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1923 Chicago Bears season

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Bears co-owner and offensive star Dutch Sternaman misses a field goal in a 6–0 loss to the visiting Canton Bulldogs at Cubs Park (Wrigley Field), October 21, 1923.
1923 Chicago Bears season
OwnerGeorge S. Halas,
Dutch Sternaman
Head coachGeorge Halas
Home fieldCubs Park
Results
Record9–2–1 (NFL)
(9–2–2 overall)
League place2nd NFL

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.

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

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Regular season

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Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources
1 September 30 at Rock Island Independents L 0–3 0–1 Douglas Park 3,000 [1] Recap [2][3][4]
2 October 7 at Racine Legion W 3–0 1–1 Horlick Field 5,000 Recap [5]
3 October 14 at Green Bay Packers W 3–0 2–1 Bellevue Field 4,451 Recap
4 October 21 Canton Bulldogs L 0–6 2–2 Cubs Park Recap [6]
5 October 28 Buffalo All-Americans W 18–3 3–2 Cubs Park Recap [7][8][9][10]
6 November 4 Oorang Indians W 26–0 4–2 Cubs Park 1,000 Recap
7 November 11 Akron Pros W 20–6 5–2 Cubs Park 4,000 Recap
8 November 18 Rock Island Independents W 7–3 6–2 Cubs Park 6,500 Recap
9 November 25 Hammond Pros W 14–7 7–2 Cubs Park 3,500 Recap
10 November 29 Chicago Cardinals W 3–0 8–2 Cubs Park 13,500 Recap
11 December 2 Milwaukee Badgers T 0–0 8–2–1 Cubs Park "a big crowd" Recap [11][12]
12 December 9 Rock Island Independents W 29–7 9–2–1 Cubs Park 6,000 Recap
— December 16 Milwaukee Badgers T 7–7 — Cubs Park 8,000 — [13][14]
Note: Game in italics not recognized as official in league statistics. Thanksgiving Day: November 29.

Standings

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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.
NFL standings
W L T PCT PF PA STK
Canton Bulldogs 11 0 1 1.000 246 19 W5
Chicago Bears 9 2 1 .818 123 35 W1
Green Bay Packers 7 2 1 .778 85 34 W5
Milwaukee Badgers 7 2 3 .778 100 49 W1
Cleveland Indians 3 1 3 .750 52 49 L1
Chicago Cardinals 8 4 0 .667 161 56 L1
Duluth Kelleys 4 3 0 .571 35 33 L3
Buffalo All-Americans 5 4 3 .556 94 43 L1
Columbus Tigers 5 4 1 .556 119 35 L1
Toledo Maroons 3 3 2 .500 35 66 L1
Racine Legion 4 4 2 .500 86 76 W1
Rock Island Independents 2 3 3 .400 84 62 L1
Minneapolis Marines 2 5 2 .286 48 81 L1
St. Louis All-Stars 1 4 2 .200 25 74 L1
Hammond Pros 1 5 1 .167 14 59 L4
Akron Pros 1 6 0 .143 25 74 W1
Dayton Triangles 1 6 1 .143 16 95 L2
Oorang Indians 1 10 0 .091 50 257 W1
Louisville Brecks 0 3 0 .000 0 90 L3
Rochester Jeffersons 0 4 0 .000 6 141 L4
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Roster

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Future Hall of Fame players

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Other leading players

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References

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  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, "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. ^ "Islanders, 3; Bears, 0," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 1, 1923, p. 27.
  5. ^ "Chicago Bears in 3 to 0 Win Over Racine Gridders," Green Bay Press-Gazette, Oct. 8, 1923, p. 11.
  6. ^ "Henry's Two Kicks Defeat Bears in Debut at Home," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 22, 1923, p. 28.
  7. ^ "Bears Humble Buffalo, 18–3: Dutch Sternaman Makes All Scores for Halas' Eleven," Decatur Herald, Oct. 29, 1923, p. 8.
  8. ^ "Sternaman's Scores Beat Buffaloes, 18–3: Bears Slap Bisons," Chicago Tribune, Oct. 29, 1923, p. 26.
  9. ^ "Bears Take Buffalo: 'Dutch' Scores Two Touchdowns and As Many Field Goals in North Side Game," Rock Island Argus, Oct. 29, 1923, p. 14.
  10. ^ "Weak Punting Helps Bears Defeat Buffalo: All-Americans Are Greatly Handicapped by Absence of Flavin," Buffalo News, Oct. 29, 1923, p. 23.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ Irving Vaughan, "Bears and Milwaukee Pros Battle 0–0 Grid Deadlock," Chicago Tribune, Dec. 3, 1923, p. 25.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ Irving Vaughan, "Field Goal Tries Miss, But Bears Tie Badgers, 7-7," Chicago Tribune, Dec. 17, 1923, p. 19.
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