1938 NFL Championship Game

1938 NFL Championship Game | Green Bay Packers
(Western)
(8–3) | New York Giants
(Eastern)
(8–2–1)

|

17 | 23
Head coach:
Curly Lambeau | Head coach:
Steve Owen
|  | 1| 2| 3| 4 | Total

|
|
|
|
|

GB | 0| 14| 3| 0 | 17
NYG | 9| 7| 7| 0 | 23
Date| December 11, 1938
Stadium| Polo Grounds, New York City
Attendance| 48,120

* <- 1937
* NFL Championship Game
* 1939 ->

Polo
Grounds

class=notpageimage|

Location in the United States

The 1938 NFL Championship Game was the sixth championship game played in the National Football League (NFL). It was played on December 11 at the Polo Grounds in New York City,[1] with an attendance of 48,120, a record crowd for a title game.[2][3][4]

The game matched the New York Giants (8–2–1), champions of the Eastern Division, against the Western Division champion Green Bay Packers (8–3–0).[5][6] The Giants had won the regular season game with Green Bay 15–3 at the Polo Grounds three weeks earlier on November 20,[7] but Green Bay was without hall of fame end Don Hutson; there was no clear favorite for the title game.[6][8][9]

This was the Giants' fourth championship game appearance, their previous victory was in the famous "Sneakers game" of 1934 and they were runners-up in 1933 and 1935. It was the Packers' second trip, winning in 1936. New York also won the 1927 NFL title when the championship was awarded to the team with the best season record. Green Bay had similarly won three straight league titles in 1929, 1930, and 1931.

End and future Giants head coach Jim Lee Howell blocked a punt after the Packers opening drive to set up a Ward Cuff field goal. The Giants blocked a second punt in the first quarter to set up a touchdown run by Tuffy Leemans and a 9-0 first quarter lead. The 9 points caused by the two blocked punts would ultimately decide the championship.[10]

At halftime, Packers head coach Curly Lambeau accidentally made a wrong turn going to the team's locker room and walked out of the Polo Grounds, locking himself out. Hurrying to the front gate, Lambeau tried to get back into the Grounds, but the guards at the gate believed Lambeau was a random fan and refused him entry. As Lambeau loudly protested, a couple of sportswriters inside heard the commotion, and identified Lambeau; the guards allowed him back in, by which time halftime was nearly over.

After trailing by two points at halftime, Green Bay took the lead in the third quarter with a short field goal,[4] but New York responded with a touchdown and held on through a scoreless fourth quarter to win, 23–17.[11][12]

With the victory, the Giants became the first team to win two Championship Games since the league was split into two divisions in 1933. The two teams met again in the Championship Game the following year in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with the Packers winning 27–0. Ed Danowski became the first Giants starting quarterback to win two NFL Championships for the team (the other is Eli Manning).

The Giants' next title was in 1956, and was won at Yankee Stadium.

## Scoring summary

[edit]

Sunday, December 11, 1938
Kickoff: 2 p.m. EST

* First quarter
* NYG – FG Ward Cuff 14, 3–0 NYG
* NYG – Leemans 6 run (Johnny Gildea kick failed), 9–0 NYG
* Second quarter
* GB – Carl Mulleneaux 40 pass from Arnie Herber (Tiny Engebretsen kick), 9–7 NYG
* NYG – Barnard 21 pass from Ed Danowski (Cuff kick), 16–7 NYG
* GB – Clarke Hinkle 1 run (Engebretsen kick), 16–14 NYG
* Third quarter
* GB – FG Engebretsen 15, 17–16 GB
* NYG – Hank Soar 23 pass from Danowski (Cuff kick), 23–17 NYG
* Fourth quarter
* no scoring

## Officials

[edit]

* Referee: Bobby Cahn
* Umpire: Tom Thorp
* Head Linesman: Larry Conover
* Field Judge: L.C. Meyer [1][2]

The NFL had only four game officials in 1938; the back judge was added in 1947, the line judge in 1965, and the side judge in 1978.

## Players' shares

[edit]

The victory earned each winning Giant player $504 and each Packer $368.[12]

## See also

[edit]

* Giants–Packers rivalry

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Strickler, George (December 11, 1938). "Packers clash with Giants today for pro title". Chicago Tribune. p. 1, part 2.
2. ^ a b Strickler, George (December 12, 1938). "Giants take pro title; beat Packers, 23-17". Chicago Tribune. p. 21.
3. ^ "Grid Giants 'cuff' Packers to win professional title". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. December 12, 1938. p. 26.
4. ^ a b "Giants capture league crown". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. December 12, 1938. p. 10.
5. ^ "Lions upset by Eagles; Packers win title". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. December 5, 1938. p. 11.
6. ^ a b Burton, Lewis (December 11, 1938). "Packers, Giants meet for title". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 1B.
7. ^ Schumacher, Garry (November 21, 1938). "Leemans starts in Giants' 15-3 win over Bays". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 13.
8. ^ Ferguson, Harry (December 11, 1938). "Giants-Green Bay clash for pro grid championship today". Pittsburgh Press. United Press. p. 3, sports.
9. ^ Gannon, Pat (December 11, 1938). "Record crowd of 62,000 to see pro play-off". Milwaukee Journal. p. 1, sports.
10. ^ "1938 NFL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME" (PDF). Professional Football Researchers Association. December 11, 1938. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
11. ^ Burton, Lewis (December 12, 1938). "Giants defeat Packers, 23-17 for pro title". Milwaukee Sentinel. p. 13.
12. ^ a b Gannon, Pat (December 12, 1938). "Giants' early attack defeats Green Bay for title, 23 to 17". Milwaukee Journal. p. 4, part 2.

40°49′52″N 73°56′13″W﻿ / ﻿40.831°N 73.937°W﻿ / 40.831; -73.937

* v
* t
* e

1938 NFL season

| Eastern Division| Brooklyn | New York| Chi Bears| Chi Cardinals | Western Division

|
|
|
|
|

Philadelphia | Pittsburgh| Cleveland| Detroit
Washington | | | Green Bay

* 1938 NFL Draft
* NFL Championship
* All-Star Game

* v
* t
* e

New York Giants 1938 NFL champions

* Charles Barnard
* Len Barnum
* Dale Burnett
* Pete Cole
* Frank Cope
* Ward Cuff
* Ed Danowski
* Johnny Dell Isola
* Nello Falaschi
* Stan Galazin
* Chuck Gelatka
* Johnny Gildea
* Jack Haden
* Ray Hanken
* Mel Hein (NFL MVP)
* Jim Lee Howell
* Larry Johnson
* Bull Karcis
* Tuffy Leemans
* Kayo Lunday
* Tilly Manton
* John Mellus
* Ox Parry
* Jim Poole
* Kink Richards
* Leland Shaffer
* Hank Soar
* Orville Tuttle
* Will Walls
* Tarzan White
* Ed Widseth
* Hugh Wolfe

Head coach: Steve Owen

* v
* t
* e

New York Giants

* Founded in 1925
* Based and headquartered in East Rutherford, New Jersey

Franchise|

* Franchise
* Seasons
* Coaches
* Players
* First-round draft picks
* Quarterbacks
* Logos and uniforms

History|

* 1925–1978
* 1979–1993
* 1994–present
* Financial history

Stadiums|

* Polo Grounds
* Yankee Stadium
* Yale Bowl
* Shea Stadium
* Giants Stadium
* MetLife Stadium

Culture|

* Cleveland Bulldogs
* The Duke
* Crunch Bunch
* Gatorade shower
* Big Blue Wrecking Crew
* I'm going to Disney World!
* Little Giants
* "New York Groove"
* "We Fly High"
* "The Masseuse" (Seinfeld episode)
* Big Fan
* Bob Sheppard
* Jim Hall
* Yankee Stadium Legacy
* License Plate Guy
* The Best Man Holiday

Lore|

* Sneakers Game
* The Greatest Game Ever Played
* Chuck Bednarik's hit on Frank Gifford
* The Fumble
* Wide Right
* Snowball Game
* 2007 game vs. New England Patriots
* Helmet Catch
* Miracle at the New Meadowlands

