| Type: | nflc |
| 1946 | |
| Visitor: | Chicago Bears |
| Home: | New York Giants |
| Visitor Coach: | George Halas |
| Home Coach: | Steve Owen |
| Visitor Conf: | Western |
| Home Conf: | Eastern |
| Visitor Abbr: | CHI |
| Home Abbr: | NYG |
| Visitor Record: | 8–2–1 |
| Home Record: | 7–3–1 |
| Visitor Qtr1: | 14 |
| Visitor Qtr2: | 0 |
| Visitor Qtr3: | 0 |
| Visitor Qtr4: | 10 |
| Visitor Total: | 24 |
| Home Qtr1: | 7 |
| Home Qtr2: | 0 |
| Home Qtr3: | 7 |
| Home Qtr4: | 0 |
| Home Total: | 14 |
| Date: | December 15, 1946 |
| Stadium: | Polo Grounds |
| City: | New York City |
| Odds: | Chicago by 7–10 points |
| Referee: | Ronald Gibbs |
| Attendance: | 58,346 |
| Radio: | ABC |
| Radioannouncers: | Harry Wismer |
| Hofers: | Bears: George Halas (owner/coach), Sid Luckman, George McAfee, Ed Sprinkle, Joe Stydahar, Bulldog Turner Giants: Tim Mara (owner/founder), Wellington Mara (administrator), Steve Owen (coach), Ken Strong |
The 1946 NFL Championship Game was the 14th annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), played December 15 at the Polo Grounds in New York City,[1] with a record-breaking attendance of
The game matched the New York Giants (7–3–1), champions of the Eastern Division, against the Western Division champion Chicago Bears (8–2–1). The Giants had won the regular season game at the Polo Grounds seven weeks earlier on October 27,[2] but the Bears were seven to ten point
This was the fifth and final NFL Championship game played at the Polo Grounds and the fourth of six meetings between the Bears and Giants in the title game.
Tied after three quarters, Chicago won 24–14 for their seventh NFL title,[3] their fifth victory in eight NFL championship game appearances. The attendance record stood for another nine years, until the 1955 title game in Los Angeles.
The day before the game, two of the Giants' players, Frank Filchock and Merle Hapes, were accused of taking bribes to fix the game from Alvin Paris. Mayor William O'Dwyer subsequently informed Jack Mara, Wellington Mara and Bert Bell of the police evidence against the two.[4]
Hours later, the four met at Gracie Mansion, and the mayor interviewed the players one at a time.[4] [5] Under questioning, Hapes admitted that he was offered a bribe, but Filchock denied being offered it.
Several hours later, Paris was arrested, and during his police interview made a full confession to bribing the players: Hapes was suspended by Bell, but Filchock was allowed to play.[6] During Paris' trial weeks later, Filchock admitting taking the bribe under
Sunday, December 15, 1946
Kickoff: 2 p.m. EST
The NFL had only four game officials in ; the back judge was added the following season in, the line judge in, and the side judge in .
The gross receipts for the game, including radio and picture rights, was just under $283,000. Each player on the winning Bear team received $1,975, while Giants players made $1,295 each.[7]