The players were pooled, and few football fans complained. “Both teams had been so bad that there was no worry of their becoming a superteam,” Algeo said.

Image A program, left, for the Eagles-Steelers vs. the Giants in 1943, and one for the Steelers-Cardinals vs. the Giants in 1944. Credit... Pro Football Hall of Fame

But by the season’s end, the Steagles had become a decent one.

Playing most of their games in Philadelphia in the Eagles’ green and white, the Steagles finished 5-4-1. It was the first winning season in the Eagles’ 11-year history and the second for the Steelers.

Under Greasy Neale of Philadelphia and Walt Kiesling of Pittsburgh, who served as co-coaches, the Steagles also contributed to the game’s development. Because Neale and Kiesling hated each other, they divided responsibilities along the lines of offense and defense. Modern offensive and defensive coordinators were thus born of a loveless marriage.

After the team dissolved, the Eagles were able to stand alone for the 1944 season. But with the Rams returning to the league, and the newly formed Boston Yanks joining, Layden had 11 teams. So the Steelers once again agreed to a merger, this time with the Chicago Cardinals.

That season, Card-Pitt, as the team was known, became rooted to the bottom of standings and set a benchmark for futility. The Detroit Lions might have posted the worst record in league history in 2008 by going 0-16, but they were only one team. It took two teams in 1944 to go a perfectly useless 0-10. Card-Pitt became better known as the Carpets, because opponents ran over them.

But at least the Steelers’ Kiesling got along much better with his new coaching partner, Phil Handler of Chicago. The problem, according to Algeo, was that Kiesling and Handler might have gotten along a little too well. “Legend has it they spent more time at the racetrack than watching game film,” he said.

The season-long debacle began with a 22-0 defeat in an exhibition game against Philadelphia and kept devolving. The Carpets cobbled together eight passing touchdowns all season but threw 41 interceptions  more than one a quarter. Thirteen belonged to the hapless quarterback John McCarthy, according to a 2003 article from the Pro Football Researchers Association newsletter.