The 1942 season was the Chicago Bears' 23rd in the National Football League. The team improved on their 10–1 record in 1941 and finished at 11–0, under head coach George Halas (who left for World War II in November) and temporary co-coaches Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos. The Bears were denied a three-peat and an undefeated season when they lost to the Washington Redskins in the year's title game. In the previous two NFL championship games, the Bears defeated the Redskins, 73–0, and then the Giants, 37–9.
The 1942 Bears were "the single most dominant team in the history of the NFL," according to Cold Hard Football Facts. "The 1942 Bears went 11–0, scored 376 points and surrendered just 84 points. They also have the lowest passer rating allowed in NFL history, with opposing quarterbacks having a passer rating of just 21.4. That dominant team, like the undefeated 2007 Patriots, was upset in the NFL championship game."
Schedule Game Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources 1 September 27 at Green Bay Packers W 44–28 1–0 City Stadium 20,007 Recap 2 October 4 at Cleveland Rams W 21–7 2–0 League Park 17,167 Recap 3 October 11 Chicago Cardinals W 41–14 3–0 Wrigley Field ~38,500 Recap 4 October 18 New York Giants W 26–7 4–0 Wrigley Field ~32,000 Recap 5 October 25 Philadelphia Eagles W 45–14 5–0 Wrigley Field 15,372 Recap 6 November 1 Detroit Lions W 16–0 6–0 Wrigley Field 12,205 Recap 7 November 8 at Brooklyn Dodgers W 35–0 7–0 Ebbets Field 31,643 Recap 8 November 15 Green Bay Packers W 38–7 8–0 Wrigley Field 42,787 Recap 9 November 22 at Detroit Lions W 42–0 9–0 Briggs Stadium 17,348 Recap 10 November 29 Cleveland Rams W 47–0 10–0 Wrigley Field 13,195 Recap 11 December 6 at Chicago Cardinals W 21–7 11–0 Comiskey Park 8,251 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Postseason Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap Sources NFL Championship December 13 at Washington Redskins L 6–14 0–1 Griffith Stadium 36,006 Recap Roster 1942 Chicago Bears final rosterQuarterbacks Sid Luckman S/P Charlie O'Rourke S/P
Backs Harry Clarke RB/CB Gary Famiglietti FB/LB Hugh Gallarneau RB/CB Bill Geyer RB/CB Frank Maznicki RB/CB/K Ray McLean RB/CB Frank Morris FB/LB Ray Nolting RB/CB Bill Osmanski FB/LB John Petty FB/LB Linemen/Linebackers Len Akin G/DG Lee Artoe T/DT/K Ray Bray G/DG Stu Clarkson C/LB Chuck Drulis G/DG Dan Fortmann G/DG Bill Hempel T/DT Al Hoptowit T/DT Nick Kerasiotis G/DG Ed Kolman T/DT Al Matuza C/LB George Musso G/DG Joe Stydahar T/DT/K Bulldog Turner C/LB Ends/Receivers Connie Mack Berry Bob Nowaskey Hamp Pool John Siegal Clint Wager George Wilson
Reserve Bill Rogers T/DT (inactive)
Rookies in italics
References