Million Dollar Backfield
Encyclopedia
The Million Dollar Backfield was a nickname
given to two historical backfield
s in the National Football League
. It was first used to describe the offensive attack of the then-Chicago Cardinals in 1947
after an unprecedented amount of money by Cardinals owner Charles Bidwill
lured several of the days top players to the team. The Million Dollar backfield was also referred to separately as the Dream Backfield by Bidwill.
In 1954
, the term was used again to describe the backfield of the San Francisco 49ers
, which would go on to produce four Hall of Famers
. This 49ers backfield was also referred to in circles as the Fabulous Foursome.
, professional football experienced an increase in popularity. The Cardinals hired Jimmy Conzelman as their new head coach
. Soon afterwards Conzelman implemented the “T” formation
. He then drafted quarterback Paul Christman in 1945
to run the offense. A year later, fullback Pat Harder and halfback Elmer Angsman were added to the line-up.
It was around this time that the upstart AAFC
placed a team in Chicago
, the Rockets
. The new AAFC franchise publicly pushed for the Cardinals to leave town, since the city had three major football teams. Bidwill grew angry and vowed to turn his team into a profitable winner. He stunned the football world in 1947
when he outbid the Rockets for the rights to All-American, Charley Trippi, signing him to a then unprecedented $100,000 contract. Trippi was the final piece of what Bidwill called his "Million Dollar Backfield" of Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg, and Trippi. The quartet led the Cardinals to defeated their cross-town nemesis, the Chicago Bears
, in the season finale to win the NFL's Western Division title with 9-3-0 record. The backfield then led the team to their first and only undisputed NFL championship in 1947. Sadly Charles Bidwill did not live see his "Million Dollar Backfield" win the 1947 title; he had died of pneumonia
shortly after signing Trippi.
with the team's signing of fullback Joe Perry. In 1951
quarterback Y.A. Tittle was signed by the team. The next year the 49ers drafted Hugh McElhenny, fullback, in the first round to complement Tittle and Perry. The final piece of the puzzle came in 1954, when John Henry Johnson joined the team.
For three seasons the "Million Dollar Backfield" challenged opposing defenses with Tittle's arm, the power of Perry and Johnson and the exciting elusiveness of McElhenny. During their first year together, the 49ers' backfield shattered the team record for rushing yards in a season. Perry posted 1,000 yards in two straight seasons and by 1956 he became the NFL's all-time leading rusher. With the extremely potent offense, many thought San Francisco was due to win a NFL Championship, but defensive problems landed the 49ers in third place behind the Detroit Lions
and Chicago Bears in 1954. San Francisco's "Million Dollar Backfield" was disbanded before it could win a championship in 1957
, when John Henry Johnson was traded to Detroit. The backfield of Tittle, Perry, and McElhenny remained intact through the 1960 season
.
The 49ers' "Million Dollar Backfield" is currently the only full-house backfield to have all four of its members enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
.
On June 9, 2011, it was announced that Johnson and Perry, who died within months of each other, would have their brains examined by researchers at Boston University
who are studying head injuries in sports. Both men were suspected of suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy
, a disorder linked to repeated brain trauma.
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
given to two historical backfield
Backfield
The backfield is the area of an American football field behind the line of scrimmage. The backfield or offensive backfield can also refer to members of offense who begin plays behind the line, typically including any backs on the field, such as the quarterback, running back, and/or fullback.-Play...
s 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...
. It was first used to describe the offensive attack of the then-Chicago Cardinals in 1947
1947 NFL season
The 1947 NFL season was the 28th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season by one game from eleven games per team to twelve, a number that remained constant until the 1961 season....
after an unprecedented amount of money by Cardinals owner Charles Bidwill
Charles Bidwill
Charles W. Bidwill , sometimes known as Charley Bidwill, was an owner of the NFL's Chicago Cardinals. He owned the team for 14 seasons from 1933 until 1947. His interest in sports was demonstrated by his two aims in life: to win an NFL Championship and the Kentucky Derby...
lured several of the days top players to the team. The Million Dollar backfield was also referred to separately as the Dream Backfield by Bidwill.
In 1954
1954 NFL season
The 1954 NFL season was the 35th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Cleveland Browns defeated the Detroit Lions in the NFL Championship Game.-Major rule changes:...
, the term was used again to describe the backfield of the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, which would go on to produce four Hall of Famers
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
. This 49ers backfield was also referred to in circles as the Fabulous Foursome.
Line-up
- Elmer AngsmanElmer AngsmanElmer Angsman was an American football running back in the NFL.He was born on the south side of Chicago in 1925, the son of Elmer and Helen Angsman...
- halfbackHalfback (American football)A halfback, sometimes referred to as a tailback, is an offensive position in American football, which lines up in the backfield and generally is responsible for carrying the ball on run plays. Historically, from the 1870s through the 1950s, the halfback position was both an offensive and defensive... - Paul ChristmanPaul ChristmanPaul Joseph Christman was an American football player and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. He played college football for the University of Missouri and professionally for the Chicago Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.-Collegiate career:A St...
-quarterbackQuarterbackQuarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line... - Marshall GoldbergMarshall GoldbergMarshall Goldberg was an American football halfback with the Chicago Cardinals in the National Football League.- Football career :Goldberg was born in Elkins, West Virginia...
-halfback - Pat HarderPat HarderMarlin M. "Pat" Harder was a college and professional football player, playing fullback and kicker. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993....
- fullbackFullback (American football)A fullback is a position in the offensive backfield in American and Canadian football, and is one of the two running back positions along with the halfback... - Charley TrippiCharley TrippiCharles Louis Trippi is a former professional American football player for the Chicago Cardinals. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968.Mr. Trippi currently resides in Athens, Georgia...
