1940 NFL season

The 1940 NFL season was the 21st regular season of the National Football League. The ten teams of the league each played an 11 game schedule, for a total of 55 regular season games.

The season ended on December 8, when the Chicago Bears defeated the Washington Redskins in the NFL Championship Play-off Game by a score of 73Ã¢ÂÂ0 in front of 36,034 fans. This result still stands as the most one-sided victory (and highest score) in NFL history as of the 2025 season.

Draft

The 1940 NFL draft was held on December 9, 1939, at Milwaukee's Schroeder Hotel. With the first pick, the Chicago Cardinals selected halfback George Cafego from the University of Tennessee. The meeting of owners was held in conjunction with the 1939 Championship Play-off, held in Milwaukee between the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants the following day.

The draft encompassed 22 rounds and saw the selection of 200 players but only produced two future members of the Professional Football Hall of Fame Ã¢ÂÂ quarterback and defensive back George McAfee, taken by the Philadelphia Eagles with the second overall pick, and center and linebacker Clyde "Bulldog" Turner, picked by the Chicago Bears seventh overall.

Major changes for 1940

Rules changes

The rule requiring players removed for substitutes be ineligible for return until a subsequent quarter, with the exception of two permitted returning players in the fourth quarter, remained unchanged.

Other important changes were enacted by the NFL for its 1940 season, however. These included:

The penalty for clipping was reduced from 25 yards to 15 yards.

A penalty committed in the field of play could no longer carry the ball more than half the distance to the offender's goal line.

For offensive pass interference committed in the end zone, the defense now had the option of placing the ball 15 yards from the previous spot with a loss of down, or taking the ball on the 20 yard line via touchback.

Penalties for fouls that occur prior to a pass or kick from behind the line of scrimmage were to be enforced from the previous spot. However, penalties for fouls during a free ball or when the offensive team fouls behind their line were to be enforced from the spot of the foul.

Coaching changes

Brooklyn Dodgers: Potsy Clark was replaced by Jock Sutherland.
Chicago Cardinals: Ernie Nevers was replaced by Jimmy Conzelman.
Detroit Lions: Gus Henderson was replaced by George Clark.

Team name changes

The Pittsburgh Pirates were rebranded as the Steelers before the 1940 season.

Stadium changes

The Detroit Lions played full time at University of Detroit Stadium, no longer splitting home games with Briggs Stadium
The Philadelphia Eagles moved from Philadelphia Municipal Stadium to Shibe Park

Final standings

NFL Championship Play-off Game

The NFL's champion was determined with a single "Championship Play-off Game" on December 8 between the Western champion Chicago Bears and the Eastern champion Washington Redskins at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC. A total of 36,034 fans were in attendance, generating gross gate receipts of $112,508 ($3.12 per patron). The game still stands as the greatest whitewash in the history of the NFL, with Bill Osmanski of the Bears breaking free on a 68 yard touchdown run on the third play of the game and Chicago never looking back en route to a 73Ã¢ÂÂ0 victory.

Team statistics

Individual leaders

Rushing

Receiving

Passing

Awards

Joe F. Carr Trophy

The Joe F. Carr Trophy was presented annually by the National League as its Most Valuable Player award.

Clarence "Ace" Parker, quarterback, Brooklyn Dodgers

All-Professional Team

The "1940 All-Professional Team" was selected by National Professional Football Writers' Association. The New York Giants and Washington Redskins were each represented by four members of the 22-man squad. There were also 22 players added to an "Honorable Mention" list.