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1941 Pittsburgh Steelers season

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1941 Pittsburgh Steelers season
OwnerArt Rooney, Bert Bell
Head coachBert Bell, Aldo Donelli, Walt Kiesling
Home fieldForbes Field
Results
Record1–9–1
Division place5th NFL Eastern
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1941 Pittsburgh Steelers season was the franchise's 9th season in the National Football League (NFL). In the offseason, the team had been sold and then re-acquired (more or less) in a bizarre series of transactions which has come to be referred to as the "Pennsylvania Polka". The roster consisted of many players who had played for the Philadelphia Eagles the previous year, who joined the Steelers as a result of the moves.

Offseason

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Bert Bell became half-owner of the team and he named himself the head coach. After starting the season with two straight losses, Aldo "Buff" Donelli was brought in. Donelli was acting concurrently as head coach at Duquesne University, and when the team's schedules prevented him from fulfilling both roles, he stepped down as the Steelers' coach in favor of Walt Kiesling. The team held training camp in Hershey, Pennsylvania.[1]

Regular season

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Schedule

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Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources
1 September 7 at Cleveland Rams L 14–17 0–1 Rubber Bowl 23,720 Recap [2][3][4][5]
2 September 21 Philadelphia Eagles L 7–10 0–2 Forbes Field 12,893 Recap [6]
3 October 5 New York Giants L 10–37 0–3 Forbes Field 13,458 Recap
4 October 12 Washington Redskins L 20–24 0–4 Forbes Field 18,733 Recap
5 October 19 at New York Giants L 7–28 0–5 Polo Grounds 34,604 Recap
6 October 26 at Chicago Bears L 7–34 0–6 Wrigley Field 17,212 Recap
7 November 2 at Washington Redskins L 3–23 0–7 Griffith Stadium 30,755 Recap
8 November 9 at Philadelphia Eagles T 7–7 0–7–1 Municipal Stadium 15,601 Recap
9 November 16 Brooklyn Dodgers W 14–7 1–7–1 Ebbets Field 12,336 Recap
10 November 23 Green Bay Packers L 7–54 1–8–1 Forbes Field 15,202 Recap
11 November 30 at Brooklyn Dodgers L 7–35 1–9–1 Ebbets Field 12,336 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. • September 7: League opener in Akron.

Game summaries

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Game 1 (Sunday September 7, 1941): Cleveland Rams

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1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 14 0 0 14
Rams 10 7 0 0 17

at Rubber Bowl, Akron, Ohio

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 23,720
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Cleveland – Magnani 93 kick return (Adams kick)
  • Cleveland – FG Adams 40
  • Pittsburgh – Hackney 4 run (Sanders kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Jones 34 run (Sanders kick)
  • Cleveland – McDonough 10 pass from Hall (Adams kick)

Game 2 (Sunday, September 21, 1941): Philadelphia Eagles

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1 2 3 4 Total
Eagles 0 3 7 0 10
Steelers 0 0 7 0 7

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 12,893
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Philadelphia – FG Barnum 43
  • Pittsburgh – Brumbaugh 4 run (Sanders kick)
  • Philadelphia – Tomasetti 40 pass from DeSantis (Barnum kick)

Game 3 (Sunday October 5, 1941): New York Giants

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1 2 3 4 Total
Giants 3 0 14 20 37
Steelers 3 0 7 0 10

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 13,458
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – FG Niccolai 22
  • New York – FG Marefos 24
  • New York – Cuff 9 pass from Leemans (Cuff kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Cichefski 72 pass from Brumbaugh (Niccolai kick)
  • New York – Yeager 53 pass from Pugh (Marefos kick)
  • New York – Poole 16 pss from Eshmont (Cuff kick)
  • New York – Reagan 21 run (kick failed)
  • New York – Reagan 8 run (Cuff kick)

Game 4 (Sunday October 12, 1941): Washington Redskins

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1 2 3 4 Total
Redskins 7 3 14 0 24
Steelers 0 7 0 13 20

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 30,842
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Washington – Todd 35 pass from Filchock (Materson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Riffle 10 pass from Donelli (Niccolai kick)
  • Washington – FG Aguirre 39
  • Washington – Todd 7 run (Masterson kick)
  • Washington – R. Hare 7 run (Masterson kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Jones 59 pass from McDonough (Niccolai kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Brumbaugh 1 run (kick failed)

Game 5 (Sunday October 19, 1941): New York Giants

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1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 0 0 7
Giants 0 7 7 14 28

at Polo Grounds, New York, New York

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 34,604
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • New York – Cope recovered blocked kick in end zone (Marefos kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Looney 66 pass from Brumbaugh (Sanders kick)
  • New York – Leemans 1 run (Cuff kick)
  • New York – Marefos 1 run (Marefos kick)
  • New York – Reagan 3 run (Marefos kick)

