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<span>Expansion draft</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Expansion_draft-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Division_races" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Division_races"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Division races</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Division_races-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Final_standings" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Final_standings"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Final standings</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Final_standings-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Postseason" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Postseason"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Postseason</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Postseason-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Postseason subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Postseason-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-NFL_Championship_Game" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#NFL_Championship_Game"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.1</span> <span>NFL Championship Game</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-NFL_Championship_Game-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Playoff_Bowl" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Playoff_Bowl"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5.2</span> <span>Playoff Bowl</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Playoff_Bowl-sublist" 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interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_1961" title="NFL 1961 – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="NFL 1961" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporada_1961_de_la_NFL" title="Temporada 1961 de la NFL – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Temporada 1961 de la NFL" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saison_1961_de_la_NFL" title="Saison 1961 de la NFL – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Saison 1961 de la NFL" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hr mw-list-item"><a href="https://hr.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_sezona_1961." title="NFL sezona 1961. – Croatian" lang="hr" hreflang="hr" data-title="NFL sezona 1961." data-language-autonym="Hrvatski" data-language-local-name="Croatian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Hrvatski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_League_1961" title="National Football League 1961 – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="National Football League 1961" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-arz mw-list-item"><a href="https://arz.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%89_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%D8%B7%D9%86%D9%89_%D9%84%D9%83%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9_%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%83%D9%8A%D9%87_1961" title="الدورى الوطنى لكورة القدم الامريكيه 1961 – Egyptian Arabic" lang="arz" hreflang="arz" data-title="الدورى الوطنى لكورة القدم الامريكيه 1961" data-language-autonym="مصرى" data-language-local-name="Egyptian Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>مصرى</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/1961%E5%B9%B4%E3%81%AENFL" title="1961年のNFL – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="1961年のNFL" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporada_da_NFL_de_1961" title="Temporada da NFL de 1961 – 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<button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-pin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.pin">move to sidebar</button> <button class="vector-pinnable-header-toggle-button vector-pinnable-header-unpin-button" data-event-name="pinnable-header.vector-appearance.unpin">hide</button> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container> <div class="vector-body-before-content"> <div class="mw-indicators"> </div> <div id="siteSub" class="noprint">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia</div> </div> <div id="contentSub"><div id="mw-content-subtitle"></div></div> <div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">1961 National Football League season</div> <p class="mw-empty-elt"> </p> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1257001546">.mw-parser-output .infobox-subbox{padding:0;border:none;margin:-3px;width:auto;min-width:100%;font-size:100%;clear:none;float:none;background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .infobox-3cols-child{margin:auto}.mw-parser-output .infobox .navbar{font-size:100%}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme)>div:not(.notheme)[style]{background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data:not(.notheme) div:not(.notheme){background:#1f1f23!important;color:#f8f9fa}}@media(min-width:640px){body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table{display:table!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>caption{display:table-caption!