Rivalries|

* Chicago Bears
* Dallas Cowboys
* Green Bay Packers
* New England Patriots
* New York Jets
* Philadelphia Eagles
* San Francisco 49ers
* Washington Commanders

Key personnel|

* Owners: John Mara & Steve Tisch
* General manager: Joe Schoen
* Head coach: Brian Daboll

Division championships (22)|

* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1938
* 1939
* 1941
* 1944
* 1946
* 1956
* 1958
* 1959
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1986
* 1989
* 1990
* 1997
* 2000
* 2005
* 2008
* 2011

Conference championships (11)|

* 1956
* 1958
* 1959
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1986
* 1990
* 2000
* 2007
* 2011

League championships (8)|

* 1927
* 1934
* 1938
* 1956
* 1986 (XXI)
* 1990 (XXV)
* 2007 (XLII)
* 2011 (XLVI)

Retired numbers|

* 1
* 4
* 7
* 10
* 11
* 14
* 14
* 16
* 32
* 40
* 42
* 50
* 56
* 92

Media|

* Broadcasters
* Radio network
* Bob Papa
* Carl Banks
* Howard Cross

Current league affiliations|

* League: National Football League
* Conference: National Football Conference
* Division: East Division

* v
* t
* e

Green Bay Packers

* Founded in 1919
* Based and headquartered in Green Bay, Wisconsin

Franchise|

Overview

* Team
* Green Bay Packers, Inc.
* Charitable Foundation
* Season-by-season results

|

Notable people|

Founders

* Curly Lambeau & George Whitney Calhoun

|

Personnel

* Coaches
* General managers
* Presidents

Players

* Lists of players
* All-Anniversary Team selections
* All-Decade Team selections
* All-Pro selections
* All-Rookie Team selections
* All-time roster
* Award winners
* Draft history
* Picks, 1936 to 1969
* Picks, 1970 to present
* First-round picks
* Hall of Famers
* Pro Bowlers
* Retired numbers
* Starting QBs
* Team Hall of Fame
* Team records

Facilities|

Stadiums

* List of stadiums
* Current: Lambeau Field
* Past: Hagemeister Park
* Bellevue Park
* City Stadium
* Borchert Field
* Wisconsin State Fair Park
* Marquette Stadium
* Milwaukee County Stadium

|

Other

* Clarke Hinkle Field
* Don Hutson Center
* Ray Nitschke Field
* Rockwood Lodge (former)
* St. Norbert College (training camp)
* Titletown District

Team history|

General

* History
* Home games in Milwaukee
* The Hungry Five
* Indian Packing Company
* Packers Heritage Trail

|

Culture

* "Bang the Drum All Day"
* Bart Starr Award
* Cheerleaders
* Cheese League
* Cheesehead
* Dolly Gray impostor
* Fight song
* Lambeau Leap
* Lumberjack Band
* Packers sweep
* Receiver (statue)

Notable games

* 1940 NFL All-Star Game
* 1965 NFL playoffs
* 4th and 26
* Dez Caught It
* Fail Mary
* Instant Replay Game
* Miracle in Motown
* The Catch II
* The Ice Bowl
* The Snow Bowl
* We want the ball and we're going to score!

Rivalries

* Chicago Bears
* Dallas Cowboys
* Detroit Lions
* Minnesota Vikings
* New York Giants
* San Francisco 49ers
* Seattle Seahawks
* Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Championships|

Division (21)

* 1936
* 1938
* 1939
* 1944
* 1967
* 1972
* 1995
* 1996
* 1997
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2007
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2016
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021

|

Conference (9)

* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1996
* 1997
* 2010

League (13†)

* 1929
* 1930
* 1931
* 1936
* 1939
* 1944
* 1961
* 1962
* 1965
* 1966 (I)
* 1967 (II)
* 1996 (XXXI)
* 2010 (XLV)

Media|

Radio

* Packers Radio Network (WIXX in Green Bay, WRNW in Milwaukee)

|

Television

* WGBA-TV
* WTMJ-TV
* Spectrum News 1 WI

Personnel

* Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play)
* Larry McCarren (color/analysis)

