It was not until 1933 when the NFL divided the league into two separate divisions, East and West. The winner of each division would face off in the NFL Championship game. During the 1920’s, very few franchises maintained long-term stability. These franchises were typically from smaller mid-west cities. However, in the 1930’s, the NFL began to see a crop of franchises that would prove to be long-standing, such as the Eagles, Redskins, and Steelers (Pirates from 1933 to 1939). With the inception of the championship game, the NFL began to see a rise in popularity among Americans, who at the time, considered Major League Baseball as America’s favorite sport.
Green Bay Packers
After claiming their first NFL Championship in 1929, the Packers claimed the title in 1930 and 1931 by winning a combined 22 games out of 28 games played. In 1932, they won the most games, 10 to be precise; however, the Chicago Bears earned the NFL Championship because of a higher winning percentage. In 1936, the Packers won their first NFL title in the championship-game era by defeating the Boston Redskins 21 to 6. They claimed their fourth championship of the decade by shutting out the New York Giants 27 to 0 in 1939. No other franchise enjoyed as much success as the Packers in the 1930’s, as they only encountered one losing season.
Chicago Bears
The Bears claimed the NFL championship in 1932 and 1933. This was significant because they won the final non-postseason championship, as well as the first championship game when they defeated the New York Giants 23 to 21 in 1933. In 1934, the Bears never lost a game during the regular season. Nevertheless, the Giants stunned the Bears in the NFL championship game with a 30 to 13 victory. The Bears posted a winning season in every year throughout the 1930’s. They won the West division three times in seven years.
New York Giants
The Giants claimed the 1934 and 1938 NFL championships, joining the Packers and Bears as the only teams with multiple championships in the 1930’s. In 1934, the Giants only won eight games and lost five, but they shocked the undefeated Bears in the NFL championship. Four years later, they handed the Packers a 23 to 17 defeat, claiming their second title of the decade, and third overall. The 1932 season marked the only losing season of the decade for the Giants.
Honorable mentions include Detroit Lions; Washington/Boston Redskins
Resource: Pro Football Reference