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table>tbody{display:table-row-group}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table tr{display:table-row!important}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table th,body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .infobox-table td{padding-left:inherit;padding-right:inherit}}</style><table class="infobox vevent" style="width: 26em;"><caption class="infobox-title summary">1961 NFL season</caption><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #eee;">Regular season</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Duration</th><td class="infobox-data">September 17 –<br />December 31, 1961</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #eee;"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1257001546"></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">East Champions</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/1961_New_York_Giants_season" title="1961 New York Giants season">New York Giants</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">West Champions</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/1961_Green_Bay_Packers_season" title="1961 Green Bay Packers season">Green Bay Packers</a></td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #eee;"><a href="/wiki/1961_NFL_Championship_Game" title="1961 NFL Championship Game">Championship Game</a></th></tr><tr style="display:none"><th colspan="2"> </th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Champions</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="/wiki/1961_Green_Bay_Packers_season" title="1961 Green Bay Packers season">Green Bay Packers</a></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-below noprint nowrap" style="border-top: 1px solid #aaa; padding-top: 3px;"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output 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ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}</style><div class="hlist"> <ul><li>← <a href="/wiki/1960_NFL_season" title="1960 NFL season">1960</a></li> <li><b><a href="/wiki/List_of_NFL_seasons" title="List of NFL seasons">NFL seasons</a></b></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1962_NFL_season" title="1962 NFL season">1962</a> →</li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238443738">.mw-parser-output .locmap .od{position:absolute}.mw-parser-output .locmap .id{position:absolute;line-height:0}.mw-parser-output .locmap .l0{font-size:0;position:absolute}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pv{line-height:110%;position:absolute;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pl{line-height:110%;position:absolute;top:-0.75em;text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pr{line-height:110%;position:absolute;top:-0.75em;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pv>div{display:inline;padding:1px}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pl>div{display:inline;padding:1px;float:right}.mw-parser-output .locmap .pr>div{display:inline;padding:1px;float:left}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pv>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pl>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .od .pr>div{background:#fff!important;color:#000!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .locmap{filter:grayscale(0.6)}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data .locmap div{background:transparent!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .locmap{filter:grayscale(0.6)}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pv>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pl>div,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .od .pr>div{background:white!important;color:#000!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .infobox-full-data .locmap div{background:transparent!important}}</style><div class="locmap noviewer noresize thumb tright"><div class="thumbinner" style="width:362px"><div style="position:relative;width:360px;border:1px solid lightgray"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png" class="mw-file-description" title="1961 NFL season is located in the United States"><img alt="1961 NFL season is located in the United States" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png/360px-Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png" decoding="async" width="360" height="223" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png/540px-Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png/720px-Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png 2x" data-file-width="1181" data-file-height="731" /></a></span><div class="od notheme" style="top:38.869%;left:84.173%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Eagles"><img alt="Eagles" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/8px-Green_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/12px-Green_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/16px-Green_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pr" style="width:6em;left:5px"><div><b>Eagles</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:36.671%;left:73.083%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Browns"><img alt="Browns" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/8px-Green_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/12px-Green_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/16px-Green_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pr" style="width:6em;left:5px"><div><b><small>Browns</small></b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:35.131%;left:85.774%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Giants"><img