The 1946 National Football League Championship Game was played at the Polo Grounds in New York City on December 15, 1946. The final score was Chicago Bears 24, New York Giants 14. It was the 14th annual NFL championship game. The attendance was 58,346.

The day before the game, two players for the Giants, Frank Filchock and Merle Hapes, had been accused of taking bribes to fix the game from Alvin Paris. Mayor William O'Dwyer had Jack Mara, Wellington Mara and Bert Bell informed of the police evidence against the two. Hours later, the four then met at Gracie Mansion and the mayor interviewed the players one at a time.^[1] Under questioning, Hapes admitted that he was offered a bribe and Filchock denied being offered it. Several hours later, Paris was arrested and confessed to bribing the players. Hapes was suspended by Bell, but Filchock was allowed to play.^[2] During Paris' trial weeks later, Filchock admitting taking the bribe under oath.^[3]

Scoring summary

• CHI Kavanaugh 21 pass from Luckman (Maznicki kick) 7-0 CHI
• CHI Magnani 19 interception return (Maznicki kick) 14-0 CHI
• NY Liebel 38 pass from Filchock (Strong kick) 14-7 CHI
• NY Filipowicz 5 pass from Filchock (Strong kick) 14-14 TIE
• CHI Luckman 19 run (Maznicki kick) 21-14 CHI
• CHI FG Maznicki 26 24-14 CHI

Citations

Sources

• Lyons, Robert S. (2010). On Any Given Sunday, A Life of Bert Bell. Philadelphia:Temple University Press. ISBN ISBN 978-1-59213-731-2