1932 Chicago Bears season

Season overview

The season started with three consecutive 0–0 ties. After a 2–0 loss to the Packers, the Bears had scored zero points in their first four games. After that, the Bears offense improved starting with a 27–7 victory over the Staten Island Stapletons; while their defense never allowed any team, except for the Portsmouth Spartans on November 13, to score in double-digit points. The Bears were undefeated in their last nine "regular season" games (there was no established playoff system), with six wins – four of which were by shutout – and three ties.

The team that gave the Bears the most trouble was the Portsmouth Spartans. The club tied with the Spartans with identical 6–1 records (ties did not count then and were omitted), so a playoff game was set up to determine a winner. The Bears defeated the Spartans, 9–0 in the first-ever NFL postseason game. The game was played indoors at Chicago Stadium because it was expected to be cold at Wrigley Field, and organizers wanted to maximize the attendance and gate revenue.

For the year, the tandem of Red Grange and Bronko Nagurski again paced the Bears as Grange scored seven touchdowns, whereas Nagurski ran for four and passed for three more. Keith Molesworth also contributed with three touchdowns on his own while passing for three more. Luke Johnsos caught two touchdown passes and scored twice on defense as well. Coach Ralph Jones also found a kicker in Paul "Tiny" Engebretson, who had a league-leading 10 extra-point field goals made.

Despite ending with a league championship, the 1932 season was a financial disaster for the Bears, who lost $18,000 on the season. This was the only year during which the team lost money outside of the 1921 season, when the team's books closed $71.63 in the red.

Schedule

Note: The December 18 game was added to break the tie and is known as the 1932 NFL Playoff Game. It was moved indoors to Chicago Stadium due to inclement weather.

Standings

NFL Playoff Game: [[Chicago Bears]] 9, [[Portsmouth Spartans]] 0

Roster

Players departed from 1931

• Link Lyman, tackle (did not play for unknown reasons)

Future Hall of Fame players

• Red Grange, back
• Bill Hewitt, end (rookie from University of Michigan)
• Bronko Nagurski, fullback
• George Trafton, center

Other leading players

• Carl Brumbaugh, quarterback
• John Doehring, back (rookie)
• Paul Engebretsen, guard/kicker (rookie from Northwestern)
• Luke Johnsos, end
• Joe Kopcha, guard (back after two years off)
• Keith Molesworth, back
• Dick Nesbitt, back
• Ookie Miller, center

Awards

• NFL Championship (2)

References

References

1. (2010). "Chicago Bears". ABDO.
2. "1932 Chicago Bears Starters, Roster, & Players".
3. "Tiny Engebretsen NFL stats". Sports Reference LLC.
4. Richard Whittingham, ''The Chicago Bears: An Illustrated History.'' Chicago: Rand McNally & Co., 1979; p. 84.
5. Wilfrid Smith, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-bears-whip-giants-60/161022826/ "Bears Whip Giants, 6–0; Stay in Race for Title: Johnsos Takes Pass on Trick Play to Score,"] ''Chicago Tribune,'' Dec. 5, 1932, pp. 27, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-bears-whip-giants-60/161022604/ 29].