Founding and Challenges

The founding of the Chicago Rockets was a challenge from the start, as they had to assert themselves in an already well-served market. With the Chicago Bears and the Chicago Cardinals as established NFL teams, the new team had a tough time in the Windy City.

The Chaotic Year of 1946

The debut year of 1946 was turbulent. The Rockets were coached by a total of five different coaches, which meant a lack of consistency and stability. Although the team had an outstanding wide receiver in Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch, they could not compete for the championship. The Rockets won only five of 14 games. Hirsch, however, still showed his class and importance to the team.

Coaching Changes 1947-1949

In 1947, the former general manager of the AAFC, Jim Crowley, took over as head coach. However, Crowley lost all ten games that season and was replaced by Hampton Pool, under whose leadership the team managed only one win. The next season did not bring better results either; they managed only one victory against the Baltimore Colts, coached by Cecil Isbell.

In 1949, Ray Flaherty took over as head coach and the team was renamed the Chicago Hornets. Under Flaherty's coaching, the Hornets won four out of 12 games. Despite this small improvement, the Rockets/Hornets were a chronically unsuccessful team, which ultimately led to the cessation of operations in 1949 when the AAFC filed for bankruptcy.

Elroy Hirsch: The Star of the Rockets

Elroy Hirsch, known as "Crazylegs," was selected by the Cleveland Browns in the 1945 NFL Draft but never played for that team. Instead, he joined the Chicago Rockets and played in the AAFC between 1946 and 1948. In 1948, Hirsch suffered a bitter setback when he sustained a severe knee and skull injury in a game against the Cleveland Browns, which abruptly ended his season. After his time with the Rockets, Hirsch moved to the Los Angeles Rams in 1949, where he continued his career with great success. The year 1951 was particularly outstanding for him, when he set several records, including the record for most yards in a season (1,495 yards), which was only broken a decade later. That year, Hirsch caught 66 passes and scored 17 touchdowns. In that year, he won the championship with the Los Angeles Rams with a 24:17 victory against the Cleveland Browns.

Elroy Hirsch 1943

Curious Events and Anecdotes

A remarkable aspect of the club's history was the chaotic and often inexplicable management of the team. In 1946, it was not uncommon for players to occasionally replace their own coaches or for strategic decisions to be made ad hoc directly during games. This instability significantly contributed to the Rockets' modest record.

The Game with the Lost Fans

One of the most memorable events in the history of the Chicago Rockets occurred during a home game at Soldier Field in 1947. Due to poor signage and misleading announcements, numerous fans found themselves at the wrong stadium gate, leading to significant delays and confusion. Many lost fans had to be escorted around the entire stadium to reach their seats. This led to a delayed start to the game and created some amusing scenes as fans made their way through the aisles. Despite this chaos, the players maintained their focus – at least for a while.

The Accidental Water Cannon

Another curious event also took place at Soldier Field when sudden rain began during a game. A technical defect in the stadium caused the sprinkler system to suddenly turn on, leaving parts of the field and some surprised players and fans in the rain. The referees suspended the game until the situation was under control. In the meantime, some players used the involuntary shower to cool off, which made the spectators laugh and transformed the game into an almost carnival-like atmosphere.

The Legendary Heist

In 1948, in their third year of existence, the Rockets were once again at the center of turbulent events. During an away game against the New York Yankees (another AAFC team), almost all of the Rockets' equipment mysteriously disappeared from the locker room. The players then had to compete in makeshift equipment and some even with borrowed items from the Yankees' inventory. Despite these adversities, the Rockets showed a fighting performance but ultimately had to concede defeat. The story of the "Legendary Heist" made it to the front pages and was celebrated in Chicago as another chapter of bad luck and mishaps associated with the team.

The Fog Game

A famous event was the legendary "Fog Game" of 1949. Thick fog covered Soldier Field, making it difficult for players and spectators to see their hands in front of their faces. Nevertheless, the referees decided to continue the game. The limited visibility led to spectacular and bizarre plays: players stumbled aimlessly across the field, and occasionally the ball landed in completely unexpected hands. The Fog Game went down in the annals of football history and was often cited as a symbol of the chaotic but charming nature of the AAFC and especially the Chicago Rockets.

The Super Goal Disaster

One of the most curious and discussed events was the "Super Goal Disaster" of 1948. During a home game against the Buffalo Bills, one of the Rockets attempted an extraordinarily long field goal. The kicker hit the ball perfectly, and the ball flew through the air – directly into the distance that would have made for an impressive field goal. But just before it reached the goal, a sudden gust of wind caught the ball and dramatically deflected it to the side, causing the ball to land in the stands. The spectators initially reacted with dismay before bursting into laughter. This moment became known in the local press as the "Curse of the Wind" and contributed to the Rockets' legendary history of misfortune.

Location and Possible Relocations

Although the Rockets/Hornets were firmly established in Chicago, there were always rumors of possible relocations, especially after the AAFC's bankruptcy. However, these plans were never realized, and the team finally disbanded after the league's end.

Conclusion

The Chicago Rockets team was unique in many ways. In addition to their role in the AAFC and the introduction of players like Elroy Hirsch, it is the quirky and often comical events that shaped this team's legacy. Despite their difficulties and short existence, the team remains a fascinating chapter in the history of American football and an example of how sport and entertainment can often go hand in hand unexpectedly. The Rockets remind us how exciting and unpredictable the early years of professional football could be.