Harman Patil (Editor)

1932 Chicago Bears season

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League place
  
1st NFL

Start date
  
1932

Home field
  
Wrigley Field

Playoff finish
  
NFL Champions

Head coach
  
Ralph Jones

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Record
  
7–1–6 (Home: 6–1–2) (Road: 1–0–4)

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1931 Chicago Bears season

The 1932 Chicago Bears season was their 13th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 7–1–6 record under third year head coach Ralph Jones.

Contents

Season Overview

The season started strangely with three consecutive 0–0 ties. After a 0–2 loss to the Packers, the Bears had scored zero points in four games. After that, the offense got on track and the defense stayed incredibly stingy. The Bears were undefeated in their last nine "regular season" games (there was no established playoff system), with six wins, four by shutout, and three ties.

The team that gave the Bears the most trouble were 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, which oddly enough 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 powerful tandem of Red Grange and Bronko Nagurski again paced the Bears as Grange scored 7 touchdowns and Nagurski ran for 4 and also passed for 3 more. Keith Molesworth also contributed with 3 touchdowns on his own while passing for 3 more. Luke Johnsos had probably his finest season, catching two touchdown passes and scoring twice on defense as well. Coach Ralph Jones also found a reliable kicker in Paul "Tiny" Engebretson.

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
  • Dermot Rice, Running Back

    Players Departed from 1931

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

    The December 18 game was added to break the tie and is known as the 1932 NFL Playoff Game

    Standings

    Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
    1 The Bears and Spartans records include the result of the 1932 NFL Playoff Game. Thus, the Spartans are ranked third with a lower winning percentage than the Packers.

    Awards

  • NFL Championship (2)
  • References

    1932 Chicago Bears season Wikipedia