1940 NFL Championship (73-0)

Lore & Background

Washington had defeated Chicago 7–3 in a regular season game three weeks earlier in Washington. After the contest, Redskins owner George Preston Marshall told reporters that the Bears were crybabies and quitters when the going got tough. As the Bears prepared for the rematch, Chicago head coach George Halas fired up his team by showing them newspaper articles containing Marshall's comments, then said, 'Gentlemen, this is what George Preston Marshall thinks of you. Well, I think you're a GREAT football team! Now, go out there and prove it!' Before the game, Halas's friend Clark Shaughnessy, who was concurrently coaching the undefeated Stanford Indians, helped the Bears' gameplan. Shaughnessy devised several counters for linebacker shifts that he had noted the Redskins using.

In Their Own Story

The air at Griffith Stadium was crisp and biting on that December afternoon, but the heat rising from the gridiron felt like an inferno. Sid Luckman stood under center, the new T-Formation looking alien compared to the single-wing formations of yesteryear. The Washington Redskins lined up, their eyes wide with confusion as the Bears snapped the ball. Instead of a handoff, Luckman dropped back, his eyes scanning the field. He fired a pass to Bill Osmanski, who slipped through the line untouched for a touchdown. Then another. And another. On the sidelines, George Halas watched with stoic intensity, knowing he was witnessing history being forged. The Redskins' defense, usually impenetrable, looked like they were chasing ghosts. Every time Washington tried to mount a drive, the Bears' 'Monsters of the Midway' swarmed them, sacking Sammy Baugh and stripping the ball. By halftime, the score was already 42-0. The second half offered no respite; Chicago added 31 more points in clinical fashion, with Nagurski contributing on both sides of the ball until the final whistle sealed a rout that would never be matched.

Reader's Guide

The Bears controlled the game right from the start, using the T formation as their primary offensive strategy. On their second play from scrimmage, running back Bill Osmanski ran 68 yards for a touchdown. Washington then marched to the Chicago 26-yard line on their ensuing drive, but wide receiver Charlie Malone dropped a sure touchdown pass in the end zone that would have tied the game. The field goal attempt on 4th down was missed as well. Later in the first quarter, Bears quarterback Sid Luckman scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to increase the lead 14–0. On their third drive, Joe Maniaci ran 42 yards for the Bears' third touchdown of the game. The Bears held a 28–0 halftime lead and then continued to crush the Redskins, scoring 45 points during the second half. After Halas took the team's starters out, the backup players continued to pile on the points. The Bears ended up recording 501 total yards on offense, 382 total rushing yards, and 8 interceptions, returning 3 for touchdowns, all in the third quarter. So many footballs were kicked into the stands after touchdowns that officials asked Halas to run or pass for the point after touchdown on the last two touchdowns. This game also marked the last time that an NFL player (Bears end Dick Plasman) played without a helmet. Reportedly, after the final gun went off, a sports writer jokingly yelled, 'Marshall just shot himself!' Marshall's only statement to the press was, 'We needed a 50-man line against their power.' Redskins quarterback Sammy Baugh was interviewed after the game, and a sportswriter asked him whether the game would have been different had Malone not dropped the tying touchdown pass. Baugh reportedly quipped, 'Sure. The final score would have been 73–7.'

Did You Know?

• Chicago's 73 points is the most scored by one team in any NFL game, regular season or postseason.
• The margin of victory is the largest ever in the NFL and remains the largest in the four major American professional team sports.
• The game was the first NFL title game broadcast nationwide, on the Mutual Broadcasting System.
• Bears end Dick Plasman was the last NFL player to play without a helmet.

Pre-Game Tensions and Strategy

The rivalry leading up to the eighth NFL title game was fueled by personal animosity rather than just competition. Just three weeks prior, Washington had defeated Chicago in a regular season contest at home. Following that loss, Redskins owner George Preston Marshall publicly dismissed the Bears as crybabies and quitters when facing adversity. Coach George Halas utilized these inflammatory newspaper comments to galvanize his squad before the championship rematch. He presented the articles to his players, affirming their greatness while challenging them to disprove Marshall's assessment on the field. Strategic preparation also played a crucial role in the outcome. Clark Shaughnessy, who was coaching Stanford at the time, assisted Halas by devising specific counters against the linebacker shifts Washington frequently employed. This combination of psychological warfare and tactical planning set the stage for an unprecedented display of dominance when the teams met at Griffith Stadium on December 8.

On-Field Dominance and Tactics

From the opening moments, the Bears utilized the innovative T formation to control every aspect of play. Running back Bill Osmanski exploded for a sixty-eight-yard touchdown on just the second play from scrimmage. Washington managed to reach the Chicago twenty-six-yard line early but failed to capitalize when receiver Charlie Malone dropped a sure touchdown pass in the end zone. The Bears extended their lead quickly with scores from quarterback Sid Luckman and Joe Maniaci, holding a twenty-eight-point advantage at halftime. The second half saw even more destruction as backup players continued scoring, contributing to forty-five additional points. Chicago amassed five hundred one total yards on offense, including three hundred eighty-two rushing yards. They intercepted eight passes, returning three for touchdowns solely within the third quarter. The game also marked a historical endpoint for safety equipment, as end Dick Plasman became the last NFL player to compete without wearing a helmet during this contest.

Enduring Records and Historical Impact

As of 2026, the seventy-three points scored by Chicago remains the highest total for any single team in NFL history, spanning both regular season and postseason play. While other franchises have approached this mark, such as the Miami Dolphins scoring seventy against Denver in 2023, they chose to kneel rather than attempt a record-tying score with seconds remaining. The victory margin also stands as the largest in all four major American professional team sports. This dominance was briefly matched by the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA during 2021. Beyond statistics, the event significantly elevated the league's national profile. A 1969 historical text listed this contest among ten games that mattered for pro football growth. It noted that the Bears played perfect football and used their eleven-touchdown performance to raise the NFL into view across the country. The sudden sports news of the year combined the T-formation, the championship win, and the Chicago franchise itself.

Broadcasting, Finance, and Officiating

This championship marked a significant milestone in media distribution for professional football. The Mutual Broadcasting System carried the game, making it the first NFL title contest broadcast nationwide on radio. Financially, the event was equally historic, drawing a sellout crowd of thirty-six thousand spectators at Griffith Stadium. Net gate receipts exceeded one hundred two thousand dollars, setting a new record for the league. Consequently, each Bears player received eight hundred seventy-four dollars from the proceeds, while Washington players saw six hundred six dollars. The officiating crew consisted of only four officials, reflecting the sport's evolution over time; additional judges were not added until later decades. Referee William Red Friesall led the crew alongside umpire Harry Robb and head linesman Irv Kupcinet. Post-game reactions highlighted the disparity in performance, with Sammy Baugh joking that a single catch might have resulted in a seventy-three to seven final score instead of the shutout.