This thorough examination of the 1963 NFL Championship chronicles the trials and triumphs of Chicago’s historically most neglected champions against the economic, social, legal and human-interest backdrop of professional football in the 1960s. The Bears and their legendary owner/coach George Halas adjusted to the increased revenue of the television era and the behind-the-scenes drama of a gambling scandal, while developing into one of the greatest teams of the pre–Super Bowl era. Their tumultuous rise and tragic deterioration are covered in detail.

Charles N. Billington is a rehabilitation administrator and sports historian with longtime interests in 20th-century baseball and football. He lives in the Chicago area.

Charles N. Billington

Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 256
Bibliographic Info: 10 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2024
pISBN: 978-1-4766-9043-8
eISBN: 978-1-4766-5095-1
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments v
Preface 1
Introduction 5
1. January: He Who Gambles Lives in Shambles 7
2. February and March: Rozelle Takes His Time and Papa Bear’s Youth Movement 20
3. April and May: Hornung and Karras, Welcome to Shambles 32
4. June and July: Mugs Halas, Your Table Is Ready, and Papa Bear’s White Whale 43
5. August: Back Home Again, in Indiana 54
6. September: Best Start in 15 Years! 74
7. October: The NFL Takes Notice 92
8. November: Declaring Their Dominance, Surviving a Tragedy 116
9. December: Earning It the Hard Way 141
10. December: The Irrepressible Force Meets the Immovable Object 159
11. December: The Nation Witnesses a Classic 176
Afterword: Trouble, Sadness, and Fleeting Success 201
Epilogue: The Price They Paid 213
Chapter Notes 221
Bibliography 235
Index 239

“Billington is a tireless researcher…. As fine as [he] is at writing about games, he is equally adept at providing historical and societal perspectives.”—Chicago Tribune