL MVP in 1943. Once threw Seven Touchdown Passes in one Game, and led The Bears to The NFL Championship in 1940, 1941, 1943 and 1946. Threw Five Touchdown Passes in the 1943 NFL Championship Game vs The Washington Redskins.

8. BILL WILLIS
Middle Guard: Cleveland Browns 1946-1949 (AAFC), 1950-1953
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977

One Year before Jackie Robinson made his Major League Baseball debut in 1947, Pro Football broke the Color Barrier when The Los Angeles Rams signed Kenny Washington and Woody Strode out of UCLA. (When the Rams moved from Cleveland to Los Angeles after the 1945 Season, The Commissioners of The Los Angeles Coliseum put in a stipulation that the NFL intergrates as part of the agreement.) There were also several AAFC Teams that signed African-American Players from the begining of the League, The Cleveland Browns being one of them.

Willis was a quick player with great technique. Willis played at Ohio State for Paul Brown. (Brown broke The Color Barrier at Ohio State when he persuaded Willis to join the team.) Willis proved he could play Middle Guard at the Pro Level on The First Day of Practice, he kept running by the Center to get The Quarterback. (Willis was considered light for his position.)

Willis was an All-Pro Selection (BOTH The AAFC and NFL Versions.) every year of his Pro Career. Was also named to the NFL's All-1940's Team.

9. MARION MOTLEY
Fullback: Cleveland Browns 1946-1949 (AAFC), 1950-1953 (NFL), Pittsburgh Steelers 1955
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968

Before Jim Brown, there was Marion Motley. Ran with Power.

Was All-Pro (AAFC) all four years of the League and All-Pro (NFL) in 1950. The All Time Rushing Leader in AAFC History. Led The NFL in Rushing in 1950. Averaged 5.7 Yards a Carry in his Career. Named to both the NFL All 1940's Team and The NFL 75th Anniversary All Time Team. Great Runner and Blocker in the Browns Trap Play.

10. DICK (NIGHT TRAIN) LANE
Cornerback: Los Angeles Rams 1952-1953, Chicago Cardinals 1954-1959, Detroit Lions 1960-1965
Inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974

This is one of the most unlikely success stories in the history of pro football. Lane was in the Army, then had a job at an aircraft factory. Fed up with his job, he asked The Los Angeles Rams for a tryout. He tried out as an End/Reciever (...which is why he wore 81.) but was moved to Cornerback.

As a Rookie with the Rams, he intercepted 14 passes in a 12 Game Season. (Still a Record even as the number of games in a season has expanded since.)

Aside from his ball hawking abilities, Lane was also a vicious tackler. He loved to tackle his opponents around the Head and Neck Area (Back then, it was Legal.) and this technique was nicknamed "The Night Train Necktie".

Lane was a Six Time First Team All-Pro, named to the 1950's All Decade Team and The NFL 75th Anniversary Team.

"Night Train" is also considered by many to be the most famous nickname in the history of sports.

Athletes ARE NOT Warriors!

                                                                                        





On this Memorial Day when we remember our loved ones as well as Honor those who served our Country, I would like to address what has to be one of my biggest peeves about Sports, The Constant Refering to Athletes as Warriors.

ATHLETES ARE NOT WARRIORS! PEOPLE IN THE MILITARY ARE WARRIORS!

Granted, there are sports teams on all levels called "Warriors", and there have been many athletes who did/do serve in the military and the Service Academies have Varsity Sports Teams, but in general, I get annoyed when sportscatsers, etc, refer to an Athlete as a Warrior. I personally think it's disrespectful of anyone who are now or did serve in the military.

Now, if you wish to refer to an athlete as a Gladiator, that's fine as it's a more accurate term. Just please confine the use of the term "Warrior" to those who are/were in the Military or playing for one of the Service Academies. (...or if they happen to play for a team called the "Warriors".)

Thank You.

The AAFC and The AFL: Legacy Continues in The NFL.

In the history of American Professional Football, there are two past leagues who still have teams existing in the NFL. The American Football League (AFL 1960-1969) and he lesser known All-America Football Conference (AAFC 1946-1949).

The AFL is of course, the more widely known league as all of the teams were part of the AFL-NFL Merger and this resulted in The Super Bowl. Because of this, The NFL recognizes all Pre-Merger Player Statistcs and History (Except for AFL Championships.) of the old AFL Teams that came in the Merger and are now in the AFC.

