The 1923 Cleveland Indians season was their first in the National Football League (NFL). The team finished with a record of 3âÂÂ1âÂÂ3, fifth in the league by winning percentage.
The team also canceled one home game with the Toledo Maroons due to poor attendance, with just 400 fans paying admission. Team owner Sam H. Deutsch declaring that if he had allowed the two squads to take the field, he would have lost $7,500 due to salaries, guarantees to the visiting team, park rental fees, and other incidentals. Cleveland was not forced to absorb a forfeit for their failure to play, despite the fact that both teams were present and ready to take the field. Deutsch asserted that he still lost $2,500 on the day despite having stopped the contest.