1956 NFL season
Encyclopedia
The 1956 NFL season was the 37th regular season
of the National Football League
. CBS
became the first network to televise some regular season games across the nation. Meanwhile, the league started to use a natural leather ball with white end stripes, instead of the white ball with black stripes, for night games.
The season ended when the New York Giants
crushed the Chicago Bears
in the NFL Championship Game, 47–7.
The Chicago Cardinals got off to their best start ever, going 4–0, until the Redskins beat them 17–14 on October 28. At the midway point, they and the Giants had 5–1 records. In the Western Conference, the Detroit Lions roared to a 6–0 start. In Week Seven (November 11), the Giants pulled ahead with a 23-10 win over the Cards. In Washington, the Lions finally lost. Trapped on his own 1 yard line, Yale Lary
took a safety in order to get a free kick. That, and Sam Baker's field goal, gave the Redskins an 18-10 lead to put the game out of reach, and the Lions lost 18–17. The Bears, who had dropped their opener at Baltimore, 28-21, beat Green Bay 38-14 for their sixth straight game, matching Detroit's 6–1 record.
In Week Nine, the Lions dropped their Thanksgiving Day game as Tobin Rote
guided Green Bay to three last quarter touchdowns in a 24-20 win. On Sunday, the Cards 38-27 win over Pittsburgh put them a half game out. The Bears cancelled a loss, while the Giants watched a win elude them, as Harlon Hill caught a last-ditch 56 yard touchdown pass from Ed Brown in tying the Giants, 17-17. Both the Bears and the Giants continued to lead their conferences, but only by half a game .
The Cards lost the next two games and any chance at the Eastern title, which the Giants clinched, in part because of a 28–14 win over Washington on December 2. The Western race came down to the Bears and Lions. In Week Ten (December 2), the Lions hosted the Bears and won 42–10, to take the lead. When both teams won the following week, the trip to the championship came down to December 16, the last game of the season, which would have the 9–2 Detroit Lions visiting the 8–2–1 Chicago Bears, who hadn't forgotten the earlier drubbing. The game at Wrigley Field was marked by numerous fights, including a fourth quarter melee involving players, fans, and the police , and a vicious hit well behind the play by the Bears' Ed Meadows
that knocked Detroit quarterback Bobby Layne
out of the game with a concussion. So, the Bears exacted their revenge with a 38-21 victory. After the game Lions' coach Buddy Parker
appealed to the commissioner to punish what the Lions felt was the dirty play of George Halas
's Bears, but no ruling was forthcoming.
Note: The NFL did not officially count tie games in the standings until 1972
, December 30, 1956
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...
of 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...
. CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
became the first network to televise some regular season games across the nation. Meanwhile, the league started to use a natural leather ball with white end stripes, instead of the white ball with black stripes, for night games.
The season ended when 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...
crushed the 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...
in the NFL Championship Game, 47–7.
Major rule changes
- It is now illegal to grab an opponent's facemask (other than the ball carrier).
- Using radio receivers to communicate with players on the field is prohibited.
- The ball was changed from white with black stripes to leather with white stripes for night games.
Conference races
The Lions and the Cardinals had both finished 1955 poorly, 3–9 and 4–7–1, but both got off to fast starts in 1956. Both ended up finishing second in the Conference races.The Chicago Cardinals got off to their best start ever, going 4–0, until the Redskins beat them 17–14 on October 28. At the midway point, they and the Giants had 5–1 records. In the Western Conference, the Detroit Lions roared to a 6–0 start. In Week Seven (November 11), the Giants pulled ahead with a 23-10 win over the Cards. In Washington, the Lions finally lost. Trapped on his own 1 yard line, Yale Lary
Yale Lary
Robert Yale Lary is a former American football player.After graduating from North Side High School in 1949, he attended Texas A&M University, where he was a standout in football and baseball...
took a safety in order to get a free kick. That, and Sam Baker's field goal, gave the Redskins an 18-10 lead to put the game out of reach, and the Lions lost 18–17. The Bears, who had dropped their opener at Baltimore, 28-21, beat Green Bay 38-14 for their sixth straight game, matching Detroit's 6–1 record.