alt="Giants" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/8px-Green_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/12px-Green_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/16px-Green_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pr" style="width:6em;left:5px"><div><b>Giants</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:48.961%;left:59.731%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Cardinals"><img alt="Cardinals" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/8px-Green_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/12px-Green_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/16px-Green_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pv" style="width:6em;top:5px;left:-3em"><div><b>Cardinals</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:39.617%;left:76.243%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Steelers ...."><img alt="Steelers ...." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/8px-Green_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/12px-Green_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/16px-Green_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pv" style="width:6em;top:5px;left:-3em"><div><b>Steelers <small><span style="color:#A9CB97;">....</span></small></b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:43.491%;left:81.743%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title=".... Redskins"><img alt=".... Redskins" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/8px-Green_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/12px-Green_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/16px-Green_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pv" style="width:6em;top:5px;left:-3em"><div><b><small><span style="color:#E5DFAF;">....</span></small> Redskins</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:69.98%;left:48.607%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Cowboys"><img alt="Cowboys" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/8px-Green_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/12px-Green_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/16px-Green_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pv" style="width:6em;top:5px;left:-3em"><div><b>Cowboys</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:28.175%;left:62.305%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Packers"><img alt="Packers" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/8px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/12px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/16px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pv" style="width:6em;bottom:5px;left:-3em"><div><b>Packers</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:34.323%;left:70.642%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Lions"><img alt="Lions" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/8px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/12px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/16px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pv" style="width:6em;bottom:5px;left:-3em"><div><b>Lions</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:42.507%;left:5.473%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="49ers"><img alt="49ers" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/8px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/12px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/16px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pv" style="width:6em;top:5px;left:-3em"><div><b>49ers</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:41.786%;left:82.161%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Colts"><img alt="Colts" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/8px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/12px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/16px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pr" style="width:6em;left:5px"><div><b>Colts</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:36.982%;left:63.416%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Bears"><img alt="Bears" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/8px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/12px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/16px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pl" style="width:6em;right:5px"><div><b>Bears</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:58.179%;left:10.465%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Rams"><img alt="Rams" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/8px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/12px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/16px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pv" style="width:6em;top:5px;left:-3em"><div><b>Rams</b></div></div></div><div class="od notheme" style="top:27.669%;left:54.258%;font-size:91%"><div class="id" style="left:-4px;top:-4px"><span class="notpageimage" typeof="mw:File"><span title="Vikings"><img alt="Vikings" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/8px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="8" height="8" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/12px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/16px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></span></span></div><div