1948 Philadelphia Eagles season

The 1948 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 16th season in the National Football League (NFL). The Eagles repeated as Eastern Division champions and returned to the NFL Championship game, this time defeating the Chicago Cardinals to win their first NFL title.

1948 Philadelphia Eagles season
OwnerLex Thompson
Head coachEarle "Greasy" Neale
Home fieldShibe Park
Results
Record9–2–1
Division place1st NFL Eastern
Playoff finishWon NFL Championship
(vs. Cardinals) 7–0

Off season

The Eagles travel to New York State to hold training camp at Saranac Lake High School Field in Saranac Lake, New York, in northern New York State near Lake Placid and in the Adirondack Park. As of 2014 the building where the Eagles stayed is still a local landmark and is located on Lake Street in Saranac Lake and it is still called the Eagles Nest.

NFL draft

The 1948 NFL draft was held on December 19, 1947, five days after the end of the regular season, and nine days before the championship game was played. The Eagles finished the 1947 season with an 8–4 record. Tied with the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers they picked 7th, 8th or 9th normally in the 32 rounds that they had picks.

The Washington Redskins had a lottery bonus pick at number one and chose Harry Gilmer, Back out of the University of Alabama. In the first round, the Eagles selected Clyde Scott, a running back from the University of Arkansas.

The Eagles' 26th round pick, Lou Creekmur, did not make the team but ended up becoming a Hall of Fame player for the Detroit Lions.

Many of the draft picks made by NFL teams ended up playing for teams in the rival All-America Football Conference (AAFC).

Player selections

The table shows the Eagles selections and what picks they had that were traded away and the team that ended up with that pick. It is possible the Eagles' pick ended up with this team via another team that the Eagles made a trade with. Not shown are acquired picks that the Eagles traded away.

= Pro Bowler [1] = Hall of Famer
Rd Pick Player Position School Rd Pick Player Position School
18Clyde ScottBackArkansas 2No PICK
322Paul CampbellQuarterbackTexas 4No PICK
533Jack "Moose" MyersBackUCLA 642Howard DuncanCenterOhio State
754Buddy TinsleyTackleBaylor863Marty WendellGuardNotre Dame
972Scott BeasleEndNevada-Reno 1084Ray RichesonGuardAlabama
1193Gil JohnsonQuarterbackSouthern Methodist 12102Bill WymanTackleRice
13114Jim WalthallBackWest Virginia 14123Dick KempthornBackMichigan
15132Dick RifenburgEndMichigan 16144Don StantonTackleOregon
17153Ralph KohlTackleMichigan 18162Aubrey FowlerBackArkansas
19174Rudy KrallBackNew Mexico 20183Ed ClaunchCenterLSU
21192Negley NortonTacklePenn State 22204Lockwood FrizzellCenterVirginia
23213Jack SwanerBackCalifornia 24222Art LittletonEndPennsylvania
25234Jim ParmerBackOklahoma State 26243Lou CreekmurTackleWilliam & Mary
27252Bill StantonEndNorth Carolina State 28264Bennie EllenderBackTulane
29273Rex GrossmanBackIndiana 30282A. B. KitchensTackleTulsa
31292Art StatutoCenterNotre Dame 32298Tom NovakCenterNebraska

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 24 at Chicago Cardinals L 14–21 0–1 Comiskey Park 24,159
2 October 3 at Los Angeles Rams T 28–28 0–1–1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 24,597
3 October 10 New York Giants W 45–0 1–1–1 Shibe Park 22,804
4 October 17 at Washington Redskins W 45–0 2–1–1 Griffith Stadium 35,580
5 October 24 Chicago Bears W 12–7 3–1–1 Shibe Park 36,227
6 October 31 at Pittsburgh Steelers W 34–7 4–1–1 Forbes Field 32,859
7 November 7 at New York Giants W 35–14 5–1–1 Polo Grounds 24,983
8 November 14 Boston Yanks W 45–0 6–1–1 Shibe Park 22,958
9 November 21 Washington Redskins W 42–21 7–1–1 Shibe Park 36,254
10 November 28 Pittsburgh Steelers W 17–0 8–1–1 Shibe Park 22,001
11 December 5 at Boston Yanks L 14–37 8–2–1 Fenway Park 9,652
12 December 12 Detroit Lions W 45–21 9–2–1 Shibe Park 15,322
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game recaps

Week 1

Sunday, September 14, 1948

Played at Comiskey Park in Chicago

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Philadelphia Eagles (0–1)077014
Chicago Cardinals (1–0)770721
SCORING PLAYSPHILCHI CTIME
1stCardinalsCharlie Trippi 8-yard rush (Pat Harder kick)07
2ndCardinalsMal Kutner 30-yard pass from Paul Christman (Pat Harder kick)014
EaglesBosh Pritchard 34-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)714
3rdEaglesPete Pihos 42-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)1414
4thCardinalsMal Kutner 64-yard pass from Charlie Trippi (Pat Harder kick)1421

Week 2

Sunday, October 3, 1948

Played at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Philadelphia Eagles (0–1–1)7147028
Los Angeles Rams (1–0–1)0072128
SCORING PLAYSPHILLATIME
1stEaglesPete Pihos 40-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)70
2ndEaglesPete Pihos 36-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)140
EaglesNeill Armstrong 13-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)210
3rdEaglesBosh Pritchard 52-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)280
RamsJack Zilly 27-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick)287
4thRamsBill Smyth 3-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick)2814
RamsBob Hoffman 1-yard rush (Bob Waterfield kick)2821
RamsJack Zilly 20-yard pass from Bob Waterfield (Bob Waterfield kick)2828

Week 3

Sunday, October 10, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
New York Giants (1–2–0)00000
Philadelphia Eagles (1–1–1)14732145
SCORING PLAYSNY GPHILTIME
1stEaglesSteve Van Buren 1-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)07
EaglesPete Pihos 28-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)014
2ndEaglesEagles Ernie Steele 32-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)021
3rdEaglesCliff Patton 27-yard field goal024
4thEaglesTommy Thompson 1-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)031
EaglesBen Kish 66-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)038
EaglesJim Parmer 7-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)045

Week 4

Sunday, October 17, 1948

Played at Griffith Stadium in Washington, DC

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Philadelphia Eagles (1–1–1)141014745
Washington Redskins (2–2–0)00000
SCORING PLAYSPHILWASHTIME
1stEaglesPete Pihos 19-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)70
EaglesSteve Van Buren 1-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)140
2ndEaglesCliff Patton 23-yard field goal170
EaglesSteve Van Buren 3-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)240
3rdEaglesBosh Pritchard 32-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)310
EaglesSteve Van Buren 7-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)380
4thEaglesErnie Steele 4-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)450

Week 5

Sunday, October 24, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Chicago Bears (4–1–0)00707
Philadelphia Eagles (3–1–1)700512
SCORING PLAYSCHI BPHILTIME
1stEaglesSteve Van Buren 8-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)07
3rdBearsKen Kavanaugh 42-yard pass from Johnny Lujack (Johnny Lujack kick)77
4thEaglesCliff Patton 38-yard field goal710
EaglesSafety, Luckman tackled in end zone by Barnes712

Week 6

Sunday, October 31, 1948

Played at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, PA

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Philadelphia Eagles (4–1–1)31401734
Pittsburgh Steelers (2–4–0)07007
SCORING PLAYSPHILPITTTIME
1stEaglesCliff Patton 42-yard field goal37
2ndSteelersJerry Shipkey 1-yard rush (Joe Glamp kick)37
EaglesSteve Van Buren 20-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)107
EaglesJack Ferrante 7-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)177
4thEaglesBosh Pritchard 55-yard punt return (Cliff Patton kick)247
EaglesCliff Patton 23-yard field goal277
EaglesBosh Pritchard 18-yard fumble return (Cliff Patton kick)347

Week 7

Sunday, November 7, 1948

Played at Polo Grounds in New York, NY

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Philadelphia Eagles (5–1–1)7714735
New York Giants (2–5–0)007714
SCORING PLAYSPHILPITTTIME
1stEaglesPete Pihos 26-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)70
2ndEaglesPete Pihos 34-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)140
3rdEaglesSteve Van Buren 6-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)210
GiantsJoe Scott 11-yard pass from Charlie Conerly (Len Younce kick)217
EaglesBosh Pritchard 65-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)287
4thEaglesSteve Van Buren 3-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)357
GiantsJohn Atwood 26-yard pass from Ray Coates (Len Younce kick)3514

Week 8

Sunday, November 14, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

For third time in the 1948 season, and the second time playing at Shibe Park, the Eagles win a game by the score of 45–0.

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Boston Yanks (2–7–0)00000
Philadelphia Eagles (6–1–1)31472145
SCORING PLAYSBOS PHILTIME
2ndEaglesRuss Craft 70-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)07
EaglesJack Ferrante 20-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)014
EaglesPete Pihos 26-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)021
EaglesCliff Patton 37-yard field goal024
3rdEaglesBosh Pritchard 2-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)031
4thEaglesNeill Armstrong 14-yard pass from Bill Mackrides (Cliff Patton kick)038
EaglesJim Parmer 5-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)045

Week 9

Sunday, November 21, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Washington Redskins (6–3–0)0140721
Philadelphia Eagles (7–1–1)14714742
SCORING PLAYSWASHPHILTIME
1stEaglesSteve Van Buren 6-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)07
EaglesNeill Armstrong 25-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)014
2ndEaglesJack Myers 29-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)021
RedskinsHal Crisler 30-yard pass from Sammy Baugh (Dick Poillon kick)721
RedskinsHal Crisler 79-yard pass from Sammy Baugh (Dick Poillon kick)1421
3rdEaglesRuss Craft 24-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)1428
EaglesPete Pihos 19-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)1435
4thRedskinsDick Poillon 93-yard fumble return (Dick Poillon kick)2135
EaglesJack Ferrante 15-yard pass from Bill Mackrides (Cliff Patton kick)2142

Week 10

Sunday, November 28, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Pittsburgh Steelers (3–7–0)00000
Philadelphia Eagles (8–1–1)7100017
SCORING PLAYSPITT PHILTIME
1stEaglesEagles Bosh Pritchard 5-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)07
2ndEaglesPete Pihos 13-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)014
EaglesCliff Patton 31-yard field goal017

Week 11

Sunday, December 5, 1948

Played at Fenway Park in Boston, MA

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Philadelphia Eagles (8–2–1)770014
Boston Yanks (3–9–0)10210637
SCORING PLAYSPHILBOSTIME
1stEaglesJack Ferrante 14-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)70
YanksFrank Muehlheuser 35-yard rush (Nick Scollard kick)77
YanksNick Scollard 35-yard field goal710
2ndYanksFrank Seno 68-yard pass from Phil Slosburg (Nick Scollard kick)717
YanksBill Chipley 38-yard interception return (Nick Scollard kick)724
EaglesJoe Muha 20-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)1424
YanksJoe Golding 89-yard interception return (Nick Scollard kick)1431
4thYanksRudy Romboli 2-yard rush (kick failed)1437

Week 12

Sunday, December 12, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Detroit Lions (2–10–0)077721
Philadelphia Eagles (9–2–1)31472145
SCORING PLAYSDETPHILTIME
1stEaglesCliff Patton 23-yard field goal03
2ndEaglesPete Pihos 10-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)010
EaglesJack Ferrante 66-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)017
LionsBill Dudley 4-yard pass from Clyde LeForce (Merv Pregulman kick)717
3rdLionsBill Dudley 10-yard pass from Clyde LeForce (Merv Pregulman kick)1417
EaglesSteve Van Buren 16-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)1424
4thLionsJohn Greene 38-yard pass from Clyde LeForce (Merv Pregulman kick)2124
EaglesJack Ferrante 15-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)2131
EaglesJim Parmer 42-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)2138
EaglesJack Ferrante 23-yard pass from Tommy Thompson (Cliff Patton kick)2145

Standings

NFL Eastern Division
W L T PCT DIV PF PA STK
Philadelphia Eagles 9 2 1 .818 7–1 376 156 W1
Washington Redskins 7 5 0 .583 5–3 291 287 W1
New York Giants 4 8 0 .333 3–5 297 388 L2
Pittsburgh Steelers 4 8 0 .333 3–5 200 243 L1
Boston Yanks 3 9 0 .250 2–6 174 372 W1

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

Playoffs

Round Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
NFL Championship December 19 Chicago Cardinals W 7–0 1–0 Shibe Park 28,864

NFL Championship Game

The NFL Championship game was played at Philadelphia's Shibe Park on December 19 during a blizzard. Thinking the game would not be played in the blizzard, Steve Van Buren remained home until Eagles coach Earle "Greasy" Neale called him and told him the game was still on. He had to catch 3 trolleys and walk 12 blocks in order to make the game on time.

The paid attendance for the game was 36,309 (28,864 actual), and it was scoreless until early in the fourth quarter. The Eagles recovered a fumble that set up Van Buren's five-yard touchdown at 1:05 into the fourth quarter. The Cardinals disputed that the ball or Van Buren had crossed the snow-covered goal line.

