| Regular season | |
|---|---|
| Duration | September 5 – December 12, 1937 |
| East Champions | Washington Redskins |
| West Champions | Chicago Bears |
| Championship Game | |
| Champions | Washington Redskins |
| |
Giants
Eagles
Dodgers
Pirates
Redskins
Bears
Cardinals
Packers
Rams
Lions
West, 
East
The 1937 NFL season was the 18th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Rams joined the league as an expansion team. Meanwhile, the Redskins relocated from Boston to Washington, D.C.
The season ended when the Redskins, led by rookie quarterback Sammy Baugh, defeated the Chicago Bears in the NFL Championship Game.
The 1937 NFL draft was held on December 12, 1936 at New York City's Hotel Lincoln. With the first pick, the Philadelphia Eagles selected runningback Sam Francis from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Midway through the NFL's 11-game season, the Bears were unbeaten (5–0) in the Western Division, while the Giants were leaders in the Eastern (4–1), and they played to a 3–3 tie. The Giants and Bears continued to stay in the lead in their divisions, and the Bears clinched a spot in the title game with its 13–0 win over Detroit. On December 5, 1937, the final game of the season had Washington (7–3 and .700) traveling to New York (6–2–2 and .750). A win or a tie would give the Giants the Eastern title; the Redskins triumphed, 49–14, and got the division crown and the trip to face Chicago in the 1937 championship game.
| NFL Eastern Division | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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W | L | T | PCT | DIV | PF | PA | STK | |
| Washington Redskins | 8 | 3 | 0 | .727 | 6–2 | 195 | 120 | W3 | |
| New York Giants | 6 | 3 | 2 | .667 | 5–2–1 | 128 | 109 | L1 | |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 4 | 7 | 0 | .364 | 4–4 | 122 | 145 | L1 | |
| Brooklyn Dodgers | 3 | 7 | 1 | .300 | 2–5–1 | 82 | 174 | T1 | |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 2 | 8 | 1 | .200 | 2–6 | 86 | 177 | L1 | |
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
| NFL Western Division | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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W | L | T | PCT | DIV | PF | PA | STK | |
| Chicago Bears | 9 | 1 | 1 | .900 | 7–1 | 201 | 100 | W4 | |
| Green Bay Packers | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 6–2 | 220 | 122 | L2 | |
| Detroit Lions | 7 | 4 | 0 | .636 | 4–4 | 180 | 105 | L1 | |
| Chicago Cardinals | 5 | 5 | 1 | .500 | 3–5 | 135 | 165 | L2 | |
| Cleveland Rams | 1 | 10 | 0 | .091 | 0–8 | 75 | 207 | L9 | |
Washington 28, Chi. Bears 21, at Wrigley Field, Chicago, December 12, 1937
| Statistic | Name | Team | Yards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passing | Sammy Baugh | Washington | 1127 |
| Rushing | Cliff Battles | Washington | 874 |
| Receiving | Gaynell Tinsley | Chicago Cardinals | 675 |
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| Early era (1920–1969) |
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| Modern era (1970–present) |
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Italics indicate future seasons | |||||||