class="pl" style="width:6em;right:5px"><div><b>Vikings</b></div></div></div></div><div class="thumbcaption"><div class="magnify"><a href="/wiki/File:Usa_edcp_relief_location_map.png" title="File:Usa edcp relief location map.png">class=notpageimage| </a></div><b> NFL teams: <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/10px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="10" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/15px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg/20px-Yellow_ffff00_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></a></span> West, <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Green_pog.svg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/10px-Green_pog.svg.png" decoding="async" width="10" height="10" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/15px-Green_pog.svg.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Green_pog.svg/20px-Green_pog.svg.png 2x" data-file-width="64" data-file-height="64" /></a></span> East</b></div></div></div> <figure class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Yankee_Stadium_Giants_Football_1961.png" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Yankee_Stadium_Giants_Football_1961.png/220px-Yankee_Stadium_Giants_Football_1961.png" decoding="async" width="220" height="165" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Yankee_Stadium_Giants_Football_1961.png/330px-Yankee_Stadium_Giants_Football_1961.png 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/72/Yankee_Stadium_Giants_Football_1961.png/440px-Yankee_Stadium_Giants_Football_1961.png 2x" data-file-width="1066" data-file-height="800" /></a><figcaption>Yankee Stadium during a New York Giants - Cleveland Browns game in 1961.</figcaption></figure> <p>The <b>1961 NFL season</b> was the 42nd <a href="/wiki/Regular_season_(NFL)" class="mw-redirect" title="Regular season (NFL)">regular season</a> of the <a href="/wiki/National_Football_League" title="National Football League">National Football League</a> (NFL). The league expanded to 14 teams with the addition of the <a href="/wiki/1961_Minnesota_Vikings_season" title="1961 Minnesota Vikings season">Minnesota Vikings</a>, after the team's founders declined to be charter members of the new <a href="/wiki/American_Football_League" title="American Football League">American Football League</a>. The schedule was also expanded from 12 games per team to 14 games per team where it would stay for 17 years. The Vikings were placed in the Western Division, and the <a href="/wiki/1961_Dallas_Cowboys_season" title="1961 Dallas Cowboys season">Dallas Cowboys</a> were switched from the Western Division to the Eastern Division. The addition of the Vikings returned the NFL to an even number of teams (and eliminated the bye week of 1960 until <a href="/wiki/1966_NFL_season" title="1966 NFL season">1966</a> temporarily and <a href="/wiki/1990_NFL_season" title="1990 NFL season">1990</a> on a permanent basis). </p><p>The season ended when the <a href="/wiki/1961_Green_Bay_Packers_season" title="1961 Green Bay Packers season">Green Bay Packers</a> shut out the <a href="/wiki/1961_New_York_Giants_season" title="1961 New York Giants season">New York Giants</a> 37–0 in the <a href="/wiki/1961_NFL_Championship_Game" title="1961 NFL Championship Game">1961 NFL Championship Game</a>. </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Draft">Draft</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Draft"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/1961_NFL_draft" title="1961 NFL draft">1961 NFL draft</a> was held from December 27-28, 1960 at <a href="/wiki/Philadelphia" title="Philadelphia">Philadelphia</a>'s <a href="/wiki/The_Warwick" title="The Warwick">Warwick Hotel</a>. With the first pick, the <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Vikings" title="Minnesota Vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a> selected halfback <a href="/wiki/Tommy_Mason" title="Tommy Mason">Tommy Mason</a> from <a href="/wiki/Tulane_University" title="Tulane University">Tulane University</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Expansion_draft">Expansion draft</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Expansion draft"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/1961_NFL_expansion_draft" title="1961 NFL expansion draft">1961 NFL expansion draft</a> was held on January 26, 1961, with the <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Vikings" title="Minnesota Vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a> selecting 36 players from the other NFL teams. The one-year old <a href="/wiki/Dallas_Cowboys" title="Dallas Cowboys">Dallas Cowboys</a> were exempted from losing a player in this expansion draft. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Division_races">Division races</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Division races"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The new Minnesota Vikings won their first game when they upset the <a href="/wiki/1961_Chicago_Bears_season" title="1961 Chicago Bears season">Chicago Bears</a> team, 37–13, on September 17, 1961. <a href="/wiki/Mike_Mercer_(American_football)" title="Mike Mercer (American football)">Mike Mercer</a> made the Vikings' first points on a 12-yard field goal, and <a href="/wiki/Fran_Tarkenton" title="Fran Tarkenton">Fran Tarkenton</a> guided the team to five touchdowns. The Vikings finished at 3–11 after that good start. With 14 teams in two divisions, each NFL team now played a 14-game schedule: a home-and-away series with the other six teams in their division, and two interdivision games. </p><p>In <i>Week Five</i>, the Giants and Eagles led the Eastern Division, 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 <i>Week Seven</i>, Dallas edged the Giants 17–16, while the Eagles beat the Redskins 27–24 on <a href="/wiki/Sonny_Jurgensen" title="Sonny Jurgensen">Sonny Jurgensen</a>'s last-quarter touchdown pass to Tommy McDonald. In <i>Week Nine</i> (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 <i>Week Ten</i>, 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 <i>Week 11</i> (December 3), New York lost 20–17 to Green Bay, while the Eagles won 35–24 at Pittsburgh, tying the race again. </p><p>The Giants and Eagles, both at 9–3, met the following week in Philadelphia (December 10). After New York trailed 10–7, Coach <a href="/wiki/Allie_Sherman" title="Allie Sherman">Allie Sherman</a> replaced <a href="/wiki/Y._A._Tittle" title="Y. A. Tittle">Y. A. Tittle</a> with <a href="/wiki/Charlie_Conerly" title="Charlie Conerly">Charlie Conerly</a>, 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.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> 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.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <table class="wikitable"> <tbody><tr> <th>Week </th> <th>Western </th> <th> </th> <th>Eastern </th> <th> </th></tr> <tr> <td>1 </td> <td>4 teams (Bal, Det, Min, SF) </td> <td>1–0–0 </td> <td>3 teams (Dal, Phi, St.L) </td> <td>1–0–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>2 </td> <td>Detroit Lions </td> <td>2–0–0 </td> <td>Tie (Dal, Phi) </td> <td>2–0–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>3 </td> <td>4 teams (Bal, Det, GB, SF) </td> <td>2–1–0 </td> <td>5 teams (Cle, Dal, NYG, Phi, StL) </td> <td>2–1–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>4 </td> <td>Tie (GB, SF) </td> <td>3–1–0 </td> <td>4 teams (Cle, Dal, NYG, Phi) </td> <td>3–1–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>5 </td> <td>Tie (GB, SF) </td> <td>4–1–0 </td> <td>Tie (NYG, Phi) </td> <td>4–1–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>6 </td> <td>Green Bay Packers </td> <td>5–1–0 </td> <td>Tie (NYG, Phi) </td> <td>5–1–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>7 </td> <td>Green Bay Packers </td> <td>6–1–0 </td> <td>Philadelphia Eagles </td> <td>6–1–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>8 </td> <td>Green Bay Packers </td> <td>6–2–0 </td> <td>Philadelphia Eagles </td> <td>7–1–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>9 </td> <td>Green Bay Packers </td> <td>7–2–0 </td> <td>Tie (NYG, Phi) </td> <td>7–2–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>10 </td> <td>Green Bay Packers </td> <td>8–2–0 </td> <td>New York Giants </td> <td>8–2–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>11 </td> <td>Green Bay Packers </td> <td>9–2–0 </td> <td>New York Giants </td> <td>9–2–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>12 </td> <td>Green Bay Packers </td> <td>10–2–0 </td> <td>Tie (NYG, Phi) </td> <td>9–3–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>13 </td> <td>Green Bay Packers </td> <td>10–3–0 </td> <td>New York Giants </td> <td>10–3–0 </td></tr> <tr> <td>14 </td> <td bgcolor="#FFFF00"><b><a href="/wiki/1961_Green_Bay_Packers_season" title="1961 Green Bay Packers season"><span style="color:green;">Green Bay Packers</span></a></b> </td> <td>11–3–0 </td> <td bgcolor="#013369"><b><a href="/wiki/1961_New_York_Giants_season" title="1961 New York Giants season"><span style="color:red;">New York Giants</span></a></b> </td> <td>10–3–1 </td></tr></tbody></table> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Final_standings">Final standings</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Final standings"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1216972533">.mw-parser-output .col-begin{border-collapse:collapse;padding:0;color:inherit;width:100%;border:0;margin:0}.mw-parser-output .col-begin-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .col-break{vertical-align:top;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .col-break-2{width:50%}.mw-parser-output .col-break-3{width:33.3%}.mw-parser-output .col-break-4{width:25%}.mw-parser-output .col-break-5{width:20%}@media(max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .col-begin,.mw-parser-output .col-begin>tbody,.mw-parser-output .col-begin>tbody>tr,.mw-parser-output .col-begin>tbody>tr>td{display:block!important;width:100%!important}.mw-parser-output .col-break{padding-left:0!important}}</style><div> <table class="col-begin" role="presentation"> <tbody><tr> <td class="col-break col-break-2"> <table class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="10" style="background-color: #FFCBCB;text-align:center;vertical-align:middle;"><a href="/wiki/Eastern_and_Western_Divisions_(NFL)_1933-69" class="mw-redirect" title="Eastern and Western Divisions (NFL) 1933-69">NFL Eastern Conference</a> </th></tr> <tr> <th width="150"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}</style><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:1961_NFL_Eastern_standings" title="Template:1961 NFL Eastern standings"><span title="View this