1936 NFL Championship Game

Lore & Background

The Green Bay Packers went 10–1–1 during the regular season to secure the Western Division title, while the Boston Redskins went 7–5 to win the Eastern Division. The game was played at the Polo Grounds in New York City. The Packers won 21–6. 61 years later, the Packers would then defeat the Boston team that replaced the Redskins, the New England Patriots, in Super Bowl XXXI.

In Their Own Story

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the hallowed turf of Griffith Stadium as the crowd roared for their new heroes. Sammy Baugh stood under center, the weight of history on his shoulders yet a calmness in his eyes. With a perfect spiral that seemed to defy gravity, he launched the ball toward the end zone, watching it catch the air before dropping into the waiting arms of his receiver. The stadium erupted, not just for the points, but for the realization that this young team had arrived.

Reader's Guide

The NFL had only four game officials in 1936; the back judge was added later, the line judge later, and the side judge later. The following were the four officials who called the 1936 championship game: Referee: Jordie Jordan, Umpire: Bobby Cahn, Head linesman: Maurice J. Meyer, Field judge: William Halloran. Players played both ways, offensively and defensively, in 1936. Thus, there were only these eleven starters for each squad. Green Bay Packers starters: LE - Milt Gantenbein, LT - Ernie Smith, LG/K - Paul 'Tiny' Engebretsen, C - George Svendsen, RG - Lon Evans, RT - Louis Gordon, RE - Don Hutson ‡, QB † - Hank Bruder, LHB - George Sauer, RHB - Arnie Herber ‡, FB - Clarke Hinkle ‡. Boston Redskins starters: LE - Wayne Millner ‡, LT - Turk Edwards ‡, LG - Les Olsson, C - Frank Bausch, RG - Jim Karcher, RT - James Barber, RE - Charley Malone, QB - Riley Smith, LHB - Ed 'Chug' Justice, RHB - Cliff Battles ‡, FB - Don Irwin. † - Note: The quarterback in the single-wing offense was sometimes called the 'blocking back', the ball was generally shotgun snapped to a halfback or the fullback. ‡ - Member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

Did You Know?

• The 1936 NFL Championship Game was the first NFL title game held on a neutral field.
• The game was moved from Fenway Park to the Polo Grounds due to low ticket sales in Boston.
• Several days after the game, Redskins owner George Preston Marshall announced he would move the team to Washington, D.C. for the following season.
• The Packers won 21–6 for their fourth NFL title, all under head coach Curly Lambeau.
• 61 years later, the Packers defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI.