By Darin Before the Super Bowl, before the playoffs, there was the thrilling, winner-take-all 1933 NFL Championship—the first official title game in NFL History. On December 17, 1933, the Chicago Bears hosted the New York Giants at Wrigley Field, drawing an eager crowd of 26,000 fans ready for unprecedented gridiron drama. This matchup was historic for more than just the final score: it marked the debut of the forward pass rule, allowing throws from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage. This revolutionary change led directly to the thrilling, back-and-forth 23-21 contest that established the template for championship football for decades to come.
Our 2025 project of covering every pre-Super Bowl NFL Championship game by having discussions with expert historians kicked off when the venerable Joe Ziemba joined us for the first official NFL title game.
A Revolutionary Contest at Wrigley Field
The 1933 season culminated in this inaugural championship game, designed to create a definitive league winner after years of simply naming the team with the best regular-season record as the champion. The format pitted the winners of the newly established Eastern and Western Divisions against each other. The Bears, coached by the legendary George Halas, brought a powerhouse team to face the determined Giants.
The game became an instant classic, showcasing the impact of the newly liberalized passing rules. Prior to 1933, forward passes were only legal if the quarterback was at least five yards behind the line of scrimmage, severely limiting offense. The freedom granted by the new rule turned the game into a high-scoring affair by the standards of the time, featuring seven touchdowns and multiple lead changes.
The Bears relied on legendary players to secure the victory. Fullback Bronko Nagurski, who dominated the line of scrimmage, delivered a classic performance, while the passing attack flourished under the new rules. Chicago established an early lead, but the Giants fought back relentlessly.
The Decisive Final Act
The lead traded hands multiple times in the fourth quarter, building unbearable tension among the 26,000 in attendance. The Giants took a late 21-16 lead, seemingly putting the title out of reach. However, the Bears mounted a final, desperate drive. In one of the most pivotal plays in early NFL History, the Bears executed a controversial and deceptive end-around pass. Nagurski pitched the ball to halfback Bill Hewitt, who then fired a touchdown pass to receiver Billy Karr, securing the lead.
The final score was Chicago Bears 23, New York Giants 21. This dramatic finish not only secured the Bears the first official title but cemented the championship game as an essential element of the NFL schedule. It proved that a single-elimination final game was the perfect catalyst for high drama and fan excitement. The close contest validated the two-division, championship-game structure that the league adopted, setting the stage for the modern playoff format we know today.
Conclusion
The 1933 NFL Championship transcended a simple game; it was a foundational event. The Bears’ hard-fought 23-21 victory over the Giants, featuring a game-winning touchdown built on the new forward pass rules, confirmed the league’s progressive vision. This single contest, played on December 17 at Wrigley Field, successfully established the championship format and proved that competitive football was the key to growing the NFL. The drama, the record attendance for the era, and the close score ensured the 1933 title game would be remembered as the true beginning of the modern NFL Championship tradition.