There is an excellent website called Remember The AFL that gives a detailed history of The American Football League.

The AAFC on the other hand is far lesser known to the casual fan. There were eight teams in the AAFC but only three were merged into The NFL after the 1949 Season: The Cleveland Browns, The San Francisco 49ers and The Baltimore Colts. Of those three, only The Browns and 49ers still exist. The AAFC Baltimore Colts do not have anything to do with the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts of Johnny Unitas and Peyton Manning. Because of this, The NFL to this day does not recognize the player and team stats of the Browns and 49ers AAFC years, although The Pro Football Hall of Fame does.

Where the AFL was started by Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt (He wanted to bring an NFL Team to Dallas and was rejected.) and other businessmen who either wanted to outright purchase, buy into or start teams in The NFL, The AAFC was started by a Chicago Tribune Sports Writer named Arch Ward (Who also came up with The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, The College All-Star Game and The Golden Gloves Amateur Boxing Tournament.)

During WWII, Ward felt that The NFL should expand but would not.

Ward officially founded The AAFC on June 4, 1944 and was to start play in 1945 but was delayed until 1946 because of WWII.

It was the first Professional Sports League to have at least two teams on the West Coast as it had The Los Angeles Dons and San Francisco 49ers. When The NFL's Rams moved from Cleveland to Los Angeles, there was no second team on the West Coast until The 49ers came over from the AAFC in 1950. The AAFC (Along with the Los Angeles Rams of NFL.) helped desegragate Pro Football.

While The AAFC was a competitive league, it had ONE Dominant Team: The Cleveland Browns. The Browns won every AAFC Championship in its history from 1946 to 1949 and posted an Undefeated Season in 1948, 24 years before the 1972 Miami Dolphins did it in The NFL. A fact not known by many because of the NFL's refusal to count AAFC records and statistics. Because of the Domination of one team in the AAFC's Whole History, It was not taken seriously back then and to an extent, still true today.

Many experts speculate that Paul Brown's AAFC Browns Teams (Especially in 1948 and 1949.) were as good as The NFL's best teams at that time. This is supported by the fact that in their first NFL Regular Season Game in 1950, The Browns defeated the Defending NFL Champion Eagles 35-10 in Philadelphia.

Thanks for reading.

The Actual History of The NFL Championship Game. Part IV: The NFL and AFL Pre Meger Super Bowl Era Championship Games.

         

The following AFL and NFL League Championship Games took place after it was announced in June of 1966 that the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) would Merge by 1970.

Because the League Championship Games between the 1966 and 1969 Seasons not only determined who the NFL and AFL Champions were, but also who would go to The AFL-NFL World Championship Game (Later, officially called The Super Bowl.) People generally do not think of these in the same way they would think of other League Championship Games before and after the Merger.

The 1966 Season:
AFL: Kansas City Chiefs defeated The Buffalo Bills 31-7 in Buffalo (War Memorial Stadium)
NFL: Green Bay Packers defeated The Dallas Cowboys 34-27 in Dallas (Cotton Bowl Stadium)

The 1967 Season:
AFL: Oakland Raiders defeated The Houston Oilers 40-7 in Oakland (Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum)
NFL: Green Bay Packers defeated The Dallas Cowboys 21-17 in Green Bay (Lambeau Field)

The 1968 Season:
AFL: New York Jets defeated The Oakland Raiders 27-23 in Flushing (Queens) New York (Shea Stadium)
NFL: Baltimore Colts defeated The Cleveland Browns 34-0 in Cleveland (Cleveland Municipal Stadium)

The 1969 Season:
AFL: Kansas City Chiefs defeated The Oakland Raiders 17-7 in Oakland (Oakland-Alameda Coliseum)
NFL: Minnesota Vikings defeated The Cleveland Browns 27-7 in Bloomington Minnesota (Metropolitan Stadium)

The most famous of these games is of course, The 1967 NFL Championship Game between Green Bay and Dallas. Nicknamed "The Ice Bowl" due to it having the Coldest Actual Temperature for a Game. (-15 degrees.) It's also famous for the ending when Packers QB Bart Starr scored on a 1-yard Touchdown Run with 13 seconds left in the game.

Interesting Facts resulting from The Pre-Merger Era:

ONLY COACH TO WIN BOTH THE NFL CHAMPIONSHIP, AFL CHAMPIONSHIP AS WELL AS A SUPER BOWL: Weeb Ewbank who coached The Baltimore Colts to the 1958 and 1959 NFL Championships and The New York Jets to the AFL Championship and then coached The Jets Win in Super Bowl III over his old team, The Colts. 

