11/05/24
December 19, 2010
What the NFL Paid Players in 1944: The family of former pro football player Edward McGroarty saved his 1944 contract offered by Green Bay Packers coach and manager Curly Lambeau. McGroarty's deal was for $150 a game plus transportation to Green Bay and $35 a week in preseason living expenses. "We will gladly increase the amount of this contract as soon as you are playing the kind of ball deserving more money," Lambeau wrote.
My first boss when I got out of college in the early 80's was an older man that had played college football for Indiana in the 40's. He was a big guy, and told me that he was offered a spot with the Bears, but couldn't afford to take it. He would have lost his regular job, and wouldn't have been able to help his father bring in the crops that fall. Times have changed!
posted by dviking at 06:40 PM on December 19, 2010
Remember this when you next bitch about inflated salaries.
posted by afl-aba at 07:26 PM on December 19, 2010
Adjusting for inflation, that's about $1800/game and $425/week in preseason living expenses.