The Chicago Bears were the team to beat in the early 1940s. Loaded with the leading offensive and defensive players of the pre-World War II era, the Bears won three-of-four NFL Championships 1940, 1941 and 1943 and also won the title in 1946, the season after the War ended. After setting a record for attendance in 1939, when for the first time ever, a million spectators came to watch NFL games. Under the guidance of owner-coach, George Halas, the Chicago Bears compiled a 8-3 regular-season record in 1940 and then thundered past the Washington Redskins 73-0 in the 1940 NFL Championship Game - a still standing record for domination in any NFL game. It was the first championship game broadcast nationally on radio.
Led by second year quarterback Sid Luckman, the Bears lifted the National Football League (NFL) to new heights of awareness among the nation's sporting fans. A Hall of Famer, Luckman (1939-1950) orchestrated an offense that highlighted the talents of Hall of Fame halfback George McAfee, speedy halfback Harry 'Flash' Clark, along with fullback Gary Famiglietti and veteran fullback Joe Maniaci, who was acquired from Brooklyn in 1939. At the start of the 1940 season the Bears signed some of the best rookies in their long football history.
Rookie center Clyde 'Bulldog' Turner captured the attention of fans and media alike with his aggressive, hard-hitting defense as a linebacker and with his hard-nose offensive blocking. Turner, who was elected to the NFL Hall of Fame, had a resounding 13-year career, all with the Bears, 1940-1952. Joe Stydahar, a 6-ft, 4-inch, 233-pounder, was one of the Bears' team leaders and played a major role in their winning of the four World Titles during the 1940s. A relentless, quick maneuvering offensive and defensive tackle, Stydahar was elected to the Hall of Fame in '67.
Veteran Guard Danny Fortmann was selected an All-Pro every year from 1938 thru 1943 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in '65. He attended Colgate and the 6-ft, 210-pounder joined the Bears as a rookie in 1936. Rookie End/Receiver Ken Kavanaugh (1940-1950) teamed with rookie End Hampton 'Hamp' Pool (1940-1946) and rookie binger-banger, fullback Bill Osmanski (1940-1947). The trio burst onto the scene in '40 and with their high-speed the Bears had one of the best all-around offenses in the league. Kavanaugh, a speedy receiver fresh out of LSU, scored three touchdowns in the regular season, 1940, and caught a 30-yard TD pass from Luckman in championship game. In his sophomore season, '41, Kavanaugh scored 6 TD and led the NFL with a stunning 28.5 yards per/reception average. footballhistorian.com
Pro football player Ken Kavanaugh career with the Chicago Bears was interrupted from 1942-1945 during which time he flew 30 missions over Nazi Germany and won the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters.
An exceptional athlete and one off the fastest runners in football history, Ken Kavanaugh is rated as one of the best pass catchers in Chicago Bears history. Starring during the 1940s Ken Kavanaugh still holds the Bears records for most career touchdown receptions with 50, also the most TD pass catches in one-season with 13. His receptions records also include most yards per reception in a career with 22.4 and most yards in one-season with 25.6.
Born in Little Rock Arkansas, Ken Kavanaugh college football career started at LSU during the late 1940s, where he caught 30 passes and was chosen the 1939 Southeastern Conference MVP in 1939. Ken Kavanaugh is a member of the College Hall of Fame.
Football Historian
Ken Kavanaugh was well regarded in all of his years among players and media for his many contributions as assistant coach, 1955-1971, and scout, 1971 thru 1999, for the New York Giants. All told, Ken Kavanaugh worked 45 years in the New York Giant football organization.
