1929 NFL season
Encyclopedia
The 1929 NFL season was the 10th regular season of the National Football League
. The league increased back to 12 teams with the addition of Orange Tornadoes and Minneapolis Red Jackets and the re-entry of the Buffalo Bisons
. The Pottsville Maroons
became the Boston Bulldogs and the Detroit Wolverines
folded.
On November 3, the Chicago Cardinals at Providence Steam Roller
match became the first NFL game to be played at night under floodlights. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers
were named the NFL champions after finishing the season with the best record.
nor the New York Giants
lost a game during the first nine weeks of the season. When they met at New York's Polo Grounds
on November 24, 1929, the Packers were 9–0–0 and Giants were 8–0–1. "Whether New York or Green Bay, Wis., will hoist the 1929 National Professional Football league pennant to the top of the flagstaff will probably be determined here Sunday when the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers, both undefeated teams, meet," an AP report noted, adding "Although both the Packers and the Giants play other games before the end of the season, past performances indicated that tomorrow's game will be the crucial contest for the league's standings." . Verne Lewellen
's pass to Herdis McCrary, and Bo Molenda
's extra point, gave Green Bay a 7–0 lead in the first quarter. A pass from Benny Friedman
to Tony Plansky gave the Giants a chance to tie in the third quarter, but the point after failed, and New York trailed 7–6. Green Bay added two touchdowns in the last quarter to win the game, 20–6 to take a one-game lead. Neither team lost their remaining games; the Packers finished at 12–0–1, the Giants at 13–1–1, giving coach Curly Lambeau
and the Packers their first league title.
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. The league increased back to 12 teams with the addition of Orange Tornadoes and Minneapolis Red Jackets and the re-entry of the Buffalo Bisons
Buffalo Bisons
The Buffalo Bisons are a minor league baseball team based in Buffalo, New York. They currently play in the International League and are the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Mets...
. The Pottsville Maroons
Pottsville Maroons
The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928...
became the Boston Bulldogs and the Detroit Wolverines
Detroit Wolverines
The Detroit Wolverines were a 19th century baseball team that played in the National League from 1881 to 1888 in the city of Detroit, Michigan. In total, they won 426 games and lost 437, taking their lone pennant in 1887. The team was disbanded following the 1888 season.-Franchise...
folded.
On November 3, the Chicago Cardinals at Providence Steam Roller
Providence Steam Roller
The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship...
match became the first NFL game to be played at night under floodlights. Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
were named the NFL champions after finishing the season with the best record.
Championship race
Neither the Green Bay PackersGreen Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
nor the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
lost a game during the first nine weeks of the season. When they met at New York's Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
on November 24, 1929, the Packers were 9–0–0 and Giants were 8–0–1. "Whether New York or Green Bay, Wis., will hoist the 1929 National Professional Football league pennant to the top of the flagstaff will probably be determined here Sunday when the New York Giants and the Green Bay Packers, both undefeated teams, meet," an AP report noted, adding "Although both the Packers and the Giants play other games before the end of the season, past performances indicated that tomorrow's game will be the crucial contest for the league's standings." . Verne Lewellen
Verne Lewellen
Verne Lewellen was an American football player. He played most of his nine year career with the Green Bay Packers and was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1970. He also was the Packers' General Manager from 1954 through 1957. He was elected to the Wisconsin Athletic Hall of...
's pass to Herdis McCrary, and Bo Molenda
Bo Molenda
John Joseph "Bo" Molenda was an American football player, primarily a fullback, who played for the University of Michigan and nine seasons in the NFL...
's extra point, gave Green Bay a 7–0 lead in the first quarter. A pass from Benny Friedman
Benny Friedman
Benjamin "Benny" Friedman was an American football quarterback who played for the University of Michigan , Cleveland Bulldogs , Detroit Wolverines , New York Giants , and Brooklyn Dodgers .He is generally considered the first great passer in professional football...
to Tony Plansky gave the Giants a chance to tie in the third quarter, but the point after failed, and New York trailed 7–6. Green Bay added two touchdowns in the last quarter to win the game, 20–6 to take a one-game lead. Neither team lost their remaining games; the Packers finished at 12–0–1, the Giants at 13–1–1, giving coach Curly Lambeau
Curly Lambeau
Earl Louis "Curly" Lambeau was founder, player, and first coach of the Green Bay Packers professional American football team...
and the Packers their first league title.
Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning PercentageNote: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972
| Team | P | W | L | T | PCT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
13 | 12 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 |
| New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
15 | 13 | 1 | 1 | .929 |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets Frankford Yellow Jackets The Frankford Yellow Jackets were a professional American football team, part of the National Football League from 1924 to 1931, though its origin dates back to as early as 1899 with the Frankford Athletic Association. The Yellow Jackets won the NFL championship in 1926... |
19 | 10 | 4 | 5 | .714 |
| Chicago Cardinals | 13 | 6 | 6 | 1 | .500 |
| Boston Bulldogs Pottsville Maroons The Pottsville Maroons were an American football team based in Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1920, they went on to play in the National Football League for four seasons, from 1925–1928... |
8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | .500 |
| Staten Island Stapletons Staten Island Stapletons The Staten Island Stapletons also known as the Staten Island Stapes were a professional American football team founded in 1915 that played in the National Football League from 1929 to 1930. The team was based in the Stapleton section of Staten Island. Under the shortened nickname the "Stapes"... |
10 | 3 | 4 | 3 | .429 |
| Providence Steam Roller Providence Steam Roller The Providence Steam Roller was a professional American football team based in Providence, Rhode Island in the National Football League from 1925 to 1931. Providence was the first New England team to win an NFL championship... |
12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | .400 |
| Orange Tornadoes | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | .375 |
| Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
15 | 4 | 9 | 2 | .308 |
| Buffalo Bisons Buffalo (NFL) Buffalo, New York had a turbulent, early-era National Football League team that operated under three different names and several different owners between the 1910s and 1920s... |
9 | 1 | 7 | 1 | .125 |
| Minneapolis Red Jackets | 10 | 1 | 9 | 0 | .100 |
| Dayton Triangles Dayton Triangles The Dayton Triangles were an original franchise of the American Professional Football Association in 1920. The Triangles were based in Dayton, Ohio, and took their nickname from their home field, Triangle Park, which was located at the confluence of the Great Miami and Stillwater Rivers in north... |
6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | .000 |