The 1939 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...

 Championship game was held on December 10, 1939 at Wisconsin State Fair Park

Wisconsin State Fair Park

The Wisconsin State Fair Park is a fairgrounds and exhibition center in the Milwaukee suburb of West Allis, Wisconsin, USA. It has been the location of the Wisconsin State Fair since 1892. It also hosts other venues such as the Milwaukee Mile, the oldest continuously operating motor speedway in...

 in West Allis near Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Milwaukee is the largest city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, the 28th most populous city in the United States and 39th most populous region in the United States. It is the county seat of Milwaukee County and is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan. According to 2010 census data, the...

. This was the seventh NFL championship game played. 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...

 defeated 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...

 to win their fifth title—two more than any other franchise.

Game summary

The Western Division champion Packers (9–2) played the Eastern Division champions Giants (9–1–1). By beating the Giants, Green Bay avenged its 1938 title game loss to New York and scored the first shutout in NFL playoff history.

The Packers moved the game from Green Bay

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...

 to the larger city of Milwaukee in hopes of increasting attendance; 32,279 would pay to watch. The gross gate receipts of $83,510.35 set a new record. The gate was distributed as follows:

• The 33 players on the victorious Packers each received $703.97 ($23,231.01 total)
• The 34 Giants players each got $455.57 ($15,489.38)
• The Packers franchise took $23,231.06
• The Giants received $15,487.37

Scoring summary

Scoring Play	Score
1st Quarter
GB – Milt Gantenbein Milt Gantenbein Milton Edward Gantenbein was an American football player who played End for the Green Bay Packers from 1931 to 1940.# - # - #REPORTED BY: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel...  7 pass from Arnie Herber Arnie Herber Arnold "Arnie" Charles Herber was a professional American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1966...  (Paul "Tiny" Engebretsen kick)	GB 7–0
2nd Quarter
no scoring
3rd Quarter
GB – Engebretsen 29 yard field goal	GB 10–0
GB – Joe Laws Joe Laws Joe Laws was an American football player. He played his entire career with the Green Bay Packers, winning three World Championships, and was inducted into the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame in 1972. Prior to joining the Packers, Laws attended the University of Iowa where he was a member of the...  31 yard pass from Cecil Isbell Cecil Isbell -Pro:-External links:...  (Engebretsen kick)	GB 17–0
4th Quarter
GB – Ernie Smith Ernie Smith Ernest Frederick Smith was an American football offensive tackle under coach Howard Jones of the University of Southern California. He also handled the placekicking and kickoff duties for the men of Troy...  42 yard field goal	GB 20–0
GB – Ed Jankowski 1 yard run (Smith kick) 27-0 GB	GB 27–0

Statistics

Source: The Spokesman-Review	New York Giants	Green Bay Packers
First downs	7	10
Yards gained rushing (net)	56	131
Forward passes attempted	26	10
Forward passes completed	9	7
Yards by forward passing	98	99
Yards lost, attempted forward passes	12	8
Yards gained, run back of intercepted passes	27	39
Punting average (from scrimmage)	32	38
Total yards all kicks returned	98	35
Opponents fumbles recovered	0	0
Yards lost by penalties	20	50