1931 Chicago Bears season
Encyclopedia
Season Overview
The 19311931 NFL season
The 1931 NFL season was the 12th regular season of the National Football League. The league decreased to 10 teams due to financial hardships caused by the Great Depression. While the Cleveland Indians joined as an expansion team, the league lost the Minneapolis Red Jackets and the Newark Tornadoes...
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...
season was their 12th regular season
Regular season (NFL)
The National Football League regular season begins the weekend after Labor Day. Each team plays 16 games during a 17-week period. Traditionally, the majority of each week's games are played on Sunday afternoon, with weekly games on Sunday night and Monday night, and occasional games on Thursday...
completed in the National Football League
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 club posted a 8-5 record under sophomore head coach Ralph Jones
Ralph Jones
Ralph Robert Jones was an American football and basketball coach in the United States. He served as the head coach for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League from 1930 to 1932.-Indiana:...
. The club finished in third place once again behind 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...
and the Portsmouth Spartans. The Bears opened the season well, winning three of their first four games, including victories over the Cardinals and Giants. Chicago then dropped two in a row, both at home to the Packers and Yellowjackets. Four consecutive wins in the middle of the season put the Bears back in contention; however, another weak ending, losing two of their last three, made the season somewhat of a disappointment. Grange and Nagurski again carried the team, with 9 touchdowns between them (7 by Grange). The Bears' biggest weakness was an aging interior line, with few young lineman joining the team who had an impact. They also lacked a consistent kicking game, now that Paddy Driscoll
Paddy Driscoll
John Leo "Paddy" Driscoll was a professional American football quarterback. Driscoll was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1965 and is a member of the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team...
and the Sternaman brothers had all retired. Owner George Halas
George Halas
George Stanley Halas, Sr. , nicknamed "Papa Bear" and "Mr. Everything", was a player, coach, owner and pioneer in professional American football. He was the iconic longtime leader of the NFL's Chicago Bears...
would remedy these problems over the next few years and get the Bears back on top.
Future Hall of Fame Players
- Red GrangeRed GrangeHarold Edward "Red" Grange, nicknamed "The Galloping Ghost", was a college and professional American football halfback for the University of Illinois, the Chicago Bears, and for the short-lived New York Yankees. His signing with the Bears helped legitimize the National Football League...
, Back - Link Lyman, Tackle
- Bronko NagurskiBronko NagurskiBronislau "Bronko" Nagurski was a Canadian-born American football player. He was also a successful professional wrestler, recognized as a multiple-time world heavyweight champion.-Youth and collegiate career:...
, Fullback - George TraftonGeorge TraftonGeorge Edward Trafton , was an American football player. He played as a center for the Decatur Staleys of the National Football League from 1920 to 1921 and 1923–1932. He is credited as being the first center to snap the ball with one hand...
, Center
Other Leading Players
- Carl BrumbaughCarl BrumbaughCarl Lowry Brumbaugh was an American college and professional football player who was a quarterback and halfback in the National Football League for nine seasons in the 1930s...
, Quarterback - Garland GrangeGarland GrangeGarland Arthur Grange was a professional American football player for the Chicago Bears from 1929 until 1931. Prior to his professional playing career, he played college football at the University of Illinois. He was the younger brother of, Illinois and Bears' star, Red Grange. In 1932 he served as...
, End - Luke JohnsosLuke JohnsosLuke Andrew Johnsos, Sr. was an American football player, assistant coach, and head coach for the National Football League's Chicago Bears franchise. He started with the Bears in 1929 at the age of 23 as an All-Pro end. He played eight NFL seasons in Chicago finishing his playing career in 1936...
, End - Keith MolesworthKeith MolesworthKeith Frank Molesworth was an American football player and coach. He also played and managed in minor league baseball....
, Back - William SennBill SennWilliam Franklin Senn was a professional American football running back in the National Football League. He played eight seasons for the Chicago Bears, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and the Cincinnati Reds/St. Louis Gunners....
