1961 NFL season
Encyclopedia
The 1961 NFL season was the 42nd regular season
of the National Football League
. The league expanded to 14 teams with the addition of the Minnesota Vikings
, after the team's owners declined to be charter members of the new American Football League
. The schedule was also expanded from 12 games per team to 14 games per team. The Vikings were placed in the Western Conference, and the Dallas Cowboys
were switched from the Western Conference to the Eastern. Addition of the Vikings returned the NFL to an even number of teams.
The season ended when the Green Bay Packers
defeated the New York Giants
37–0 in the NFL Championship Game
.
won their first game when they upset the Chicago Bears
team, 37–13, on September 17, 1961. Mike Mercer made the Vikings' first points on a 12 yard field goal, and Fran Tarkenton guided the team to five touchdowns. The Vikings finished at 3–11 after that good start. With 14 teams in two conferences, each NFL team now played a 14 game schedule: a home-and-away series with the other six teams in their division, and two interconference games.
In Week Five, the Giants and Eagles led the Eastern, and the Packers and 49ers led the Western, all with records of 4–1. The following week, the 49ers lost to the Bears, 31–0, while Green Bay beat Minnesota 33–7. The Giants and Eagles, both winners, remained tied in the Eastern standings at 5–1. In Week Seven, Dallas edged the Giants 17–16, while the Eagles beat the Redskins 27–24 on Sonny Jurgensen
's last quarter touchdown pass to Tommy McDonald. In Week Nine (November 12), the Giants beat the Eagles, 38-21, to give both teams 7–2 records, while Green Bay survived a game at Chicago, 31-28, that would otherwise have tied both teams at 6–3; Green Bay led the Western race the rest of the way. In Week Ten, New York's 42–21 win over Pittsburgh put it at 8–2, while Cleveland's 45–24 win over Philadelphia put both those teams at 7–3. In Week 11 (December 3), New York lost 20–17 to Green Bay, while the Eagles won 35–24 at Pittsburgh, tying the race again.
The Giants and Eagles, both at 9–3, met the following week in Philadelphia (December 10). After New York trailed 10–7, Coach Allie Sherman
replaced Y.A. Tittle with Charlie Conerly
, who at 40 was the NFL's oldest player. Conerly threw for three touchdowns for the 28–24 win. The winning score came after the Eagles were penalized for roughing the kicker on the Giants' fourth down, giving the Giants first down on the 24.. At season's end (December 17), the Eagles rallied to beat Detroit 27–24, and hoped for a Giants' loss to force a playoff. At that moment, New York and Cleveland were tied 7–7 with two minutes left. A long punt by the Giants' Don Chandler pinned the Browns on their own 7 yard line, and ended any threat of a loss .
Note: Prior to 1972, the NFL did not include tie games when calculating a team's winning percentage in the official standings
, Green Bay, Wisconsin
, December 31, 1961
Regular season (NFL)
The National Football League regular season begins the weekend after Labor Day. Each team plays 16 games during a 17-week period. Traditionally, the majority of each week's games are played on Sunday afternoon, with weekly games on Sunday night and Monday night, and occasional games on Thursday...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. The league expanded to 14 teams with the addition of the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, after the team's owners declined to be charter members of the new American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
. The schedule was also expanded from 12 games per team to 14 games per team. The Vikings were placed in the Western Conference, and the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
were switched from the Western Conference to the Eastern. Addition of the Vikings returned the NFL to an even number of teams.
The season ended when the Green Bay Packers
1961 Green Bay Packers season
-Regular season:Despite being named NFL MVP, Paul Hornung was briefly lost to the military. In response to the construction of the Berlin Wall, the United States Department of Defense activated thousands of reservists. Two dozen football players were activated, including Paul Hornung, Boyd Dowler...
defeated the New York Giants
1961 New York Giants season
The 1961 New York Giants season was the 37th season for the club in the National Football League. After relinquishing the NFL East title the previous season, the Giants reclaimed the title with a 10–3–1 record, only to lose to the Vince Lombardi-coached Green Bay Packers in the NFL Championship...
37–0 in the NFL Championship Game
NFL Championship Game, 1961
The 1961 National Football League championship game was the 29th title game. The game was played at "New" City Stadium, later known as Lambeau Field, in Green Bay, Wisconsin on December 31, 1961...
.
Conference races
The new Minnesota VikingsMinnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
won their first game when they upset the Chicago Bears
1961 Chicago Bears season
The 1961 Chicago Bears season was their 42nd regular season completed in the National Football League. The club posted an 8-6 record under George Halas, which was an improvement over the 5-6-1 record of the previous season.-Offseason:...
team, 37–13, on September 17, 1961. Mike Mercer made the Vikings' first points on a 12 yard field goal, and Fran Tarkenton guided the team to five touchdowns. The Vikings finished at 3–11 after that good start. With 14 teams in two conferences, each NFL team now played a 14 game schedule: a home-and-away series with the other six teams in their division, and two interconference games.
