1940 NFL All-Star Game (December)

{{Short description|National Football League all-star game}}

{{about|the NFL All-Star Game that followed the 1940 season, played on December 29, 1940|the game that followed the 1939 season, played on January 14, 1940|1940 National Football League All-Star Game (January)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox Pro Bowl

|type=pb

|full_name=1940 NFL All-Star Game (December)

|name=1941

|image=

|visitor=Chicago Bears

|home=NFL All-Stars

|visitor_qtr1=7

|home_qtr1=0

|visitor_qtr2=7

|home_qtr2=14

|visitor_qtr3=7

|home_qtr3=0

|visitor_qtr4=7

|home_qtr4=0

|date=December 29, 1940

|stadium=Gilmore Stadium

|city=Los Angeles, California

|visitor_coach=Luke Johnsos

|visitor_coach_team=Chicago Bears

|home_coach=Ray Flaherty

|home_coach_team=Washington Redskins

|MVP=none selected

|MVPteam=

|anthem=

|coin_toss=

|halftime=

|referee=John Olds

|attendance=21,000

|network=not televised

|announcers=

|last=1940 (Jan)

|next=1942 (Jan)

}}

The 1940 National Football League All-star Game (December) was the professional football league's third all-star game. The game pitted the Chicago Bears, the league's champion for the 1940 season, against a team of all-stars.{{cite news |agency=United Press |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/ventura-county-star-1940-pro-bowl-roster/147999643/ |title=Players Nominated for Pro Bowl Game at L.A. |newspaper=Ventura County Star |via=Newspapers.com |date=December 10, 1940|accessdate=May 24, 2024}}{{open access}} The game was played on Sunday, December 29, 1940, at Gilmore Stadium in Los Angeles, California before an overflow crowd of 21,000,{{cite news|title=Chicago Bears Defeat Pro All-Stars, 28 to 14|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yrNQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pyIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=5831,5546991&hl=en|accessdate=February 15, 2012|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal|date=December 30, 1940|agency=AP|page=L-5}} with members of the Stanford and Nebraska football teams also in attendance; the two were scheduled to play in the Rose Bowl, with Nebraska using the All-Star Game to research the Bears' T formation, which was being used by Stanford head coach and former Bears assistant Clark Shaughnessy.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27615517/pro_gridmen_meet_in_bowl_clash_today/|title=Pro Gridmen Meet In Bowl Clash Today|newspaper=The Baltimore Sun|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 29, 1940|accessdate=January 26, 2019}} The Bears defeated the All-Stars by a score of 28–14.

The Bears were an 8–5 favorite over the All-Stars after crushing the Washington Redskins 73–0 in the championship game a few weeks earlier.{{cite news|last=Conklin|first=Ed|title=Chicago Bears Face All-Stars on Coast|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=lnEbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=X0wEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1740,5089073&hl=en|accessdate=February 15, 2012|newspaper=Pittsburgh Press|date=December 29, 1940|agency=United Press|page=10 (3rd section)}} Luke Johnsos coached the Bears in place of George Halas, who was hospitalized following an appendectomy.{{cite news|title=18,500 to See Stars, Bears|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ybNQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pyIEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2222,4682542&hl=en|accessdate=February 15, 2012|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal|date=December 29, 1940|agency=AP|page=3 (Section III)}} The All-Stars were coached by Ray Flaherty of the Washington Redskins. John Olds was the referee for the game.

Quarterback Ace Parker of the Brooklyn Dodgers was voted into the game, but declined participation due to ankle and shoulder injuries he suffered during the season. His decision sparked a clash with NFL President Carl Storck, who warned him of potential expulsion from the league should he not play until Dodgers owner Dan Topping successfully pulled him out without consequence.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27615576/parker_is_excused/|title=Parker is Excused|newspaper=The Cincinnati Enquirer|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 16, 1940|accessdate=January 26, 2019}} Rather than the All-Star Game, Parker decided to play two charity games in Virginia over the following weeks.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/27652536/ace_parker_excused_from_allstar_game/|title=Ace Parker Excused From All-Star Game|newspaper=The Courier-Journal|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 15, 1940|accessdate=January 26, 2019}}