1936 Chicago Bears season

1936 Chicago Bears season
Head coach	George Halas
Home field	Wrigley Field
Results
Record	9–3
Division place	2nd NFL Western
Playoff finish	did not qualify

The 1936 Chicago Bears season was their 17th regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted a 9–3–0 record and finished in second place in the Western Division behind the Green Bay Packers. After week 10, the Bears were tied with the Packers in first place with identical 9–1 records, having split their season series. However, the club swooned at the end of the year, losing their last two games on the road to Detroit and the Cardinals. Green Bay went on to easily defeat the Boston Redskins and win the NFL title.

1936 NFL Draft

Main article: 1936 NFL Draft

1936 Chicago Bears draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	6	Joe Stydahar †	Offensive tackle	West Virginia
2	14	Ed Michaels	Offensive guard	Villanova
3	24	George Roscoe	Back	Minnesota
4	32	Bob Allman	Offensive end	Michigan State
5	42	Vern Oech	Offensive guard	Minnesota
6	50	Ted Christofferson	Back	Washington State
7	60	Dick Smith	Tackle	Minnesota
8	68	John Sylvester	End	Rice
9	78	Dan Fortmann †	Guard	Colgate
Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Season highlights

The Bears featured a high-powered offense with a dynamic rushing scheme and a "vertical" passing attack. Bill Hewitt starred at end, catching 15 passes for 358 yards and 6 touchdowns (this fine performance was overshadowed by that of Don Hutson, who led the league in receiving). Bernie Masterson and Carl Brumbaugh shared quarterbacking duties, although coach Halas continued to feature passing, rushing, and receiving from all the backs in his still fairly primitive T-formation scheme. As a team, the Bears averaged 18.9 yards per pass completion for 17 touchdowns. Keith Molesworth continued as a triple-threat from the halfback position. Bronko Nagurski returned to form and led the team in rushing. Rookie linemen and future hall of famers Joe Stydahar and Danny Fortmann joined tackle George Musso on the line. Rookie Ray Nolting joined the strong backfield. Jack Manders had a fine season as a rusher and kicker, scoring 4 touchdowns while making 7 of 8 field goals and 17 of 21 PATs. He was second in the league in scoring, behind the Lions' all-purpose threat Dutch Clark. The Bear defense led the league in points allowed, giving up only 94 points and allowing more than 14 points only once, to the Packers.

Future Hall of Fame Players

• Dan Fortmann, Guard (rookie from Colgate)
• Bill Hewitt, End
• George Musso, Tackle
• Bronko Nagurski, Fullback
• Joe Stydahar, Tackle (rookie from West Virginia University)

Other Leading Players

• Beattie Feathers, Halfback
• Luke Johnsos, End
• Bill Karr, End
• Jack Manders, Fullback / Kicker
• Bernie Masterson, Quarterback
• Keith Molesworth, Halfback
• Ray Nolting, Halfback (rookie from University of Cincinnati)
• Gene Ronzani, Back

Players departed from 1935

• Joe Kopcha, Guard (went to Detroit)

Schedule

Date	Opponent	Location	Result	Score
Sep 20	Green Bay Packers	East Stadium	Win	30–3
Sep. 27	Philadelphia Eagles	Municipal Stadium	Win	17–0
Oct 4	Pittsburgh Pirates	Forbes Field	Win	27–9
Oct 11	Chicago Cardinals	Wrigley Field	Win	7–3
Oct 18	Pittsburgh Pirates	Wrigley Field	Win	26–7
Oct 25	Detroit Lions	Wrigley Field	Win	12–10
Nov 1	Green Bay Packers	Wrigley Field	Loss	10–21
Nov 8	New York Giants	Polo Grounds	Win	25–7
Nov 15	Boston Redskins	Fenway Park	Win	26–0
Nov. 22	Philadelphia Eagles	Municipal Stadium	Win	28–7
Nov. 26	Detroit Lions	Titan Stadium	Loss	7–13
Nov. 29	Chicago Cardinals	Wrigley Field	Loss	7–14

Standings

NFL Western Division
	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
Green Bay Packers	10	1	1	.909	5–1–1	248	118	T1
Chicago Bears	9	3	0	.750	3–3	222	94	L2
Detroit Lions	8	4	0	.667	3–3	235	102	W1
Chicago Cardinals	3	8	1	.273	1–5–1	74	143	T1

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.