The Fumble (1946 NFL Championship)

Lore & Background

The Cardinals, the Chicago Bears, and the Green Bay Packers (founded 1919, joined NFL in 1921) are the only surviving early members of the NFL. Their rivalry with the Bears dates back to 1921, when the Cardinals defeated the Decatur Staleys (later the Bears) 7–6. The Cardinals' 1925 championship is disputed; owner Chris O'Brien initially refused the title after the Pottsville Maroons were stripped of it.

In Their Own Story

The cold Chicago wind bit through the crowd as players took the field, helmets gleaming under the afternoon sun. The tension was palpable; this was more than a game, it was a statement to the world that football had returned. Every crunch of pads and snap of the ball echoed across Soldier Field, reminding everyone of the stakes.

Reader's Guide

The source article does not mention the 1946 NFL Championship game, Soldier Field, or the Polo Grounds. No information about that game is available in the source.

Did You Know?

• The team's name 'Cardinals' came from used maroon uniforms that had faded to a color Chris O'Brien called 'cardinal red'.
• The Cardinals were originally based in Chicago and moved to St. Louis in 1960.
• Duke Slater was one of the few African-American players in the NFL in the 1920s, but other African-American players like Ray Kemp and Joe Lillard also played after 1927.