The only other Head Coach to win Championships in Two Different Leagues is Paul Brown (Who Ewbank was an assistant for before becoming a Head Coach.) who Coached The Browns to all four All-America Football Conference (AAFC) Championships from 1946 to '49 (Including an Undefeated Season in 1948.) and NFL Championships in 1950, '54 and '55.

ONLY TEAM TO WIN LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS AS BOTH AN AFL & NFL TEAM: The Oakland Radiers. Who won their only AFL Title in 1967 (but lost to The Packers in Super Bowl II) then won three Post-Merger NFL Championships in 1976 (SB XI), 1980 (SB XV) and 1983 (SB XVIII).

The only other Active Team to win League Championships in two Separate Leagues is The Browns as mentioned above. (They also won the 1964 NFL Championship.)

ONLY TEAM TO WIN A SUPER BOWL ERA NFL TITLE, YET NEVER WIN A SUPER BOWL: Minnesota Vikings, who won the last NFL Title (1969) before the two leagues merged, went on to lose Super Bowls IV, then also lost Super Bowls VIII, IX and XI in the Post Merger Era.

OTHER FACTS:
Other than The 1967 Raiders, no team that won the AFL Title (both Pre Super Bowl and Pre Merger Super Bowl.) has won any NFL Titles in The Post Merger Era. The two teams that won Super Bowls III and IV (New York Jets, and KC Chiefs.) as AFL Teams have yet to make it back to a Super Bowl.

Next Blog: The AFL and The AAFC.

Thanks.

George.

The Actual History of The NFL Championship Game. Part III: The Complete List of Pre Super Bowl NFL Champions.

Here is the Complete List of Pre Super Bowl Era NFL Champions
Pre Championship Game Era (When The Champion was determined based on Regular Season Record.)

1920 Akron Pros [1]

1921 Chicago Staleys (Chicago Bears)

1922 Canton Bulldogs

1923 Canton Bulldogs

1924 Cleveland Bulldogs [2]

1925 Chicago Cardinals (Arizona Cardinals) [3]

1926 Frankford Yellow Jackets (Philadelphia Eagles)

1927 New York Giants

1928 Providence Steam Roller

1929 Green Bay Packers

1930 Green Bay Packers

1931 Green bay Packers

1932 Chicago Bears [4]

[1] The NFL did not keep official standings during the 1920 Season. The Akron Pros were awarded The League Championship in a league meeting on April 30, 1921. Teams also played non-league opponents . The Buffalo All-Americans and Decatur Staleys (Chicago Bears) disputed the title but lost.

[2] The NFL Considers The Canton Bulldogs and Cleveland Bulldogs to be separate franchises. Cleveland (Football) Indians owner Samuel Deutsch purchased the Canton Bulldogs and merged them with the Indians and renamed them The Cleveland Bulldogs. The Chicago Bears disputed the title but lost.

[3] The Infamous Dispute between The Cardinals and Pottsville (PA) Maroons.

[4] A one game playoff was required as The Bears and Portsmouth (OH) Spartans (Detroit Lions) ended up tied at the end of the regular season. The Bears defeated The Spartans 9-0 in Chicago in the playoff.

Pre Super Bowl NFL Championship Game Winners:

1933 Chicago Bears - Defeated The New York Giants 23-21 in Chicago (Wrigley Field)

1934 New York Giants - Defeated The Chicago Bears 30-13 in New York (Polo Grounds)

1935 Detroit Lions - Defeated The New York Giants 26-7 in Detroit (University of Detroit Stadium)

1936 Green Bay Packers - Defeated The Boston Redskins 21-6 in New York (Polo Grounds) [1]

1937 Washington Redskins - Defeated The Chicago Bears 28-21 in Chicago (Wrigley Field)

1938 New York Giants - Defeated The Green Bay Packers 23-17 in New York (Polo Grounds)

1939 Green Bay Packers - Defeated The New York Giants 27-0 in West Allis, Wisconsin (Wisconsin State Fair Park) [2]

1940 Chicago Bears - Defeated The Washington Redskins 73-0 in Washington DC (Griffith Stadium)

1941 Chicago Bears - Defeated The New York Giants 37-9 in Chicago (Wrigley Field)

1942 Washington Redskins - Defeated The Chicago Bears 14-6 in Washington DC (Griffith Stadium)

1943 Chicago Bears - Defeated The Washington Redskins 41-21 in Chicago (Wrigley Field)

1944 Green Bay Packers - Defeated The New York Giants 14-7 in New York (Polo Grounds)

1945 Cleveland Rams (St. Louis Rams) - Defeated The Washington Redskins 15-14 in Cleveland (Cleveland Municipal Stadium)

1946 Chicago Bears - Defeated The New York Giants 24-14 in New York (Polo Grounds)

1947 Chicago Cardinals (Arizona Cardinals) - Defeated The Philadelphia Eagles 28-21 in Chicago (Comiskey Park)

1948 Philadelphia Eagles - Defeated The Chicago Cardinals (Arizona Cardinals) 7-0 in Philadelphia (Shibe Park)

1949 Philadelphia Eagles - Defeated The Los Angeles Rams (St. Louis Rams) 14-0 in Los Angeles (Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)

1950 Cleveland Browns - Defeated The Los Angeles Rams (St. Louis Rams) 30-28 in Cleveland (Cleveland Municipal Stadium)

1951 Los Angeles Rams (St. Louis Rams) - Defeated The Cleveland Browns 24-17 in Los Angeles (Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)

1952 Detroit Lions - Defeated The Cleveland Browns 17-7 in Cleveland (Cleveland Municipal Stadium)

1953 Detroit Lions - Defeated The Cleveland Browns 17-16 in Detroit (Briggs Stadium a.k.a. Tiger Stadium)

1954 Cleveland Browns - Defeated The Detroit Lions 56-10 in Cleveland (Cleveland Municipal Stadium)

1955 Cleveland Browns - Defeated The Los Angeles Rams (St. Louis Rams) 38-14 in Los Angeles (Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum)

1956 New York Giants - Defeated The Chicago Bears 47-7 in New York (Yankee Stadium)

1957 Detroit Lions - Defeated The Cleveland Browns 59-14 in Detroit (Briggs Stadium a.k.a. Tiger Stadium)

1958 Baltimore Colts (Indianapolis Colts) - Defeated The New York Giants 23-17 in New York (Yankee Stadium) [3]

1959 Baltimore Colts (Indianapolis Colts) - Defeated The New York Giants 31-16 in Baltimore (Memorial Stadium)

1960 Philadelphia Eagles - Defeated The Green Bay Packers 17-13 in Philadelphia (Franklin Field)

1961 Green Bay Packers - Defeated The New York Giants 37-0 in Green Bay (City Stadium)

1962 Green Bay Packers - Defeated The New York Giants 16-7 in New York (Yankee Stadium)

1963 Chicago Bears - Defeated The New York Giants 14-10 in Chicago (Wrigley Field)

1964 Cleveland Browns - Defeated The Baltimore Colts (Indianapolis Colts) 27-0 in Cleveland (Cleveland Municipal Stadium)

1965 Green Bay Packers - Defeated The Cleveland Browns 23-12 in Green Bay (Lambeau Field)

 [1] The Redskins chose to move the Game from Fenway Park in Boston to The Polo Grounds in New York due to poor attendance all season. The next season, The Redskins moved to Washington DC.


[2] From 1933 to 1994, The Packers split their Home Games between Green Bay and Milwaukee. Between 1934 and 1951, Their Milwaukee Games took Place at a Stadium in Wisconsin State Fair Park which is loacated in the Milwaukee Suburb of West Allis.


[3] First ever NFL Postseason Game to go into Sudden Death Overtime.


Next: The NFL and AFL Pre Meger Super Bowl Era Championship Games.


Thanks


George.

The Actual History of The NFL Championship Game. Part II: How the first Championship Game in 1933 came into being.

Before I explain how the NFL Championship Game began, I will tell you how I divide the history of The NFL. (Which was founded in 1920.)

