By Darin The 1947 American football season was a defining year for both professional and collegiate gridirons, marked by dominant teams, legendary performances, and shifting landscapes in sports history.
Professional Football: The NFL and the AAFC
In the National Football League (NFL), the Chicago Cardinals captured the championship by defeating the Philadelphia Eagles 28-21. Led by their famous “Million Dollar Backfield,” the Cardinals secured what remains the franchise’s last undisputed NFL title.
Concurrently, the rival All-America Football Conference (AAFC) was in its second year of challenging the NFL’s monopoly. The Cleveland Browns, coached by Paul Brown and quarterbacked by Otto Graham, continued their absolute dominance by defeating the New York Yankees 14-3 to claim their second consecutive AAFC title.
College Football: The Battle for No. 1
The 1947 college football season is remembered as one of the most controversial and celebrated in history, centered around two undefeated powerhouses: Notre Dame and Michigan.
- The AP Poll: The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, led by Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack, were voted No. 1 in the final regular-season Associated Press poll.
- The Rose Bowl: Because Notre Dame maintained a policy against participating in bowl games at the time, Michigan went to the Rose Bowl and completely dismantled USC 49-0.
- The Post-Season Debate: Michigan’s staggering bowl performance prompted the AP to conduct a special post-bowl poll, in which the Wolverines leapfrogged Notre Dame to be named the nation’s No. 1 team, leaving a legacy of dual-claimant national champions.
A Deep Dive into 1947 Football History and Highlights
- January 1, 1947 – In Pasadena, the 33rd Rose Bowl found the Illinois Illini powering past the UCLA Bruins 45-14, as the Illini halfback tandem of Claude “Buddy” Young and Julius Rykovich were the game’s MVPs.
- October 4, 1947 – The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame shake off a tough start in the early stages of the game at Pittsburgh, when Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Lujack began to throw deep passes, leading to a stunning 40-6 Irish victory.
- October 25, 1947 – The unbelievable occurred, the unexpected upset of the Columbia Lions over the powerful Army Black Knights, ending the legendary winning streak of the West Point Cadets.
- November 23, 1947 – Griffith Stadium, Washington, D.C. – Slingin’ Sammy Baugh of the Washington Redskins takes advantage of the Chicago Cardinals’ secondary as he tosses 6 touchdown passes. Washington won the game 45-21.
- November 29, 1947 – Varsity Stadium, Toronto – The Toronto Argonauts took home their 3rd straight and 8th overall title, escaping the stadium with a close 10-9 victory over the Calgary Stampeders, per the cflhof.ca site.
- On December 14, 1947, the Cleveland Browns defeated the New York Yankees 14-3 in the AAFC Championship Game, winning yet another title in the fledgling league.
- December 1, 1947 – Johnny Lujack is selected as Notre Dame’s Second Heisman Trophy winner.
- December 19, 1947 – Washington Redskins Select Harry Gilmer First Overall. At the Fort Pitt Hotel in Pittsburgh on December 19, the Redskins chose Harry Gilmer with the top 1948 NFL Draft pick. He had a strong 9-year career. However, players picked later, including Bobby Layne (3rd) and Y.A. Tittle (6th), arguably had more productive careers. The Redskins also picked Lowell Tew fourth overall.
- December 28, 1947 – Comiskey Park, Chicago – The 1947 NFL Championship game is played between the Philadelphia Eagles, victors of the Eastern Division, and the Western Division winners, the Chicago Cardinals, per a story on the Bleacher Report. The Cardinals jumped out to an early lead after Charlie Trippi punched in a score, followed just a bit later by his Chicago teammate, Elmer Angsman, running in another TD. Steve Van Buren recorded one of the touchdowns for the Eagles shortly before halftime. The teams traded touchdowns in the third quarter, setting up a dramatic finish in the fourth. Angsman ran in another score in the fourth, but Philly cut the lead to just one score after the Eagles crossed the goal line stripe on a one-yard plunge by Craft. The game was a stalemate from there, as the Chicago Cardinals went on to beat Philadelphia, 28-21, to secure the Cardinals’ only title game victory.