1941 NFL Championship Game

The 1941 National Football League Championship game was the 9th annual championship game and was held December 21, 1941 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. The game was played two weeks after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The attendance was 13,341, the smallest ever to see an NFL title game. Two players who appeared in the game, Young Bussey and Jack Lummus, would be killed in action before World War II ended.

The game featured the Western Division champion Chicago Bears (10–1) who had defeated the Green Bay Packers 33–14 in the first ever divisional playoff game in the NFL. The Eastern Division champions were the New York Giants (8–3). The Bears became the first team since the NFL adopted the championship game in 1933 to win back to back titles.

Ray "Scooter" McLean elected to drop kick the extra point on the last touchdown. This would be the last drop kick in the NFL until Doug Flutie of the New England Patriots kicked one in the last game of the season in 2005.

Scoring summary

• First Quarter^[1]
  • CH – FG Snyder 14 3–0 CHI
  • NY – Franck, 31 pass from Leemans (kick failed) 6–3 NYG
• Second Quarter^[1]
  • CH – FG Snyder 39 6–6 TIE
  • CH – FG Snyder 37 9–6 CHI
• Third Quarter^[1]
  • NY – FG Cuff 16 9–9 TIE
  • CH – Standlee, 2 run (Snyder kick) 16–9 CHI
  • CH – Standlee, 7 run (Maniaci kick) 23–9 CHI
• Fourth Quarter
  • CH – McAfee, 5 run (Artoe kick) 30–9 CHI
  • CH – Kavanaugh, 42 fumble return (McLean drop kick) 37–9 CHI

References