National Football League (NFL)
1933 NFL Season Overview

Leagues Football NFL 1933 Season Overview

The NFL, which long had followed the rules of college football, made a number of significant changes from the college game for the first time and began to develop rules serving its needs and the style of play it preferred. The innovations from the 1932 championship game-inbounds line or hashmarks and goal posts on the goal lines-were adopted. Also the forward pass was legalized from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage, February 25. Marshall and Halas pushed through a proposal that divided the NFL into two divisions, with the winners to meet in an annual championship game, July 8. Three new franchises joined the league-the Pittsburgh Pirates of Art Rooney, the Philadelphia Eagles of Bert Bell and Lud Wray, and the Cincinnati Reds. The Staten Island Stapletons suspended operations for a year, but never returned to the league. Halas bought out Sternaman, became sole owner of the Bears, and reinstated himself as head coach. Marshall changed the name of the Boston Braves to the Redskins. David Jones sold the Chicago Cardinals to Charles W. Bidwill. In the first NFL Championship Game scheduled before the season, the Western Division champion Bears defeated the Eastern Division champion Giants 23-21 at Wrigley Field, December 17.

The NFL, which long had followed the rules of college football, made a number of significant changes from the college game for the first time and began to develop rules serving its needs and the style of play it preferred. The innovations from the 1932 championship game-inbounds line or hashmarks and goal posts on the goal lines-were adopted. Also the forward pass was legalized from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage, February 25. Marshall and Halas pushed through a proposal that divided the NFL into two divisions, with the winners to meet in an annual championship game, July 8. Three new franchises joined the league-the Pittsburgh Pirates of Art Rooney, the Philadelphia Eagles of Bert Bell and Lud Wray, and the Cincinnati Reds. The Staten Island Stapletons suspended operations for a year, but never returned to the league. Halas bought out Sternaman, became sole owner of the Bears, and reinstated himself as head coach. Marshall changed the name of the Boston Braves to the Redskins. David Jones sold the Chicago Cardinals to Charles W. Bidwill. In the first NFL Championship Game scheduled before the season, the Western Division champion Bears defeated the Eastern Division champion Giants 23-21 at Wrigley Field, December 17.

1933 NFL champion Chicago Bears

1933 Chicago Bears

1933 NFL Season
Chicago Bears

10 teams competed during the regular season

Chicago Bears defeated New York Giants for the championship

League Note
The origin of the modern day NFL began as the league adopted a post-season championship game, took control of scheduling for each team, and established rules allowing the forward pass.

League President

Related Content

Stories, Photos, Videos, Podcasts, and Publications featuring National Football League 1933 Season

F i l t e r & S o r t

2021 NFL Season Recap

2021 NFL Season Recap

2021 · Awards · Broadcasting · Draft Picks · Playoffs

1934 Boston Redskins Team Photo

1934 Boston Redskins Team Photo

1934 · Coaches · Uniforms

1934 Pittsburgh Football Team Photo

1934 Pittsburgh Football Team Photo

1934 · Uniforms

1934 Redskins dominated Pittsburgh

1934 Redskins dominated Pittsburgh

1934 · Publications

Jim Brown was a beast

Jim Brown was a beast

Top 3 Quarterbacks of the 1930s & 1940s

Top 3 Quarterbacks of the 1930s & 1940s

Coach Lambeau hired by Chicago Cardinals

Coach Lambeau hired by Chicago Cardinals

1950 · Coaches

Johnny Unitas with the San Diego Chargers in his final season

Johnny Unitas with the San Diego Chargers in his final season

1934 Chicago Bears…almost perfect

1934 Chicago Bears…almost perfect

1934 · Publications