The 1944 NFA Season was the sixth NFA regular season. The combined franchise of the Milwaukee Indians and Chicago Packers continued to operate together. Pittsburgh Ironmen's Owner Ernie Madison was granted another suspension of operations for the 1944 Season. Madison would however have to release all his players to "free agency". Their star halfback, George Norwood, would be quickly picked up and signed by the St Louis Aviators. The Aviators looked to improve their team a season after falling just short of a second NFA West Division championship and American Bowl appearance. The Aviators would finish 3rd in the West though with a 4-6 record. This would cost Head Coach Mitch Andrews his job as Aviators owner Daniel A Ryan would fire Andrews at the end of the season. Andrews would finish his career with the Aviators with a 34-36 record with 1 NFA West Championship and 1 American Bowl loss. The "Brownies" of Chicago and Milwaukee were the surprise team of the season. They would win their first 4 games to take first place with a 4-0 record. They would not lose first place for the remainder of the season. The Cincinnati Buckeyes would keep a close chase for the division title, but would lose the Week 10 match up against the "Brownies" to force a "Playoff Bowl". Chicago-Milwaukee would win the NFA West with a 6-4 record and appear in the first American Bowl of both franchises. The New York Lions would sign Pittsburgh's starting Center, William "Buffalo Bill" Terry, after Lions starting Center, Henry Troast, was suspended the entire 1944 Season after being arrested for assaulting a police officer in New York City. Troast would never play in the NFA again after the incident. The Lions would finish 5-5 in third place as they dealt with a number of injuries to key players. The 1943 NFA MVP, Joe Governor, would suffer a season ending broken collar bone during a Week 5 game against the Aviators. Benjamin Moore would also be injured during a Week 6 game against Chicago-Milwaukee. New York would lose 4 straight games from Week 5 to Week 8. This would knock them out of the division race as Boston would go on to win their third NFA East championship. Charles "Charlie" Hall (Chicago-Milwaukee) was awarded the NFA Most Valuable Player Trophy for the second time in his career. Frank Reilly (Chicago-Milwaukee) was awarded the NFA Coach of the Year Trophy. NFA PLAYERS KILLED IN WWII 1) Howard Grant, Army (OT, MIL Indians) Killed in France August 2, 1944. AWARDS MVP: Charles "Charlie" Hall (HB, Chicago-Milwaukee) COY: Frank Reilly (Chicago-Milwaukee) 1944 NFA CHAMPIONSHIP Boston Bluejackets vs Chicago-Milwaukee (December 3, 1944, Bluejacket Stadium, Boston, MA)