Pre Championship Game Era: 1920* Season to 1932 Season (*Official Standings were not kept until 1921.)
Championship Game Era: 1933 Season to 1965 Season
Pre NFL-AFL Merger Super Bowl Era: 1966 Season to 1969 Season ( including the AFL.)
Post NFL-AFL Merger Super Bowl Era: 1970 Season to Today

Before 1933, The NFL declared its champion based on Regular Season Record. Of course, this often led to controversey, teams playing non-NFL Pro Teams to pad their records, etc. The most infamous of these controversies are the 1925 Season when the NFL declared the Chicago Cardinals Champions with a 11-2-1 record but the Pottsville (PA) Maroons finished with a 10-2-0 Record and beat the Eagles 21-7 in Chicago. The Frankford (PA) Yellow Jackets (now The Philadelphia Eagles.) filed a protest that the Maroons were violating their territory by playing a game in Philadelphia. Despite the fact that The Maroons got permission from The NFL to play a game in Philadelphia, The League upheld Frankford's Protest making the Maroons ineligible for the League Championship. You can read about this on The Maroons Website.

The spark for an actual NFL Championship Game took place at the end of the 1932 Season when The Chicago Bears and Portsmouth (OH) Spartans (now The Detroit Lions.) had to play a one-game playoff to determine that Season's Champion in Chicago. Because of a blizzard, the game had to be played indoors at Chicago Stadium with revised rules. (Think of it as a 1930's version of Arena Football.) The Bears beat The Spartans 9-0. This game was so successful that it made the NFL divide into Two Divisions and have a Scheduled League Championship between the two Division Winners. That first NFL Championship Game in 1933 featured The Chicago Bears and New York Giants at Wrigley Field. The Bears won the Game 23-21.

Next Blog: The Complete List of Pre Super Bowl NFL Champions.

Thanks.

George.

The Actual History of The NFL Championship Game. Part I: The REAL Story of The Super Bowl

Before and after The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV, you may have noticed how some in the media brought up the fact that The Packers have the most Championship Titles in NFL History. (Thirteen after they won SB XLV.)

This no doubt led to some people thinking "Wait a minute, I thought The Steelers had the most with six."

The way that The NFL markets the sport when it comes to Championships as if anything Pre-Super Bowl Era doesn't count or never even existed, It's understandable how many people believe that The Steelers have the most as all of theirs have been won during the Post Merger Super Bowl Era.

Most people also believe that The Super Bowl was always an NFL Sanctioned Game. This also is not true. In fact, it wasn't even officially called "Super Bowl" until the Third one between The New York Jets and The Baltimore Colts. Before this, it was officially called the "AFL-NFL Championship Game" as the first four games were in fact between The National Football League (NFL) Champions and the American Football League (AFL) Champions.

What we now call The Super Bowl was a creation caused by The competition between the NFL and AFL in the 1960's. Before The 1966 Season, the two leagues agreed to a merger by 1970 and they also agreed to have a season ending game between the two league champions. It was Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs Owner and AFL Founder Lamar Hunt who came up with the name "Super Bowl" after seeing his daughter playing with a toy called a "Super Ball". Hunt wanted the name to have a "College Football Feel" to it like The Rose Bowl, Sugar Bowl, etc.

When the two leagues officially merged. (Actually, Merged into the NFL.) The NFL also took the name "Super Bowl" and Vince Lombardi Trophy and made it the NFL Championship Game. Therefore, it's now really just the NFL Championship Game (The first taking place in 1933.) with a different name and trophy. The merging of The AFL into the NFL also brought about the names AFC and NFC.

Also with the Merger, The Baltimore Colts, Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers agreed to be the three Pre Merger NFL teams to go to the AFC so each conference would have 13 teams.

The AFL was founded in 1959 by Lamar Hunt and several other businessmen who either tried to get an expansion NFL Team or buy into already existing NFL Teams and were shut out. 1960 was their first season. These teams eventually became The...
Buffalo Bills
Boston/New England Patriots
Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs
Denver Broncos
Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans
New York Titans/Jets
Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders*

The Miami Dolphins and Cincinnati Bengals came in a few years later as AFL Expansion Teams.

*What eventually became The Minnesota Vikings were persuaded by The NFL to leave the AFL Founding Group and start in 1961 as an NFL Team. They were replaced by The Oakland Raiders.

Before Lamar Hunt's AFL, there were past efforts to form Pro Football Leagues to compete with the NFL (Some of which were also called The American Football League.) but they were dismal failures. (...and at the time, Pro Football was behind Baseball and College Football in terms of National Popularity.) The only other league to have any kind of impact was the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) which played from 1946 to 1949 and produced the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers who were merged into the NFL for the 1950 Season. The Browns won all four AAFC Titles and went undefeated in the 1948 Season, 24 years before the 1972 Miami Dolphins did it in The NFL.

Next:  How the first NFL Championship Game in 1933 came into being.
Thanks.

George.