- halfback/quarterback
History
After World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, professional football experienced an increase in popularity. The Cardinals hired Jimmy Conzelman as their new head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
. Soon afterwards Conzelman implemented the “T” formation
T formation
In American football, a T formation is a formation used by the offensive team in which three running backs line up in a row about five yards behind the quarterback, forming the shape of a "T"....
. He then drafted quarterback Paul Christman in 1945
1945 NFL season
The 1945 NFL season was the 26th regular season of the National Football League. The Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Cardinals resumed their traditional operations....
to run the offense. A year later, fullback Pat Harder and halfback Elmer Angsman were added to the line-up.
It was around this time that the upstart AAFC
All-America Football Conference
The All-America Football Conference was a professional American football league that challenged the established National Football League from 1946 to 1949. One of the NFL's most formidable challengers, the AAFC attracted many of the nation's best players, and introduced many lasting innovations...
placed a team in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, the Rockets
Chicago Rockets
The Chicago Rockets was an American football team that played in the All-America Football Conference from 1946 to 1949. During the 1949 season, the team was known as the Chicago Hornets...
. The new AAFC franchise publicly pushed for the Cardinals to leave town, since the city had three major football teams. Bidwill grew angry and vowed to turn his team into a profitable winner. He stunned the football world in 1947
1947 NFL season
The 1947 NFL season was the 28th regular season of the National Football League. The league expanded the regular season by one game from eleven games per team to twelve, a number that remained constant until the 1961 season....
when he outbid the Rockets for the rights to All-American, Charley Trippi, signing him to a then unprecedented $100,000 contract. Trippi was the final piece of what Bidwill called his "Million Dollar Backfield" of Paul Christman, Pat Harder, Marshall Goldberg, and Trippi. The quartet led the Cardinals to defeated their cross-town nemesis, 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 season finale to win the NFL's Western Division title with 9-3-0 record. The backfield then led the team to their first and only undisputed NFL championship in 1947. Sadly Charles Bidwill did not live see his "Million Dollar Backfield" win the 1947 title; he had died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
shortly after signing Trippi.
Line-up
- John Henry JohnsonJohn Henry JohnsonJohn Henry Johnson was an American football fullback. He played from 1954 to 1965 for the San Francisco 49ers, the Detroit Lions, and the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League...
#35 -fullback - Joe PerryJoe Perry (American football)Fletcher Joseph "Joe" Perry was a professional American football fullback for the San Francisco 49ers from 1948 to 1950 , then 1950 to 1960 when the 49ers were absorbed into the NFL, the Baltimore Colts from 1961–1962, and finally back to the 49ers for his final year in football,...
#34 -fullback - Hugh McElhennyHugh McElhennyHugh Edward McElhenny is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played from 1952–1964, for the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions. He was noted for his explosive, elusive running style and was frequently called "The...
#39 -halfback - Y.A. Tittle #64 -quarterback
History
The San Francisco 49ers' "Million Dollar Backfield" began its construction in 19461946 NFL season
The 1946 NFL season was the 27th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, Elmer Layden resigned as NFL Commissioner and Bert Bell, co-founder of the Philadelphia Eagles, replaced him...
with the team's signing of fullback Joe Perry. In 1951
1951 NFL season
The 1951 NFL season was the 32nd regular season of the National Football League. Prior to the season, Baltimore Colts owner Abraham Watner faced financial difficulties, and thus gave his team and its player contracts back to the league for $50,000. However, many Baltimore fans started to protest...
quarterback Y.A. Tittle was signed by the team. The next year the 49ers drafted Hugh McElhenny, fullback, in the first round to complement Tittle and Perry. The final piece of the puzzle came in 1954, when John Henry Johnson joined the team.
For three seasons the "Million Dollar Backfield" challenged opposing defenses with Tittle's arm, the power of Perry and Johnson and the exciting elusiveness of McElhenny. During their first year together, the 49ers' backfield shattered the team record for rushing yards in a season. Perry posted 1,000 yards in two straight seasons and by 1956 he became the NFL's all-time leading rusher. With the extremely potent offense, many thought San Francisco was due to win a NFL Championship, but defensive problems landed the 49ers in third place behind the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
and Chicago Bears in 1954. San Francisco's "Million Dollar Backfield" was disbanded before it could win a championship in 1957
1957 NFL season
The 1957 NFL season was the 38th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended when the Detroit Lions crushed the Cleveland Browns in the NFL Championship Game, 59–14.-Major rule changes:...
, when John Henry Johnson was traded to Detroit. The backfield of Tittle, Perry, and McElhenny remained intact through the 1960 season
1960 NFL season
The 1960 NFL season was the 41st regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, Pete Rozelle was elected NFL commissioner as a compromise choice on the twenty-third ballot. Meanwhile, the league expanded to 13 teams with the addition of the Dallas Cowboys. Also, the Cardinals...
.
The 49ers' "Million Dollar Backfield" is currently the only full-house backfield to have all four of its members enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
.
On June 9, 2011, it was announced that Johnson and Perry, who died within months of each other, would have their brains examined by researchers at Boston University
Boston University
Boston University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. With more than 4,000 faculty members and more than 31,000 students, Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States and one of Boston's largest employers...
who are studying head injuries in sports. Both men were suspected of suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a progressive degenerative disease found in individuals who have been subjected to multiple concussions and other forms of head injury. A variant of the condition, dementia pugilistica, is primarily associated with boxing...
, a disorder linked to repeated brain trauma.