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Pro Football 1948

The Professional Football Season of 1948

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Football History

"The 1948 Cleveland Browns Amazing Collection Pieces of Jeff Payne"

Last updated 📅 2024-02-26

Our guest is historian and collector Jeff Payne, who joins us to discuss an incredible portion of his vintage gridiron collection concerning the 1948 Cleveland Browns. The 1948 Cleveland Browns cemented themselves in football history by achieving the seemingly impossible: an undefeated season. This summary details their dominant run:

Image courtesy of "YOUTUBE.COM"
  • FOOTBALL: Collectibles
  • FOOTBALL LEAGUE: All America Football Conference
  • FOOTBALL NAME: Crazy Legs Hirsch, Dante Lavelli, George Halas, Johnny Unitas, Lou Saban, Marion Motley, Otto Graham
  • FOOTBALL TEAM: Cleveland Browns
  • PODCAST: Football
  • PROFOOTBALL: 1948
  • CATEGORY: Football History
  • HASHTAGS: #Collectibles #AllAmericaFootballConference #CrazyLegsHirsch #DanteLavelli #GeorgeHalas #JohnnyUnitas #LouSaban #MarionMotley #OttoGraham #ClevelandBrowns #Football

Building the Team:

✦ Head coach Paul Brown continued to refine his squad after winning the previous two AAFC championships.

✦ Key additions included linebacker Alex Agase and halfbacks Ara Parseghian and Dub Jones.

Dominating the Regular Season:

✦ The Browns kicked off the season with a victory against the LA Dons and never looked back, winning all 14 regular season games.

✦ Their closest contests were two close wins against the San Francisco 49ers, who also finished with a strong record.

✦ The Browns offense averaged 27.8 points per game, the second-best in the league, while their defense held opponents to a league-low 13.6 points per game.

Securing the Championship:

✦ Finishing the season with a perfect 14-0 record, the Browns secured the Western Division title.

✦ They faced the Buffalo Bills, who had won the Eastern Division through a playoff in the AAFC Championship game.

✦ The Browns capped off their undefeated season by defeating the Bills 49-7, earning their third consecutive AAFC championship.

It's important to note that while the Browns' undefeated season is considered remarkable, it occurred in the AAFC, which merged with the NFL in 1950. The NFL does not officially recognize AAFC records, making the 1972 Miami Dolphins the only team in NFL history to complete an undefeated season.

However, the 1948 Cleveland Browns remain a legendary team, showcasing outstanding coaching, a well-rounded roster, and a dominant playing style that brought them perfection on the field.

Bonus stories in the Video In the conversation with Jeff Payne, we chat about football-related stories outside the Browns. How about George Halas during wartime? Or Crazy Legs Hirsch connection to the AAFC? Or Johnny Unitas reason for wearing Black high-tops?

Football History

"The 1948 NFL Championship: The Philadelphia Eagles Soar"

The 1948 NFL season was a notable year in the league's history, marked by several significant events and culminating in a memorable championship game. One of the rule changes that year prohibited the use of plastic helmets, reflecting concerns about player safety. Off the field, there were changes in team ownership, with Fred Mandel selling the Detroit Lions to a new syndicate, and Art Rooney selling the Pittsburgh franchise before buying a stake in the Philadelphia Eagles. A significant innovation was introduced by Fred Gehrke of the Los Angeles Rams, who painted horns on the team's helmets, marking the first modern helmet emblem in professional football.
Philadelphia sports historian and author Brian Michael joins us to tell us the flight of the Eagles. Find Brian's books and great merch at Shibe Vintage Sports. The season also saw impressive individual performances...

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