Related

* Driven
* Instant Replay
* Lombardi (film)
* Lombardi (play)
* Pigskin Champions
* Pitch Perfect 2
* Second Effort
* That '70s Show
* The 60 Yard Line
* When Pride Still Mattered

Current affiliations|

Division

* North Division (2002–present)

|

Conference

* National Football Conference (1970–present)

League

* National Football League (1921–present)

† does not include 1966 or 1967 NFL championships

* v
* t
* e

NFL championship games (1933–present)

NFL Championship
(1933–1969)[1]|

* 1933
* 1934
* 1935
* 1936
* 1937
* 1938
* 1939
* 1940
* 1941
* 1942
* 1943
* 1944
* 1945
* 1946
* 1947
* 1948
* 1949
* 1950
* 1951
* 1952
* 1953
* 1954
* 1955
* 1956
* 1957
* 1958
* 1959
* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969

* 1921 APFA de facto championship game
* 1925 NFL Championship controversy
* 1932 NFL Playoff Game

* Pre-Super Bowl NFL playoffs
* Pre-Super Bowl NFL champions
* broadcasters
* Playoff Bowl
* broadcasters

AFL Championship
(1960–1969)[1]|

* 1960
* 1961
* 1962
* 1963
* 1964
* 1965
* 1966
* 1967
* 1968
* 1969

* Pre-Super Bowl AFL playoffs
* Pre-Super Bowl AFL champions
* broadcasters
* AFL All-Star game
* broadcasters

AFL–NFL World
Championship Game
(1966–1969)[1][2]|

* 1966 (I)
* 1967 (II)
* 1968 (III)
* 1969 (IV)

Super Bowl
(1970–present)[1][3]|

* 1970 (V)
* 1971 (VI)
* 1972 (VII)
* 1973 (VIII)
* 1974 (IX)
* 1975 (X)
* 1976 (XI)
* 1977 (XII)
* 1978 (XIII)
* 1979 (XIV)
* 1980 (XV)
* 1981 (XVI)
* 1982 (XVII)
* 1983 (XVIII)
* 1984 (XIX)
* 1985 (XX)
* 1986 (XXI)
* 1987 (XXII)
* 1988 (XXIII)
* 1989 (XXIV)
* 1990 (XXV)
* 1991 (XXVI)
* 1992 (XXVII)
* 1993 (XXVIII)
* 1994 (XXIX)
* 1995 (XXX)
* 1996 (XXXI)
* 1997 (XXXII)
* 1998 (XXXIII)
* 1999 (XXXIV)
* 2000 (XXXV)
* 2001 (XXXVI)
* 2002 (XXXVII)
* 2003 (XXXVIII)
* 2004 (XXXIX)
* 2005 (XL)
* 2006 (XLI)
* 2007 (XLII)
* 2008 (XLIII)
* 2009 (XLIV)
* 2010 (XLV)
* 2011 (XLVI)
* 2012 (XLVII)
* 2013 (XLVIII)
* 2014 (XLIX)
* 2015 (50)
* 2016 (LI)
* 2017 (LII)
* 2018 (LIII)
* 2019 (LIV)
* 2020 (LV)
* 2021 (LVI)
* 2022 (LVII)
* 2023 (LVIII)
* 2024 (LIX)
* 2025 (LX)
* 2026 (LXI)

* NFL playoffs
* Results
* Super Bowl champions
* broadcasters
* Pro Bowl

* Super Bowl Most Valuable Players
* Super Bowl records
* Super Bowl officials
* Super Bowl halftime
* Super Bowl commercials
* AFC Championship Game
* NFC Championship Game
* History of the NFL Championship

1. 1 - Dates in the list denote the season, not necessarily the calendar year in which the championship game was played. For instance, Super Bowl LIV was played in 2020, but was the championship for the 2019 season.
2. 2 - From 1966 to 1969, the first four Super Bowls were "World Championship" games played between two independent professional football leagues, AFL and NFL, and when the league merged in 1970 the Super Bowl became the NFL Championship Game.
3. 3 - Italics indicate future games.

*[1]: First quarter
*[2]: Second quarter
*[3]: Third quarter
*[4]: Fourth quarter
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template