This was the Cardinals' last appearance in any NFL Championship game in the 20th century. There is said to be a curse on the football Cardinals that followed them from Chicago to St. Louis and on to Arizona.

Roster

All time List of Philadelphia Eagles players in franchise history

= 1940 All-Star Selection[2] = Hall of Famer
  • + After name means 1st team selection
NO. Player AGE POS GP GS WT HT YRS College
Earle "Greasy" Neale58COACHWest Virginia Wesleyan
Neill Armstrong22E-DB1241896–21Oklahoma State
Walt Barnes30G1102386–1RookieLSU
Russ Craft29DB-HB1221785–92Alabama
Noble Doss28HB1101866–01Texas
Otis Douglas37T502246–12William & Mary
Jack Ferrante32E-DE1201976–17none
Mario Giannelli28MG-G1212656–0RookieBoston College
John Green27DE-E1291926–11Tulsa
Fred Hartman31T1202296–11Rice, and
Schreiner College
Dick Humbert30E-DE1201796–17Richmond
Al Johnson26QB-P506–0RookieHardin-Simmons
Bucko Kilroy27G-MG-T-DT12122436–25 Notre Dame and
Temple
Ben Kish31B902076–08Pittsburgh
Vic Lindskog34C12112036–14Stanford
Jay MacDowell29T-DE12102176–22Washington
39Bill Mackrides23QB1011825–111Nevada-Reno
John Magee25G1282205–10RookieLa-Lafayette, and
Rice
Bap Manzini28C301955–114St. Vincent
Duke Maronic27G1212095–94none
Pat McHugh29DB-HB1011665–111Georgia Tech
36Joe Muha27FB-LB11112056–12Virginia Military Institute
Jack Myers24FB-QB-LB1272006–2RookieUCLA
Les Palmer25HB501906–0RookieNorth Carolina State
Jim Parmer22FB-HB1121936–0RookieOklahoma State, and
Texas A&M
65Cliff Patton25G-LB1222436–22TCU
35Pete Pihos25E-DE12112106–11Indiana
Hal Prescott28E1101996–12Hardin-Simmons
Bosh Pritchard29HB1291645–116Georgia Tech, and
VMI
George Savitsky24T1202446–2RookiePennsylvania
Vic Sears30T-DT1222236–37Oregon State
Ernie Steele31HB-DB1221876–06Washington
Gil Steinke29HB211756–03Texas A&M-Kingsville
Frank Szymanski25C902255–113Notre Dame
11Tommy Thompson32QB1241926–18Tulsa
15Steve Van Buren+28HB1182006–04LSU
Al Wistert28T-G-DT12122146–15Michigan
53Alex Wojciechowicz33C-LB-E1012175–111Fordham
Team Totals
37 players
28.112200.06–0.43.0

Postseason

NFL Championship Game recap

1948 NFL Championship Game

Sunday, December 19, 1948

Played at Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Weather: Snow, Blizzard conditions

1Q2Q3Q4QFinal
Chicago Cardinals (11–2–0)00000
Philadelphia Eagles (10–1–1)00077
SCORING PLAYSCHI CPHILTIME
1stEaglesSteve Van Buren 5-yard rush (Cliff Patton kick)0713:55

Attendance: 36,309 (paid), 28,864 (actual)

Awards and honors

  • Tommy Thompson leads league in Passing TDs – 25[3]
  • Tommy Thompson leads league in Passer Rating- PHI 98.4
  • Steve Van Buren leads league in Rushing Attempts – 201
  • Steve Van Buren leads league in Rushing Yards – 945
  • Steve Van Buren leads league in Rushing TDs – 10
  • Cliff Patton Leads League in Field Goals Made – 8
  • QB Tommy Thompson, LH Steve Van Buren, RG Bucko Kilroy, RT Al Wistert, RE Pete Pihos, and P Joe Muha are named to numerous All-Pro teams at season's end [4]

Pro Football Hall of Fame members

References

  1. Players are identified as a Pro Bowler if they were selected for the Pro-Bowl at any time in their career.
  2. Players are identified as a 1940 All-Star.
  3. "NFL 1948 League stats, awards and more on databaseFootball.com". Archived from the original on May 28, 2011. Retrieved March 18, 2011. database football league leaders for 1948 page
  4. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/1948/allpro.htm Pro Football Reference 1948 All-Pro teams page
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