The 1930 season was the Chicago Bears' 11th in the National Football League. The team was able to improve on their 4–9–2 record from 1929 and finished with a 9–4–1 record under first-year head coach Ralph Jones. Jones, a former player, led the team to recover from its ninth-place finish to a respectable third-place finish. The season started badly with a 1–2–1 record over the first four games, the only win coming against the hapless Minneapolis Redjackets. After splitting games five and six, the Bears got their winning ways back, finishing the season with 5 straight wins and 7 wins in their last 8 games. The only loss those last 8 games was to eventual champion Green Bay. The secret to the Bears' success was new talent in the backfield. All-American and rookie Bronko Nagurski starred at fullback while living legend Red Grange starred at tailback. These two future Hall of Famers combined for 13 touchdowns overall. Luke Johnsos, in his second year, also starred at the end. The makings of future championships were in place. Roster 1930 Chicago Bears final rosterBacks Carl Brumbaugh QB/S Red Grange RB/CB Walt Holmer RB/CB Joe Lintzenich RB/CB Bronko Nagurski FB/LB Dick Nesbitt RB/CB Bill Senn RB/CB Joey Sternaman QB/S/K Laurie Walquist RB/QB/CB/S Linemen Zuck Carlson G/DG Babe Frump G/DG Link Lyman T/DT Danny McMullen G/DG Don Murry T/DT Frank Pauly T/DT Bert Pearson C/MG Paul Schuette G/DG Larry Steinbach T/DT George Trafton C/MG Ends/Receivers Hoot Drury Gardie Grange Luke Johnsos K
Rookies in italics Future Hall of Fame players Red Grange, back Link Lyman, tackle Bronko Nagurski, fullback/tackle (rookie from University of Minnesota) George Trafton, center
Other leading players Carl Brumbaugh, quarterback (rookie from University of Florida) Garland Grange, end Luke Johnsos, end William Senn, back Joe Sternaman, quarterback Laurie Walquist, quarterback
Players departed from 1929 Paddy Driscoll, back (retired) George Halas, end (retired) Joe Kopcha, guard (temporarily left team)
Schedule Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance September 21 Brooklyn Dodgers T 0–0 0–0–1 Mills Stadium 10,000 September 28 at Green Bay Packers L 0–7 0–1–1 City Stadium 10,000 October 2 at Milwaukee Nighthawks* W 26–0 Exhibition Borchert Field 3,000 October 5 at Minneapolis Red Jackets W 20–0 1–1–1 Nicollet Park 7,000 October 12 New York Giants L 0–12 1–2–1 Wrigley Field 12,000 October 19 at Chicago Cardinals W 32–6 2–2–1 Comiskey Park 7,000 October 22 at Portsmouth Spartans L 6–7 2–3–1 Universal Stadium 7,500 October 26 Frankford Yellow Jackets W 13–7 3–3–1 Wrigley Field 5,000 November 2 Minneapolis Red Jackets W 20–7 4–3–1 Wrigley Field 4,000 November 9 Green Bay Packers L 12–13 4–4–1 Wrigley Field 22,000 November 16 at New York Giants W 12–05–4–1 Polo Grounds 5,000 November 22 at Frankford Yellow Jackets W 13–6 6–4–1 Frankford Stadium 6,500 November 23 Ironton Tanks* L 13–26 Exhibition Crosley Field‡ 6,000 November 27 Chicago Cardinals W 6–0 7–4–1 Wrigley Field 8,175 November 30 Portsmouth Spartans W 14–6 8–4–1 Wrigley Field 6,000 December 7 Green Bay Packers W 21–0 9–4–1 Wrigley Field 22,000 December 15 Chicago Cardinals W 9–7 Exhibition Chicago Stadium (indoor)‡ 10,000 Non-NFL team Neutral site game
Standings
References