By Darin The 1929 American football season was a historic year of unprecedented milestones and dominant performances. Played against the backdrop of the Wall Street crash in the autumn of 1929, the season witnessed the rise of a modern professional dynasty and a masterpiece of coaching resilience in the college ranks.
Associated Students of the California Institute of Technology (ASCIT)
1929 College Football: Rockne’s “Homeless” Champions
College football in 1929 belonged to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, who put together one of the most remarkable seasons in sports history under legendary coach Knute Rockne.
- The Nomad National Champions: With their new stadium under construction, Notre Dame did not play a single true home game, playing their “home” slate at Soldier Field in Chicago and traveling across the country for the rest. Despite the grueling travel and Rockne battling severe illness (coaching several games from a wheelchair), the Fighting Irish finished a perfect 9–0 to claim the consensus national championship.
- The Star Power: Led by All-American quarterback Frank Carideo and halfback Jack Elder, Notre Dame’s disciplined “Notre Dame Box” offense and ferocious defense outscored opponents 145 to 38.
- The Rose Bowl Statement: While Notre Dame skipped the postseason, the Pittsburgh Panthers (who claimed a separate version of the title) went to the Rose Bowl, where they were thoroughly dismantled 47–14 by a powerful USC Trojans squad.
1929 Professional Football: The Packers’ First Title
The 1929 NFL season marked a massive shift in power away from the early Ohio and Pennsylvania strongholds toward a small town in Wisconsin.
- Green Bay’s Undefeated Reign: Head coach Curly Lambeau led the Green Bay Packers to an undefeated 12–0–1 record, securing the first NFL championship in franchise history based on the league’s win-percentage standings.
- A Hall of Fame Roster: Prior to the season, Lambeau signed three future Hall of Famers: Johnny “Blood” McNally, Cal Hubbard, and Mike Michalske. This star-studded roster proved unstoppable, giving up just 22 points the entire season.
- The Thanksgiving Showdown: The title was essentially decided on late-season road trips. The Packers shut out the powerhouse New York Giants 20–6 at the Polo Grounds, surviving a scoreless tie against the Frankford Yellow Jackets on Thanksgiving to keep their unblemished record intact.
A Deep Dive into 1929 Football History and Highlights
- January 1, 1929 – The Annual Rose Bowl contest saw history in the making. In a dramatic 8–7 victory, the Georgia Tech Yellow Tornado defeated the California Golden Bears—a matchup forever remembered for one of the most infamous blunders in college football history. After scooping up a Georgia Tech fumble, Cal’s All-American center, Roy Riegels, mistakenly bolted in the wrong direction toward his own goal line, a historic misstep that permanently earned him the nickname “Wrong Way.”
- November 6, 1929 –Providence, Rhode Island – Just days after the 1929 Stock Market crash, signaling the start of the Great Depression, the Providence Steam Roller became the first NFL team granted permission by the NFL to host a game at night under floodlights, and they scheduled it at the Cycledrome in Providence.
- November 16, 1929 – A massive crowd of 123,000 gathered at Soldier Field as Notre Dame (6–0–0) faced off against USC (6–1–0). Despite being hospitalized with an infected leg, Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne managed his team from a cot behind the bench. The Irish broke the deadlock in the third quarter to lead 13–6, following a touchdown plunge by Savoldi and Frank Carideo’s extra point. USC responded instantly on the next kickoff when Saunders returned the ball 95 yards for a touchdown. However, the Trojans missed the extra point, allowing Notre Dame to hold on for a narrow 13–12 win.
- November 28, 1929 – Comiskey Park, Chicago – According to a story on the website goldenrankings.com, Ernie Nevers of the Chicago Cardinals became the first professional football player to score six touchdowns in a single game.
- November 30, 1929 – AAA Grounds, Hamilton – On this day, the Hamilton Tigers won their 4th title, outscoring the Regina Roughriders 14-3 in the 17th edition of the Canadian Grey Cup.
- December 15, 1929 – Memphis, Tennessee – The National Football League Champion Green Bay Packers, boasting a perfect 12-0-1 record, played an exhibition game against the Memphis Tigers. PackersHistory.net reports that the Tigers, an independent team owned by Clarence Saunders—who later founded Piggly Wiggly—pulled off a 20-6 upset over the champs with scoring from Austin Applewhite, Bucky Moore, and Tiny Drouilhet. At the time, the NFL champion was simply the team with the best record, as there were no playoffs. Without game revenue, the Green Bay Press-Gazette raised over $5,000 for the players, each receiving $220 and a watch. This may help explain why the Packers, with little to gain but something to earn, risked their reputation on a barnstorming tour: the players were trying to make a living.