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1923 Chicago Bears season

NFL team season

1923 Chicago Bears season

NFL team season

FieldValue
teamChicago Bears
year1923
record9–2–1 (NFL)
(9–2–2 overall)
league_place2nd NFL
ownerGeorge S. Halas,
Dutch Sternaman
coachGeorge Halas
stadiumCubs Park
playoffs
shortnavlinkBears seasons

(9–2–2 overall) Dutch Sternaman

The 1923 Chicago Bears season was their fourth regular season completed in the National Football League. The team was able to improve on their 9–3 record from 1922 and finished with a 9–2–1 record under head coach/player George Halas earning them a second-place finish in the team standings earning, the third time in the last four years. As was normal for those days, the Bears played a few games on the road at the beginning of the season and then finished the season with a 9-game homestand.

The Bears started very slow, losing 2 of their first 4 games and scoring only 6 points during those games (their two wins were both won 3–0). After losing 6–0 to eventual champion Canton Bulldogs in week 4, the Bears went undefeated after that. As in 1922, the Sternaman brothers — team co-owner and halfback Dutch and little brother quarterback Joey — starred, combining to score 5 touchdowns, 6 field goals, and 8 PATs. Johnny Bryan emerged as a scoring threat as well, running for 4 scores and passing for another.

Grainy newspaper photo of George Halas, co-owner, coach, and starting right end for the Chicago Bears, 1923. Ends in this era were linemen, who often proved their mettle as stout tacklers on defense.

In week 6's game against the Oorang Indians, George Halas set an NFL record with a 98-yard fumble return — a mark which stood until Jack Tatum broke it with a 104-yard Fumble Return against the Green Bay Packers in 1972.

Schedule

Chicago Bearsyear=1923border=2}}"GameChicago Bearsyear=1923border=2}}"DateChicago Bearsyear=1923border=2}}"OpponentChicago Bearsyear=1923border=2}}"ResultChicago Bearsyear=1923border=2}}"RecordChicago Bearsyear=1923border=2}}"VenueChicago Bearsyear=1923border=2}}"AttendanceChicago Bearsyear=1923border=2}}"RecapChicago Bearsyear=1923border=2}}"Sources123456789101112—
September 30at Rock Island IndependentsL 0–30–1Douglas Park3,000Recap
October 7at Racine LegionW 3–01–1Horlick Field5,000Recap
October 14at Green Bay PackersW 3–02–1Bellevue Field4,451Recap
October 21Canton BulldogsL 0–62–2Cubs ParkRecap
October 28Buffalo All-AmericansW 18–33–2Cubs ParkRecap
November 4Oorang IndiansW 26–04–2Cubs Park1,000Recap
November 11Akron ProsW 20–65–2Cubs Park4,000Recap
November 18Rock Island IndependentsW 7–36–2Cubs Park6,500Recap
November 25Hammond ProsW 14–77–2Cubs Park3,500Recap
November 29Chicago CardinalsW 3–08–2Cubs Park13,500Recap
December 2Milwaukee BadgersT 0–08–2–1Cubs Park"a big crowd"Recap
December 9Rock Island IndependentsW 29–79–2–1Cubs Park6,000Recap
December 16Milwaukee BadgersT 7–7—Cubs Park8,000—
Note: Game in italics not recognized as official in league statistics. Thanksgiving Day: November 29.

Standings

Roster

Future Hall of Fame players

  • George Halas, end
  • Ed Healey
  • George Trafton, center

Other leading players

  • Dutch Sternaman, halfback
  • Joe Sternaman, quarterback
  • Laurie Walquist, quarterback
  • Hunk Anderson, guard
  • Johnny Bryan, back

References

References

  1. Following the ''Chicago Tribune,'' Pro Football Reference has this crowd at 3,500. Two local Rock Island sources indicate 3,000, however.
  2. Art Williams, [Independents Batter Famous Bears, 3 to 0: Sies' Place Kick, Following 15-Yard Penalty on Bruins, Win in Wicked Battle,"] ''Rock Island Argus,'' Oct. 1, 1923, p. 12.
  3. Pat Patten, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-independents-down-bears-3/163641209/ "Independents Down Bears, 3–0, by Wonderful Display of Football: Place Kick from 30-Yard Line Decides Contest,"] ''Moline Dispatch,'' Oct. 1, 1923, p. 15.
  4. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-islanders-3-bears-0/163679399/ "Islanders, 3; Bears, 0,"] ''Chicago Tribune,'' Oct. 1, 1923, p. 27.
  5. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/green-bay-press-gazette-chicago-bears-in/164281533/ "Chicago Bears in 3 to 0 Win Over Racine Gridders,"] ''Green Bay Press-Gazette,'' Oct. 8, 1923, p. 11.
  6. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-henrys-two-kicks-defeat/164042462/ "Henry's Two Kicks Defeat Bears in Debut at Home,"] ''Chicago Tribune,'' Oct. 22, 1923, p. 28.
  7. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-canton-cleans-chic/175964139/ "Canton Cleans Chicago Bears by Two Kicks: Boots if Fourth Period by Henry Give Bulldogs 6 to 0 Win Over Halas Men,"] ''Rock Island Argus,'' Oct. 23, 1923, p. 16.
  8. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/quad-city-times-bears-lose-to-canton-on/175964528/ "Bears Lose to Canton on Two Boots by 6 to 0: Bulldogs Triumph in Last Quarter on Goals from the Field,"] ''Davenport Democrat and Leader,'' Oct. 23, 1923, p. 7.
  9. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review-bears-humble-buffalo/164281631/ "Bears Humble Buffalo, 18–3: Dutch Sternaman Makes All Scores for Halas' Eleven,"] ''Decatur Herald,'' Oct. 29, 1923, p. 8.
  10. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-sternamans-scores-beat/164281675/ "Sternaman's Scores Beat Buffaloes, 18–3: Bears Slap Bisons,"] ''Chicago Tribune,'' Oct. 29, 1923, p. 26.
  11. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-bears-take-buffalo/164281725/ "Bears Take Buffalo: 'Dutch' Scores Two Touchdowns and As Many Field Goals in North Side Game,"] ''Rock Island Argus,'' Oct. 29, 1923, p. 14.
  12. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-weakk-punting-helps-bea/164281780/ "Weak Punting Helps Bears Defeat Buffalo: All-Americans Are Greatly Handicapped by Absence of Flavin,"] ''Buffalo News,'' Oct. 29, 1923, p. 23.
  13. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-milwaukee-holds-be/163693217/ "Milwaukee Holds Bears to Scoreless Tie: 'Bo' McMillin Performing on Conzelman's Team Furnishes Thrills in Wicked Encounter,"] ''Rock Island Argus,'' Dec. 3, 1923, p. 15.
  14. Irving Vaughan, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-bears-and-milwaukee-pros/163693455/ "Bears and Milwaukee Pros Battle 0–0 Grid Deadlock,"] ''Chicago Tribune,'' Dec. 3, 1923, p. 25.
  15. [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-rock-island-argus-bears-battle-milwa/163752314/ "Bears Battle Milwaukee to 7–7 Deadlock: Muddy Field Handicaps Both pro League Teams in Second Draw Contest of Season,"] ''Rock Island Argus,'' Dec. 17, 1923, p. 23.
  16. Irving Vaughan, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/chicago-tribune-field-goal-tries-miss-b/163692487/ "Field Goal Tries Miss, But Bears Tie Badgers, 7-7,"] ''Chicago Tribune,'' Dec. 17, 1923, p. 19.
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