1971-Oct-24 • CHI/DET • Chicago Bears vs Detroit Lions - NFL Radio Broadcast
1971 NFL Standings . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/leagues/nfl/...
Sunday Oct 24, 1971
Start Time: 2:00pm
Stadium: Tiger Stadium . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/stadiums/tig...
Box Score. . . . . . . . . . . . . https://www.pro-football-reference.co...
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Radio Announcers
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Van Patrick . . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/van-...
Bob Reynolds . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/bob-...
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Head Coaches
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Jim Dooley . . . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/jim-...
Joe Schmidt . . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/joe-...
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Top Players
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1971 Chicago Bears . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/teams/chicag...
QB - Bobby Douglass . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/bobb...
WR - George Farmer . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/geor...
WR - Dick Gordon . . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/dick...
MLB - Dick Butkus . . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/dick...
LCB/RCB - Charlie Ford . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/char...
LDT - George Seals . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/geor...
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1971 Detroit Lions . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/teams/detroi...
QB - Greg Landry . . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/greg...
FB - Steve Owens . . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/stev...
FB - Altie Taylor . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/alti...
WR - Earl McCullouch . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/earl...
WR - Chuck Hughes . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/chuc...
TE - Charlie Sanders . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/char...
LCB - Lem Barney . . . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/lem-...
RCB - Dick LeBeau . . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/dick...
MLB - Mike Lucci . . . . . . . . . . . . https://retroseasons.com/players/mike...
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Game Summary (may have spoilers)
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On October 24, 1971, the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions met at Tiger Stadium in a closely contested NFC Central game. Both teams entered with 3-2 records, with the Bears led by quarterback Bobby Douglass and coach Jim Dooley, while the Lions, coached by Joe Schmidt, were guided by quarterback Greg Landry. Detroit, featuring standout players like wide receiver Chuck Hughes and running back Steve Owens, sought a crucial win to gain an edge in the divisional standings. This game, however, would tragically be marked by an unexpected event, casting a somber tone on a competitive season.
The game unfolded with back-and-forth scoring, as Chicago found the end zone first with a 21-yard run by Don Shy and a 54-yard touchdown pass from Douglass to George Farmer in the second quarter. Detroit answered with a 102-yard kickoff return by Ron Jessie and a touchdown reception by Larry Walton, pushing them to a slim lead by halftime. In the final minutes of the game, Chuck Hughes collapsed on the field after running a route. Despite efforts to revive him, Hughes was later pronounced dead due to a heart attack, marking the first time in NFL history a player died during a game.
Chicago won 28-23, improving to 4-2, though the result was overshadowed by Hughes’s passing. Detroit, who fell to 3-3, finished the game in shock and mourning. The incident deeply impacted the Lions, Hughes's family, and the entire NFL community. This game remains a somber chapter in NFL history, remembered not only for the fierce rivalry but for the tragic loss that unfolded on the field.
#ChicagoBears #DetroitLions #ChuckHughes #BobbyDouglass #GregLandry #NFL1971 #TigerStadium
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