In Week Nine, the Lions dropped their Thanksgiving Day game as Tobin Rote
Tobin Rote
Tobin Cornelius Rote was an American college and professional football player who played quarterback for the NFL's Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions, the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts, and the American Football League's San Diego Chargers and Denver Broncos.-Early life:Rote...
guided Green Bay to three last quarter touchdowns in a 24-20 win. On Sunday, the Cards 38-27 win over Pittsburgh put them a half game out. The Bears cancelled a loss, while the Giants watched a win elude them, as Harlon Hill caught a last-ditch 56 yard touchdown pass from Ed Brown in tying the Giants, 17-17. Both the Bears and the Giants continued to lead their conferences, but only by half a game .
The Cards lost the next two games and any chance at the Eastern title, which the Giants clinched, in part because of a 28–14 win over Washington on December 2. The Western race came down to the Bears and Lions. In Week Ten (December 2), the Lions hosted the Bears and won 42–10, to take the lead. When both teams won the following week, the trip to the championship came down to December 16, the last game of the season, which would have the 9–2 Detroit Lions visiting the 8–2–1 Chicago Bears, who hadn't forgotten the earlier drubbing. The game at Wrigley Field was marked by numerous fights, including a fourth quarter melee involving players, fans, and the police , and a vicious hit well behind the play by the Bears' Ed Meadows
Ed Meadows
Edward Allen Meadows was an American football defensive end in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Washington Redskins...
that knocked Detroit quarterback Bobby Layne
Bobby Layne
Robert Lawrence "Bobby" Layne was an American football quarterback who played for 15 seasons in the National Football League. He played for the Chicago Bears in 1948, the New York Bulldogs in 1949, the Detroit Lions from 1950–1958, and the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1958–1962...
out of the game with a concussion. So, the Bears exacted their revenge with a 38-21 victory. After the game Lions' coach Buddy Parker
Buddy Parker
Raymond "Buddy" Parker is a former football player and coach in the National Football League who served as head coach for three teams: the Chicago Cardinals, the Detroit Lions and the Pittsburgh Steelers....
appealed to the commissioner to punish what the Lions felt was the dirty play of 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...
's Bears, but no ruling was forthcoming.
| Week | WESTERN | EASTERN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 teams (Bal, Det, LA) | 1-0-0 | 3 teams (Cards, NYG, Pit) | 1-0-0 |
| 2 | DETROIT LIONS | 2-0-0 | CHICAGO CARDINALS | 2-0-0 |
| 3 | DETROIT LIONS | 3-0-0 | CHICAGO CARDINALS | 3-0-0 |
| 4 | DETROIT LIONS | 4-0-0 | CHICAGO CARDINALS | 4-0-0 |
| 5 | DETROIT LIONS | 5-0-0 | Tie (Cards, NYG) | 4-1-0 |
| 6 | DETROIT LIONS | 6-0-0 | Tie (Cards, NYG) | 5-1-0 |
| 7 | Tie (Bears, Lions) | 6-1-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 6-1-0 |
| 8 | Tie (Bears, Lions) | 7-1-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 6-2-0 |
| 9 | CHICAGO BEARS | 6-2-1 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 7-1-1 |
| 10 | DETROIT LIONS | 8-2-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 7-2-1 |
| 11 | DETROIT LIONS | 9-2-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 7-3-1 |
| 12 | CHICAGO BEARS | 9-2-1 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 8-3-1 |
Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points AgainstNote: The NFL did not officially count tie games in the standings until 1972
NFL championship game
N.Y. Giants 47, Chi. Bears 7 at Yankee Stadium, New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, December 30, 1956