Want to catch up on our series of posts and podcasts on Pre-Super Bowl NFL Champions? Check it out here NFL Champions.

The 1926 professional football season was a wild ride, as we learned from a couple of episodes ago in part 59 of this series. Red Grange and C C Pyles's original American Football League had gone by the previous year's end. The death knell of the AFL was that group’s champion Philadelphia Quakers, getting beaten fairly badly in an exhibition game by a somewhat pedestrian NFL team from 1926, the New York Giants. Right before the 1927 season, the league eliminated the financially weaker, generally smaller market teams. The results were quite evident when you look at the NFL standings from 1926 versus those of 1927. from 22 to 12 teams. The National Football League absorbed many players and a defunct American Football League franchise. That team is Grange’s New York Yankees.

Eliminated of NFL franchises in 1927:

✦ Kansas City Cowboys

✦ Los Angeles Buccaneers

✦ Detroit Panthers

✦ Louisville Colonels

✦ Racine Tornadoes

✦ Hartford Blues

✦ Brooklyn Lions

✦ Canton Bulldogs

✦ Milwaukee Badgers

✦ Akron Indians

✦ Columbus Tigers

✦ Hammond Pros

The Canton, Columbus, and Hammond franchises were original teams that helped organize the League in 1920. The Rochester Jeffersons were not one of the official cuts, but they had a second consecutive season with their position listed as an inactive franchise.

Also missing from the playing fields of NFL football were African-American roster members. In 1926, there were still a few black men, such as Fritz Pollard, donning pads, but in 1927, the awful decision to have a backroom agreement not to allow non-whites on rosters was quite evident. It was an ugly era of American football that lasted until the 1940s.

Some teams, like the Buffalo Bisons, only made it through five games before suspending operations through the remainder of the year.

The NFL championship title was claimed by one of the prominent market teams that the NFL coveted, the New York Giants. New York took the title based on having the best league record of 11-1-1.

The story of this Giants team is quite remarkable. The Giants registered ten shutouts in the 13 games they played and outscored the opposition by the margin of 197-20. That means, as a team, they allowed only three touchdowns! The only setbacks they suffered were against the 8-4-2 Cleveland Bulldogs eleven.

To have success on the field, you have to have some good players. The Giants had a handful, including Guard Steve Owens and End Cal Hubbard. These men played on both sides of the ball and seldom left the field. The offensive production was mainly due to the skill of tailback Hinkey Haines and wingback Mule Wilson, who each scored six rushing touchdowns during the 1927 campaign. Fullback Jack McBride was the leading scorer on the squad, though, as he also had six TDs but added a couple of field goals and fifteen points after kicks for a total of 57 points on the season. You also need good coaching to win; headman Earl Potteiger provided that.

New York Giants Rise

Central to the 1927 narrative is the New York Giants, whose ascent to prominence is chronicled with great detail. The episode meticulously outlines the factors that contributed to the Giants' success, including their adept management of player acquisitions and the tactical acumen of coach Earl Pottinger. The Giants' ability to integrate talent, such as the dynamic duo of Jack McBride and Hinky Haynes, into a cohesive unit underscored their versatility and effectiveness on both sides of the ball. Moreover, the defensive prowess displayed throughout the season was equally remarkable, as the Giants led the league in points allowed, showcasing a commitment to discipline and teamwork that became their hallmark.

Ultimately, the 1927 season not only marked the Giants' first championship victory but also signified the emergence of a formidable franchise capable of withstanding the challenges posed by a rapidly evolving league. The legacy of this season continues to resonate within the annals of NFL history, serving as an enduring testament to the foundational principles of teamwork, strategy, and excellence that define the sport.