, Back
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Location | Result | Score | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep. 18 | Cleveland Indians Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona... |
Loyola Stadium | Win | 21-0 | 1-0-0 |
| Sep. 27 | 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... |
Green Bay City Stadium | Loss | 0-7 | 1-1-0 |
| Oct. 11 | 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... |
Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
Win | 6-0 | 2-1-0 |
| Oct. 18 | Chicago Cardinals | Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
Win | 26-13 | 3-1-0 |
| Oct. 25 | Frankford Yellowjackets | Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
Loss | 12-13 | 3-2-0 |
| Nov. 1 | 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... |
Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
Loss | 2-6 | 3-3-0 |
| Nov. 8 | Portsmouth Spartans | Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
Win | 9-6 | 4-3-0 |
| Nov. 15 | 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... |
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... |
Win | 12-6 | 5-3-0 |
| Nov. 22 | Brooklyn Dodgers | Ebbets Field Ebbets Field Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football... |
Win | 26-0 | 6-3-0 |
| Nov. 26 | Chicago Cardinals | Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
Win | 18-7 | 7-3-0 |
| Nov. 29 | Portsmouth Spartans | Portsmouth Universal Stadium | Loss | 0-3 | 7-4-0 |
| Dec. 6 | 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... |
Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
Win | 7-6 | 8-4-0 |
| Dec. 13 | 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... |
Wrigley Field Wrigley Field Wrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales... |
Loss | 6-25 | 8-5-0 |
Standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning PercentageNote: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972
| NFL | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| Green Bay Packers 1931 Green Bay Packers season The 1931 Green Bay Packers season was their 11th in the National Football League. The club posted a 12-2 record under coach Curly Lambeau, earning them a first-place finish and the Packers third consecutive National Football League Championship. The Packers became the first NFL team to win three... |
12 | 2 | 0 | .857 | 291 | 87 | L-1 |
| Portsmouth Spartans 1931 Portsmouth Spartans season The 1931 Portsmouth Spartans season was their second in the league. The team improved on their previous season's output of 5-6-3, winning eleven games. They finished second in the league.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
11 | 3 | 0 | .786 | 175 | 77 | W-1 |
| Chicago Bears | 8 | 5 | 0 | .615 | 145 | 92 | L-1 |
| Chicago Cardinals 1931 Chicago Cardinals season The 1931 Chicago Cardinals season was their 12th in the league. The team improved on their previous output of 5-6-2, losing only four games. They finished fourth in the league. The team played its first five games on the road and played six games in the month of... |
5 | 4 | 0 | .556 | 120 | 128 | W-1 |
| New York Giants 1931 New York Giants season The 1931 New York Giants season was the seventh season for the club in the National Football League.-Schedule:-Standings:W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage... |
7 | 6 | 1 | .538 | 154 | 100 | W-2 |
| Providence Steam Roller 1931 Providence Steam Roller season The 1931 Providence Steam Roller season was their seventh and final in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 6-4-1, winning only four games. They finished sixth in the league.-Schedule:-Standings:-References:... |
4 | 4 | 3 | .500 | 78 | 127 | T-1 |
| Staten Island Stapletons 1931 Staten Island Stapletons season The 1931 Staten Island Stapletons season was their third in the National Football League. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 5-5-2, winning only four games. Playing seven games in the month of November, they finished seventh in the league.... |
4 | 6 | 1 | .400 | 79 | 118 | W-2 |
| Cleveland Indians 1931 Cleveland Indians (NFL) season The 1931 Cleveland Indians season was their fourth and final in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 3-1-3, winning only two games. They played eight of ten games on road, finishing eighth in the league.-Schedule:-Standings:... |
2 | 8 | 0 | .200 | 45 | 137 | L-5 |
| Brooklyn Dodgers 1931 Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL) season The 1931 Brooklyn Dodgers season was their second in the league. The team failed to improve on their previous season's output of 7-4-1, winning only two games. They were shut out in eight of their fourteen games and finished ninth in the league.-Schedule:... |
2 | 12 | 0 | .143 | 64 | 199 | L-8 |
| Frankford Yellow Jackets 1931 Frankford Yellow Jackets season The 1931 Frankford Yellow Jackets season was their eighth and final in the National Football League. The team failed to improve on their previous output of 4-13-1, winning only one league game... |
1 | 6 | 1 | .143 | 13 | 99 | L-2 |