1942 NFL season
Regular season | |
---|---|
Duration | September 13 – December 13, 1942 |
East Champions | Washington Redskins |
West Champions | Chicago Bears |
Championship Game | |
Champions | Washington Redskins |
The 1942 NFL season was the 23rd
regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, many players left for service in World War II
, thus depleting the rosters of all the teams.
The
1940 title game, got a measure of revenge in spoiling the Bears' hope for a perfect season
, winning 14–6.
Draft
The
Palmer House Hotel. With the first pick, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected runningback Bill Dudley from the University of Virginia
.
Major rule changes
- The use of flags on flexible shafts to mark the intersections of goal lines and side lines (the predecessor to the pylon) becomes mandatory.
- A clarification to the offsides rule is added: The center or snapper is not offsides unless a portion of his body is ahead of the defensive team's line.
- A half cannot end on a double foul. Instead, the period will be extended by one untimed down.
- Detachable kicking toes are prohibited.
- When an encroachment or false start causes the other team to be offsides, only the initial foul is penalized.
- A forward pass that first touches an ineligible receiver may be intercepted.
- If the offensive team commits pass interference in their opponent's end zone, it is an automatic touchback.
Final standings
|
|
NFL Championship Game
Washington 14, Chi. Bears 6, at Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C., December 13, 1942
League leaders
Statistic | Name | Team | Yards |
---|---|---|---|
Passing | Cecil Isbell | Green Bay | 2021 |
Rushing | Bill Dudley | Pittsburgh | 696 |
Receiving | Don Hutson | Green Bay | 1211 |
Awards
Joe F. Carr Trophy (Most Valuable Player) | Don Hutson, Wide receiver, Green Bay |
Coaching changes
- Brooklyn Dodgers: Jock Sutherland was replaced by Mike Getto.
- Chicago Bears: George Halas stepped down after five games in 1942 to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. In his place, Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos served as co-coaches of the Bears.
- Detroit Lions: Bill Edwards was released after three games in 1942. John Karcis served for the final eight games.
Stadium changes
- The Cleveland Municipal Stadium to League Park
- The Philadelphia Municipal Stadium to Shibe Park, where they played in 1940
References
- NFL Record and Fact Book (ISBN 1-932994-36-X)
- NFL History 1941–1950 (Last accessed December 4, 2005)
- Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League (ISBN 0-06-270174-6)