1943 NFL Championship Game vs Washington Redskins
A dynasty stripped bare by war: The Bears' worst loss ever against a surging Redskins squad.
The 1943 NFL Championship Game stands as a stark anomaly in Chicago Bears history: the franchise's seventh title won under the shadow of global war. While their rivals formed makeshift mergers like the 'Steagles' (Eagles-Card-Pitt) to survive player shortages, the Bears entered this clash against Washington Redskins with a depleted roster that barely resembled the dynasty of the late 1930s. What followed was not a coronation, but a stunning reversal of fortune. Heavy favorites on paper, the Bears suffered their most lopsided defeat in franchise history at Wrigley Field, a humbling reminder that even the NFL's greatest machine could be stalled by the realities of World War II.
- Opponent
- Washington Redskins
- Result
- Loss (21-41)
- Location
- Wrigley Field, Chicago
- Date
- December 19, 1943
- Bears Coach
- Hunk Anderson and Luke Johnsos
- Key Moment
- Largest margin of defeat in franchise history
Lore & Background
By December 1943, the NFL was fighting a battle on two fronts. George Halas's Chicago Bears had lost a staggering number of stars to the armed forces, including Hall of Fame quarterback Sid Luckman (Navy) and key linemen, leaving the team a shadow of its former self. While the league saw mergers like 'Card-Pitt' and the 'Steagles,' the Bears retained their identity for this championship showdown, though they were forced to rely on walk-ons and veterans past their prime. In stark contrast, Washington Redskins owner George Preston Marshall had managed to retain more depth, building a dynamic offense around the immortal Sammy Baugh. The stage was set at Wrigley Field: a depleted Chicago squad, still clinging to defending-champion status in spirit, facing a Redskin team that had already swept them during the regular season. The Bears' thin secondary was ill-equipped to handle Baugh's aerial assault, turning what should have been a routine title defense into a historic blowout.
In Their Own Story
The wind howled off Lake Michigan, biting through wool coats and freezing the few civilians still in Chicago. Inside Wrigley Field, the stands were sparse, filled mostly with soldiers on leave and families of the missing, their silence heavy with the weight of the era. On the sideline, Hunk Anderson paced nervously, scanning a roster that felt more like a ghost squad than a gridiron juggernaut. Then came Sammy Baugh. The Redskins' quarterback took the snap, his arm cutting through the gray sky as he launched pass after pass into the end zone, each one landing untouched as the Bears' exhausted defense crumbled. The scoreboard eventually read 41-21—a number that felt foreign and impossible on a Bears home field. As the final whistle blew, a mud-caked veteran slumped against the goalpost, staring up at the empty bleachers where the roar of the faithful used to shake the bricks. There was no glory here, only the cold realization that the world had changed; for one night in 1943, even the Chicago Bears could not stop the tide.
Reader's Guide
The 1943 NFL Championship Game took place on December 19 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The matchup pitted a severely depleted Chicago Bears squad against the Washington Redskins, led by quarterback Sammy Baugh. Despite entering as favorites due to their historical dominance, the Bears were overwhelmed by Washington's superior depth and passing attack. The game ended in a historic 41-21 rout, marking the largest margin of defeat in franchise history. This contest remains a poignant symbol of how World War II reshaped professional sports, stripping dynasties of their star power and altering the course of NFL lore.
Did You Know?
- This game holds the record for the largest margin of defeat in Chicago Bears franchise history: a crushing 20-point loss (41-21).
- While the Bears merged with the Eagles earlier that season to form a competitive unit, this championship game was played by a distinct, albeit severely depleted, Bears roster.
- Legendary Redskins quarterback Sammy Baugh threw three touchdown passes in the game, dismantling a Chicago secondary missing its usual stars like Sid Luckman and Bill Hewitt (who were serving overseas).
- Despite the blowout, the 1943 season is officially recorded in NFL history books as a legitimate championship contest, with Washington's victory standing as a unique chapter in the league's wartime era.