| 1952 Dallas Texans (NFL) season | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Giles Miller and Connell Miller (first 7 games) NFL (last 5 games) |
| Head coach | Jimmy Phelan |
| Home field | Cotton Bowl |
| Results | |
| Record | 1–11 |
| Division place | 6th NFL National |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
The 1952 Dallas Texans season was the franchise's only season in the league while in Dallas after moving from New York, where they were previously known as the Yanks, and the continuation of the Boston Yanks and New York Bulldogs. The franchise continued to struggle immensely and lost their first nine games, finishing 1–11,[1] the worst record in the 12-team league.
After its seventh game, the franchise was returned to the NFL on November 14.[2][3] The Texans' home game against the Chicago Bears was moved to Thanksgiving and to the Rubber Bowl in Akron, Ohio, and was their only victory.[4] The final home game with the Lions was moved to Briggs Stadium in Detroit.[5]
Texans franchise was returned to the league Nov 14, 1952 and after they couldn't find a buyer for the team, the franchise was cancelled. The NFL had a hole in their calendar where the Texans were originally and awarded a brand new franchise to the Colts in January of 1953. NFL says that they consider the Colts as a 1953 expansion team; [6]it does not consider the Colts to be a continuation of the Yanks/Bulldogs/Yanks/Texans franchise. As the Colts were a new team with no players and the Texans players were available, many signed with the Colts although others signed with other NFL teams (see below) The physical assets were purchased by Carroll Rosenbloom in 1953, and became known as the Colts in Baltimore, Maryland, with Hall of Famers Gino Marchetti and Art Donovan amongst others signed with the Colts.
E Dick Wilkins went to the NY Giants, HB Bennie Aldridge finished the 1952 year in San Francisco, then went to Green Bay in 1953, DT Don Col went to Cleveland, DE Sonny Gandee went to Detroit, DE Keever Jankovich went to the Chicago Cardinals, HB Ray Pelfrey went to the NY Giants, DB Johnny Pettibon ended up in Cleveland after doing his military service and DB Will Sherman went to the Rams.
Professional football did not return to the "Big D" until 1960, with the addition of the Cowboys and the AFL's Texans (who relocated to Kansas City in 1963 and were rebranded as the Chiefs).