In Week Five, the Giants and Eagles led the Eastern, and the Packers and 49ers led the Western, all with records of 4–1. The following week, the 49ers lost to the Bears, 31–0, while Green Bay beat Minnesota 33–7. The Giants and Eagles, both winners, remained tied in the Eastern standings at 5–1. In Week Seven, Dallas edged the Giants 17–16, while the Eagles beat the Redskins 27–24 on Sonny Jurgensen
Sonny Jurgensen
Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III is a former American football quarterback in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1983....
's last quarter touchdown pass to Tommy McDonald. In Week Nine (November 12), the Giants beat the Eagles, 38-21, to give both teams 7–2 records, while Green Bay survived a game at Chicago, 31-28, that would otherwise have tied both teams at 6–3; Green Bay led the Western race the rest of the way. In Week Ten, New York's 42–21 win over Pittsburgh put it at 8–2, while Cleveland's 45–24 win over Philadelphia put both those teams at 7–3. In Week 11 (December 3), New York lost 20–17 to Green Bay, while the Eagles won 35–24 at Pittsburgh, tying the race again.
The Giants and Eagles, both at 9–3, met the following week in Philadelphia (December 10). After New York trailed 10–7, Coach Allie Sherman
Allie Sherman
Alexander "Allie" Sherman is a retired American football National Football League running back and head coach....
replaced Y.A. Tittle with Charlie Conerly
Charlie Conerly
Charles Albert Conerly, Jr. was an American football quarterback in the National Football League for the New York Giants from 1948 through 1961. Conerly was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1966.-College career:Conerly attended and played college football at the University of...
, who at 40 was the NFL's oldest player. Conerly threw for three touchdowns for the 28–24 win. The winning score came after the Eagles were penalized for roughing the kicker on the Giants' fourth down, giving the Giants first down on the 24.. At season's end (December 17), the Eagles rallied to beat Detroit 27–24, and hoped for a Giants' loss to force a playoff. At that moment, New York and Cleveland were tied 7–7 with two minutes left. A long punt by the Giants' Don Chandler pinned the Browns on their own 7 yard line, and ended any threat of a loss .
| Week | WESTERN | EASTERN | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 teams (Bal, Det, Min, SF) | 1-0-0 | 3 teams (Dal, Phi, St.L) | 1-0-0 |
| 2 | DETROIT LIONS | 2-0-0 | Tie (Dal, Phi) | 2-0-0 |
| 3 | 4 teams (Bal, Det, GB, SF) | 2-1-0 | 5 teams (Cle, Dal, NYG, Phi, StL) | 2-1-0 |
| 4 | Tie (GB, SF) | 3-1-0 | 4 teams (Cle, Dal, NYG, Phi) | 3-1-0 |
| 5 | Tie (GB, SF) | 4-1-0 | Tie (NYG, Phi) | 4-1-0 |
| 6 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 5-1-0 | Tie (NYG, Phi) | 5-1-0 |
| 7 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 6-1-0 | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | 6-1-0 |
| 8 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 6-2-0 | PHILADELPHIA EAGLES | 7-1-0 |
| 9 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 7-2-0 | Tie (NYG, Phi) | 7-2-0 |
| 10 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 8-2-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 8-2-0 |
| 11 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 9-2-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 9-2-0 |
| 12 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 10-2-0 | Tie (NYG, Phi) | 9-3-0 |
| 13 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 10-3-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 10-3-0 |
| 14 | GREEN BAY PACKERS | 11-3-0 | NEW YORK GIANTS | 10-3-1 |
Final standings
W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, PCT= Winning Percentage, PF= Points For, PA = Points AgainstNote: Prior to 1972, the NFL did not include tie games when calculating a team's winning percentage in the official standings
NFL Championship Game
Green Bay 37, New York 0 at City StadiumLambeau Field
Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field...
, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay, Wisconsin
Green Bay is a city in and the county seat of Brown County in the U.S. state of Wisconsin, located at the head of Green Bay, a sub-basin of Lake Michigan, at the mouth of the Fox River. It has an elevation of above sea level and is located north of Milwaukee. As of the 2010 United States Census,...
, December 31, 1961
Awards
| Most Valuable Player NFL Most Valuable Player Award The National Football League Most Valuable Player Award is given by various entities, most notably the Associated Press , to the player who is considered most valuable in the league. When the award is referred to without mentioning the organization, it generally means the AP award. The AP NFL MVP... |
Paul Hornung Paul Hornung Paul Vernon Hornung is a retired Hall of Fame professional football player who played for the Green Bay Packers from 1957-66... , Running Back Running back A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running... , Green Bay |
| Coach of the Year NFL Coach of the Year Award The National Football League Coach of the Year Award is presented annually by various news and sports organizations to the NFL head coach who has done the most outstanding job of working with the talent he has at his disposal. Currently, the most widely recognized award is presented by the... |
Allie Sherman Allie Sherman Alexander "Allie" Sherman is a retired American football National Football League running back and head coach.... , N.Y. Giants |