Game 6 (Sunday October 26, 1941): Chicago Bears

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1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 0 0 7
Bears 7 14 7 6 34

at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 17,212
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Chicago Bears – Osmanski 13 run (Snyder kick)
  • Chicago Bears – McAfee 33 run (Snyder kick)
  • Chicago Bears – Kavanaugh 45 pass from Luckman (Maniaci kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Hoague 14 pass from Rivvle (Niccolai kick)
  • Chicago Bears – Pool 56 pass from Luckman
  • Chicago Bears – Gallameau 1 run (kick failed)

Game 7 (Sunday November 2, 1941): Washington Redskins

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1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 3 0 0 3
Redskins 7 10 0 6 23

at Griffith Stadium, Washington, DC

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 30,755
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Washington – Moore 42 run (Masterson kick)
  • Washington – FG Aldrich 17
  • Pittsburgh – FG Niccolai 19
  • Washington – Farkas 1 run (Aguirre kick)
  • Washington – Carroll 25 interception (kick failed)

Game 8 (Sunday November 9, 1941): Philadelphia Eagles

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1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 0 7 0 7
Eagles 7 0 0 0 7

at Shibe Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 15,601
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Philadelphia – Castiglia 47 run (Basca kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Jones 25 run (Sanders kick)

Game 9 (Sunday November 16, 1941): Brooklyn Dodgers

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1 2 3 4 Total
Dodgers 7 0 0 0 7
Steelers 0 7 0 7 14

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 20,843
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Brooklyn – Manders 3 run (Condit kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Riffle 1 run (Niccolai kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Jones 25 run (Niccolai kick)

Game 10 (Sunday November 23, 1941): Green Bay Packers

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1 2 3 4 Total
Packers 0 26 7 21 54
Steelers 7 0 0 0 7

at Forbes Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 4,593
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Pittsburgh – Hoague 1 run (Niccolai kick)
  • Green Bay – Hinkle 3 run (kick failed)
  • Green Bay – Hutson 8 pass from Isbell (kick failed)
  • Green Bay – Hinkle 1 run (Hutson kick)
  • Green Bay – Panell 26 fumble run (Hutson kick)
  • Green Bay – Urban 12 pass from Canadeo (Adkins kick)
  • Green Bay – Van Every 5 run (Adkins kick)
  • Green Bay – Van Every 31 run (Adkins kick)
  • Green Bay – Van Every 86 interception (Rohrig kick)

Game 11 (Sunday November 30, 1941): Brooklyn Dodgers

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1 2 3 4 Total
Steelers 0 7 0 0 7
Dodgers 14 7 7 7 35

at Ebbets Field, Brooklyn, New York

  • Game time:
  • Game weather:
  • Game attendance: 12,336
  • Referee:

Scoring Drives:

  • Brooklyn – Condit 6 run (Condit kick)
  • Brooklyn – Condit 43 run (Condit kick)
  • Brooklyn – Kracum 1 run (McAdams kick)
  • Pittsburgh – Jones 6 run (Niccolai kick)
  • Brooklyn – Shetley 25 lateral from Schwartz after 32 pass from Parker (Condit kick)
  • Brooklyn – Kracum 17 run (Peace kick)

Standings

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NFL Eastern Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
New York Giants 8 3 0 .727 6–2 238 114 L1
Brooklyn Dodgers 7 4 0 .636 6–2 158 127 W2
Washington Redskins 6 5 0 .545 5–3 176 174 W1
Philadelphia Eagles 2 8 1 .200 1–6–1 119 218 L3
Pittsburgh Steelers 1 9 1 .100 1–6–1 103 276 L2
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
NFL Western Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Chicago Bears 10 1 0 .909 7–1 396 147 W5
Green Bay Packers 10 1 0 .909 7–1 258 120 W8
Detroit Lions 4 6 1 .400 3–4–1 121 195 W1
Chicago Cardinals 3 7 1 .300 1–6–1 127 197 L2
Cleveland Rams 2 9 0 .182 1–7 116 244 L9
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

References

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  1. ^ Sell, Jack (August 8, 1942). "Steeler Squad Awaits Start to Grid Camp". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  2. ^ Eddie Butler, "Rams Whip Steelers, 17–14, Before 23,720 at Rubber Bowl: Magnani, Art Jones Lead Play," Akron Beacon Journal, Sept. 8, 1941, pp. 14-15.
  3. ^ John Dietrich, "Magnani Dashes 93 Yards on Opening Kickoff, Rams Win, 17–14: Rally After 10–0 Lead is Blasted," Cleveland Plain Dealer, Sept. 8, 1941, pp. 12-13.
  4. ^ Claire M. Burcky, "Steelers' 17–14 Defeat by Rams Shows Need of Passing Attack: Nearly Had It!" Pittsburgh Press, Sept. 8, 1941, p. 20.
  5. ^ Jack Sell, "Rams Top Steelers in Opener, 17–14: Field Goal Decides in Close Game," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sept. 8, 1941, pp. 16, 18.
  6. ^ Jack Sell, "Eagles Hand Steelers Second Defeat, 10–7: 12,893 Fans See Locals Lose Again," Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Sep. 22, 1941, pp. 12-13.
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