Background
Before the 1933 season new Boston Redskins owner George Preston Marshall suggested to the NFL's owners that the league make some rule changes to increase the excitement of the game, including allowing passing from anywhere behind the line of scrimmage, and returning the goal posts to the goal line. Marshall then made another proposal a couple of months later; splitting the ten-team league into two divisions of five teams each, and having the winners of each division play each other in a championship game. Although the owners were hesitant at first that this brash new owner thought their game needed overhauling, the logic of his arguments won out, and they were implemented before the season.
Before the season the Giants acquired University of Michigan All-American quarterback Harry Newman, and versatile free agent halfback Ken Strong. The Giants finished the regular season 11–3, first in the new "Eastern Division", and Newman, center Mel Hein, and Red Badgro were named first team All-NFL. Newman led the NFL in passes completed (53), passing yards (973), touchdown passes (11), and longest pass completion (78 yards), with his passing yards total setting an NFL record.
The Bears went 10–2–1 and won the NFL's new "Western Division", they were led by running backs Red Grange and Bronco Nagurski, and quarterbacked by Keith Molesworth. Nagurski and Grange combined for 810 yards rushing, and the game was the teams third meeting of the seaon, with the Bears winning the teams first regular season matchup 14–10, and the Giants their second 3–0.
Attendance for the game was 26,000, and before kickoff Newman informed officials he would be running several new trick plays in the game so they would not be confused when they saw them.
Read more about this topic: 1933 NFL Championship Game
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