1932 NFL Championship Game

Lore & Background

The game was set to be played at Wrigley Field, the Bears' home stadium, but due to severe blizzards followed by extremely cold temperatures and wind chill, the game was moved indoors to Chicago Stadium. The Stadium at that time was the largest indoor arena in the world with a maximum seating capacity of 26,000. Two years earlier, the Bears and Cardinals had played a charity exhibition game at the arena after the 1930 season. The game was moved indoors due to extreme weather, allowing for reasonable attendance and gate revenue. The Bears won 9–7. It wasn't an uncommon practice in the city, as local teams played in the Dexter Park Pavilion as early as 1917, when the Racine Cardinals and the Evanstons from Evanston played to a scoreless tie. A week before the game, the concrete surface had tanbark placed atop for a Salvation Army-sponsored circus; elephant manure from the circus produced an odor that caused a Bears player to vomit on the field.

In Their Own Story

The air inside Chicago Stadium was thick with coal smoke and the roar of ten thousand fans, a stark contrast to the frozen mud of the outdoor fields they were used to. The narrowness of the indoor gridiron forced the players into a frantic, close-quarters battle where every yard was fought for with brute force. When Bronko Nagurski barreled through the Spartan line, the sound of leather pads colliding echoed off the rafters like gunshots. In the final minutes, as the clock ticked down and the Spartans' defense held firm, Paddy Driscoll's single field goal attempt sailed through the makeshift uprights near the end zone. The crowd erupted, not just for a win, but for the birth of a new era in American sports.

Reader's Guide

Because of the limited dimensions of the indoor arena, special rules were adopted for the game: The tanbark-covered field itself was only 80 yards long (60 yards between the goal lines) and 45 yards wide, ten yards narrower than the regulation width at the time. The goal posts were moved from the endlines to the goal lines (the NFL moved the goalposts to the goal line in 1933, then back to the endline in 1974). Every time a team crossed the 10-yard line, the ball was moved back 20 yards to allow for the shortened field. For the first time, all plays started with the ball on or between the hash marks, which were ten yards from the sidelines. It was also decided that due to the smaller field and indoor stadium, drop kicks and field goals would not be used in the game. The high temperature for that Sunday in Chicago was 20 °F (−7 °C), warmer than anticipated earlier in the week. With terrible footing on the mulch and limited room for the offenses to work, the defenses dominated the game's first three quarters, with the game remaining scoreless. Bears quarterback John Doehling's first pass flew into the stands, as did most punts and kickoffs: one collided with a Chicago Black Hawks sign and another hit the organist as he played. By the end of the game, only one punt had been returned. On one drive, the Spartans were in position to score when Glenn Presnell tripped on the field before he could reach the end zone. For the Bears, they employed a heavy run game with fullback Bronko Nagurski, though possessions ended after just three downs as Ralph Jones frequently elected to pooch kick. In the fourth quarter, the Bears scored on a controversial touchdown: Carl Brumbaugh handed the ball off to Nagurski, who pulled up and threw to Red Grange in the end zone for the score. Rules at the time mandated that a forward pass had to be thrown from at least five yards behind the line of scrimmage. The Spartans argued Nagurski did not drop back five yards before passing to Grange, but the touchdown stood. The Bears later scored a safety after the Spartans fumbled the ball out of their end zone.

Did You Know?

• The game was moved indoors to Chicago Stadium due to severe blizzards and extremely cold temperatures.
• The field was only 80 yards long and 45 yards wide, with goal posts moved to the goal line.
• No field goals or drop kicks were used in the game due to the smaller field and indoor stadium.
• The Bears' touchdown came on a controversial forward pass from Bronko Nagurski to Red Grange, with Spartans arguing Nagurski did not drop back five yards as required.
• The Bears later scored a safety after the Spartans fumbled the ball out of their end zone, making the final score 9-0.

Historical Context and Venue Logistics

The 1963 NFL Championship Game marked a significant chapter in professional football history, serving as the 31st annual title contest held on December 29 at Chicago's iconic Wrigley Field. The matchup featured the Eastern Conference's New York Giants against the Western Conference's Chicago Bears, continuing a storied rivalry that included nine major professional sports championships between cities of Chicago and New York. Logistical challenges arose early when NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle requested moving the game to Soldier Field for its superior lighting and capacity, anticipating potential overtime play. However, Bears owner George Halas declined this proposal. Consequently, the league adjusted the kickoff time to 12:05 p.m. CST to maximize daylight, a necessary precaution given Wrigley Field lacked artificial lights until 1988. Fans braved temperatures plummeting below 10 degrees Fahrenheit for tickets priced between $6 and $12.50, while NBC secured broadcast rights for nearly one million dollars.

Team Profiles and Strategic Contrasts

The contest presented a stark contrast in team philosophies, pitting the Giants' high-powered offense against the Bears' formidable defense. New York, appearing in their third consecutive championship game under coach Allie Sherman, boasted an explosive unit led by quarterback Y.A. Tittle, who set an NFL record with 36 touchdown passes that season. Conversely, Chicago entered as the defensive powerhouse known as the Monsters of the Midway. While the Bears' offense ranked tenth in scoring with a conservative 'three yards and a cloud of dust' approach led by quarterback Bill Wade, their defensive trio at linebacker terrified New York writers. The Giants entered as slight favorites, yet the narrative heavily favored Chicago's ability to stifle the passing game that had dominated the league.

Defining Moments and Turning Points

The game's trajectory shifted dramatically in the first quarter following a critical injury to Y.A. Tittle. After the Giants took an early lead on a touchdown pass to Frank Gifford, Bears linebacker Larry Morris delivered a devastating helmet-to-knee hit on Tittle while he was throwing. Though New York briefly reclaimed the lead with a field goal, Tittle suffered another severe reinjury in the second quarter from Morris, forcing him out for two possessions and exposing backup Glynn Griffing's limitations. In the third period, Tittle returned to the field only after receiving cortisone and Novocaine shots, heavily taped and forced to throw off his back foot with compromised mechanics. This physical toll allowed Chicago to capitalize; an interception by Ed O'Bradovich set up a Wade touchdown for a 14-10 lead. The game concluded decisively when Richie Petitbon intercepted Tittle in the end zone with mere seconds remaining, sealing a victory defined by the Bears' exploitation of New York's screen passes and their relentless pressure on the injured quarterback.

Legacy and Statistical Outcomes

The final result cemented the Chicago Bears as champions, ending a title drought that stretched back to 1946. Defensive coordinator George Allen was awarded the game ball, recognizing his unit's spectacular performance which held Tittle to just 11 completions on 29 attempts with five interceptions. The Bears' preparation proved superior, specifically in neutralizing the Giants' screen passes that had been a staple of their attack. For New York, the loss extended a difficult trend of championship heartbreak, having lost four of their last six title games to various opponents including the Colts and Packers. The game also served as a farewell to Wrigley Field for NFL championships, concluding an era where the baseball stadium hosted five title contests with Chicago winning four of them.