1951 NFL Season

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1951 ushered in coast to coast telecast capabilities.

With attendance numbers reduced in the past couple of years and league official pointing to the increasing popularity of local TV telecasts, the NFL decided to implement de facto blackout rules. Any television station within 75 miles of the home stadium would be blacked out of televising the local game, period.

Please note that much of this may be incomplete.

Yanks refers to the New York Yanks, who would then become the Dallas Texans in 1952.


Week 1, 1951:

9/28:

Yanks-Rams, 11:30, Not televised

9/30:

Redskins-Lions, 1:00, Amoco Network. Harry Wismer, Jim Gibbons

Bears-Packers, 2:30, Not televised

Eagles-Cardinals, 2:30, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel

Browns-49ers, 5:30, Not televised

10/1:

Giants-Steelers, 9:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam

Note: Atlantic Network refers to the Atlantic Refining Company, the sponsor of these telecasts. Atlantic gasoline had numerous gas stations in the Northeastern US during this era.


Week 2, 1951:

10/6:

49ers-Eagles, 8:30, Not televised

10/7:

Giants-Redskins, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam

Bears-Cardinals, 2:30, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel

Steelers-Packers (Milwaukee), 2:30, Not televised

Browns-Rams, 5:00, Not televised

10/8:

Yanks-Lions, 8:30, Not televised


Week 3, 1951:

10/14:

Cardinals-Giants, 2:00, Not televised

Rams-Lions, 2:00, Not televised

49ers-Steelers, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam

Redskins-Browns, 2:00. Amoco Network: Harry Wismer, Jim Gibbons (WSH). DuMont: Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban (CLE).

Yanks-Bears, 2:30, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel

Eagles-Packers, 2:30, Not televised

Note: Yes, that IS Lou Saban on the Browns telecasts. He was moonlighting here as he was head football coach for Case Institute (now Case Western Reserve) in 1951.


Week 4, 1951:

10/21:

Cardinals-Redskins, 2:00, Not televised

Yanks-Lions, 2:00, Not televised

Eagles-Giants, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam

Steelers-Browns, 2:00. Atlantic Network: Bob Neal (PGH). DuMont: Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban (CLE).

Rams-Packers (Milwaukee), 2:30, Not televised

49ers-Bears, 2:30, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel


Week 5, 1951:

10/28:

Bears-Lions, 2:00, Not televised

Packers-Yanks, 2:00, Not televised

Giants-Browns, 2:00. Atlantic Network: Byrum Saam (NY). DuMont: Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban (CLE).

Redskins-Eagles, 2:00, Amoco Network. Harry Wismer, Jim Gibbons

Steelers-Cardinals, 2:30. Atlantic Network: Joe Tucker, Bob Prince (PGH). Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel (CHI).

Rams-49ers, 5:30, KTSL-Los Angeles. Bob Kelley, Tom Hanlon


Week 6, 1951:

11/4:

Bears-Redskins, 2:00, Not televised

Yanks-Giants, 2:00, Not televised

Eagles-Steelers, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam

Browns-Cardinals, 2:30. DuMont: Hal Newell, Gail Egan (CLE). Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel (CHI).

Lions-Packers, 2:30, Not televised

49ers-Rams, 5:00, KRON-San Francisco. Bud Foster


Week 7, 1951:

11/11:

Packers-Steelers, 2:00, Not televised

Eagles-Browns, 2:00. Atlantic Network: Byrum Saam (PHI). DuMont: Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban (CLE).

Redskins-Giants, 2:00. Amoco Network: Harry Wismer, Jim Gibbons

Lions-Bears, 2:30, WJBK-Detroit, Don Wattrick. Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel

Cardinals-Rams, 5:00, Not televised

Yanks-49ers, 5:30, Not televised


Week 8, 1951:

11/18:

Browns-Giants, 2:00, DuMont. Hal Newell, Gail Egan

Lions-Eagles, 2:00, WJBK-Detroit, WJIM-Lansing. Don Wattrick

Redskins-Steelers, 2:00, Amoco Network. Harry Wismer, Jim Gibbons

Packers-Bears, 2:30, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel

Yanks-Rams, 5:00, Not televised

Cardinals-49ers, 5:30, Not televised


Week 9, 1951:

11/22:

Packers-Lions, Noon, DuMont. Harry Wismer, Dick Noel

11/25:

Bears-Browns, 2:00, DuMont. Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban

Rams-Redskins, 2:00, Not televised

Giants-Cardinals, 2:00, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel

Steelers-Eagles, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Joe Tucker, Bob Prince

49ers-Yanks, 2:00, Not televised


Week 10, 1951:

12/2:

Cardinals-Browns, 2:00, DuMont. Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban

Rams-Bears, 2:00, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel

Yanks-Packers, 2:00, Not televised

Eagles-Redskins, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam

Steelers-Giants, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Joe Tucker, Bob Prince

49ers-Lions, 2:00, Not televised


Week 11, 1951:

12/9:

Bears-Yanks, 2:00, Not televised

Browns-Steelers, 2:00, DuMont. Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban

Giants-Eagles, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Byrum Saam

Redskins-Cardinals, 2:00, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel

Lions-Rams, 5:00, WJBK-Detroit, Don Wattrick

Packers-49ers, 5:30, Not televised


Week 12, 1951:

12/16:

Cardinals-Bears, 2:00, Chicago Football Network. Red Grange, Joe Hasel

Browns-Eagles, 2:00, DuMont. Hal Newell, Gail Egan, Lou Saban

Giants-Yanks, 2:00, Not televised

Steelers-Redskins, 2:00, Atlantic Network. Joe Tucker, Bob Prince

Packers-Rams, 5:00, Not televised

Lions-49ers, 5:00, WJBK-Detroit, WSPD-Toledo. Don Wattrick


Postseason

NFL Championship:

12/23: Browns-Rams, 4:00, DuMont. Harry Wismer, Earl Gillespie (shared pxp)


Pro Bowl in Los Angeles:

1/12: American-National, 5:00, NBC. Harry Wismer, Bill Stern (shared pxp)


Note: The NFL Championship Game and the Pro Bowl were the first two pro football games ever to be televised coast to coast