template">view</span></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:1961_NFL_Eastern_standings" title="Template talk:1961 NFL Eastern standings"><span title="Discuss this template">talk</span></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:1961_NFL_Eastern_standings" title="Special:EditPage/Template:1961 NFL Eastern standings"><span title="Edit this template">edit</span></a></li></ul></div> </th> <th width="25"><abbr title="Wins">W</abbr> </th> <th width="25"><abbr title="Losses">L</abbr> </th> <th width="25"><abbr title="Ties">T</abbr> </th> <th width="30"><abbr title="Winning percentage">PCT</abbr> </th> <th width="45"><abbr title="Win–Loss record within their conference">CONF</abbr> </th> <th width="30"><abbr title="Points For (Total points scored)">PF</abbr> </th> <th width="30"><abbr title="Points Against (Total points allowed)">PA</abbr> </th> <th width="30"><abbr title="Current Winning or Losing Streak">STK</abbr> </th></tr> <tr style="background:#cfc;"> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_New_York_Giants_season" title="1961 New York Giants season">New York Giants</a> </td> <td>10 </td> <td>3 </td> <td>1 </td> <td>.769 </td> <td>9–2–1 </td> <td>368 </td> <td>220 </td> <td>T1 </td></tr> <tr style="background:#ffc;"> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Philadelphia_Eagles_season" title="1961 Philadelphia Eagles season">Philadelphia Eagles</a> </td> <td>10 </td> <td>4 </td> <td>0 </td> <td>.714 </td> <td>8–4 </td> <td>361 </td> <td>297 </td> <td>W1 </td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Cleveland_Browns_season" title="1961 Cleveland Browns season">Cleveland Browns</a> </td> <td>8 </td> <td>5 </td> <td>1 </td> <td>.615 </td> <td>8–3–1 </td> <td>319 </td> <td>270 </td> <td>T1 </td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_St._Louis_Cardinals_(NFL)_season" title="1961 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season">St. Louis Cardinals</a> </td> <td>7 </td> <td>7 </td> <td>0 </td> <td>.500 </td> <td>7–5 </td> <td>279 </td> <td>267 </td> <td>W3 </td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Pittsburgh_Steelers_season" title="1961 Pittsburgh Steelers season">Pittsburgh Steelers</a> </td> <td>6 </td> <td>8 </td> <td>0 </td> <td>.429 </td> <td>5–7 </td> <td>295 </td> <td>287 </td> <td>L1 </td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Dallas_Cowboys_season" title="1961 Dallas Cowboys season">Dallas Cowboys</a> </td> <td>4 </td> <td>9 </td> <td>1 </td> <td>.308 </td> <td>2–9–1 </td> <td>236 </td> <td>380 </td> <td>L4 </td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Washington_Redskins_season" title="1961 Washington Redskins season">Washington Redskins</a> </td> <td>1 </td> <td>12 </td> <td>1 </td> <td>.077 </td> <td>1–10–1 </td> <td>174 </td> <td>392 </td> <td>W1 </td></tr></tbody></table> <dl><dd><dl><dd><small><b>Note:</b> Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.</small></dd></dl></dd></dl> </td> <td class="col-break col-break-2"> <table class="wikitable" style="font-size:95%; text-align:center"> <tbody><tr> <th colspan="10" style="background-color:#D0E7FF; text-align:center; vertical-align:middle;"><a href="/wiki/Eastern_and_Western_Divisions_(NFL)_1933-69" class="mw-redirect" title="Eastern and Western Divisions (NFL) 1933-69">NFL Western Conference</a> </th></tr> <tr> <th width="150"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:1961_NFL_Western_standings" title="Template:1961 NFL Western standings"><span title="View this template">view</span></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:1961_NFL_Western_standings" title="Template talk:1961 NFL Western standings"><span title="Discuss this template">talk</span></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:1961_NFL_Western_standings" title="Special:EditPage/Template:1961 NFL Western standings"><span title="Edit this template">edit</span></a></li></ul></div> </th> <th width="25"><abbr title="Wins">W</abbr> </th> <th width="25"><abbr title="Losses">L</abbr> </th> <th width="25"><abbr title="Ties">T</abbr> </th> <th width="30"><abbr title="Winning percentage">PCT</abbr> </th> <th width="40"><abbr title="Win–Loss record within their conference">CONF</abbr> </th> <th width="30"><abbr title="Points For (Total points scored)">PF</abbr> </th> <th width="30"><abbr title="Points Against (Total points allowed)">PA</abbr> </th> <th width="30"><abbr title="Current Winning or Losing Streak">STK</abbr> </th></tr> <tr style="background:#cfc;"> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Green_Bay_Packers_season" title="1961 Green Bay Packers season">Green Bay Packers</a> </td> <td>11 </td> <td>3 </td> <td>0 </td> <td>.786 </td> <td>9–3 </td> <td>391 </td> <td>223 </td> <td>W1 </td></tr> <tr style="background:#ffc;"> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Detroit_Lions_season" title="1961 Detroit Lions season">Detroit Lions</a> </td> <td>8 </td> <td>5 </td> <td>1 </td> <td>.615 </td> <td>7–4–1 </td> <td>270 </td> <td>258 </td> <td>L1 </td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Chicago_Bears_season" title="1961 Chicago Bears season">Chicago Bears</a> </td> <td>8 </td> <td>6 </td> <td>0 </td> <td>.571 </td> <td>7–5 </td> <td>326 </td> <td>302 </td> <td>W2 </td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Baltimore_Colts_season" title="1961 Baltimore Colts season">Baltimore Colts</a> </td> <td>8 </td> <td>6 </td> <td>0 </td> <td>.571 </td> <td>6–6 </td> <td>302 </td> <td>307 </td> <td>W1 </td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_San_Francisco_49ers_season" title="1961 San Francisco 49ers season">San Francisco 49ers</a> </td> <td>7 </td> <td>6 </td> <td>1 </td> <td>.538 </td> <td>6–5–1 </td> <td>346 </td> <td>272 </td> <td>L1 </td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Los_Angeles_Rams_season" title="1961 Los Angeles Rams season">Los Angeles Rams</a> </td> <td>4 </td> <td>10 </td> <td>0 </td> <td>.286 </td> <td>3–9 </td> <td>263 </td> <td>333 </td> <td>L1 </td></tr> <tr> <td style="text-align:left;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Minnesota_Vikings_season" title="1961 Minnesota Vikings season">Minnesota Vikings</a> </td> <td>3 </td> <td>11 </td> <td>0 </td> <td>.214 </td> <td>3–9 </td> <td>285 </td> <td>407 </td> <td>L2 </td></tr></tbody></table> <p>  </p> </td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Postseason">Postseason</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Postseason"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="NFL_Championship_Game">NFL Championship Game</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: NFL Championship Game"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Green Bay 37, New York 0 at <a href="/wiki/Lambeau_Field" title="Lambeau Field">City Stadium</a>, <a href="/wiki/Green_Bay,_Wisconsin" title="Green Bay, Wisconsin">Green Bay, Wisconsin</a>, December 31, 1961 </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Playoff_Bowl">Playoff Bowl</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Playoff Bowl"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The <a href="/wiki/Playoff_Bowl" title="Playoff Bowl">Playoff Bowl</a> was between the division runners-up, for third place in the league. This was its second year, and it was played a week after the title game. </p> <ul><li>Detroit 38, Philadelphia 10 at <a href="/wiki/Miami_Orange_Bowl" title="Miami Orange Bowl">Orange Bowl</a>, <a href="/wiki/Miami" title="Miami">Miami</a>, <a href="/wiki/Florida" title="Florida">Florida</a>, January 6, 1962</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Awards">Awards</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: Awards"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><b>Most valuable player</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AP_NFL_Most_Valuable_Player_Award" title="AP NFL Most Valuable Player Award">Associated Press</a> – <a href="/wiki/Paul_Hornung" title="Paul Hornung">Paul Hornung</a>, halfback, Green Bay Packers<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Jim_Thorpe_Trophy" title="Jim Thorpe Trophy">Newspaper Enterprise Association</a> – <a href="/wiki/Y._A._Tittle" title="Y. A. Tittle">Y. A. Tittle</a>, quarterback, New York Giants<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/UPI_NFL_Player_of_the_Year" class="mw-redirect" title="UPI NFL Player of the Year">United Press International</a> – <a href="/wiki/Paul_Hornung" title="Paul Hornung">Paul Hornung</a>, halfback, Green Bay Packers<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <p><b>Rookie of the year</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AP_NFL_Rookie_of_the_Year" class="mw-redirect" title="AP NFL Rookie of the Year">Associated Press</a> – <a href="/wiki/Mike_Ditka" title="Mike Ditka">Mike Ditka</a>, tight end, Chicago Bears<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/UPI_NFL_Rookie_of_the_Year" class="mw-redirect" title="UPI NFL Rookie of the Year">United Press International</a> – <a href="/wiki/Mike_Ditka" title="Mike Ditka">Mike Ditka</a>, tight end, Chicago Bears<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <p><b>Coach of the year</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/AP_NFL_Coach_of_the_Year_Award" title="AP NFL Coach of the Year Award">Associated Press</a> – <a href="/wiki/Allie_Sherman" title="Allie Sherman">Allie Sherman</a>, New York Giants<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/UPI_NFL_Coach_of_the_Year" class="mw-redirect" title="UPI NFL Coach of the Year">United Press International</a> – <a href="/wiki/Allie_Sherman" title="Allie Sherman">Allie Sherman</a>, New York Giants<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <p><b>Other</b> </p> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1961_All-Pro_Team" title="1961 All-Pro Team">1961 All-Pro Team</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1962_Pro_Bowl" title="1962 Pro Bowl">1962 Pro Bowl</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Coaching_changes">Coaching changes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=9" title="Edit section: Coaching changes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Offseason">Offseason</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=10" title="Edit section: Offseason"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Vikings" title="Minnesota Vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a>: <a href="/wiki/Norm_Van_Brocklin" title="Norm Van Brocklin">Norm Van Brocklin</a> became the expansion team's first head coach.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/New_York_Giants" title="New York Giants">New York Giants</a>: <a href="/wiki/Jim_Lee_Howell" title="Jim Lee Howell">Jim Lee Howell</a> was replaced by <a href="/wiki/Allie_Sherman" title="Allie Sherman">Allie Sherman</a>.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Philadelphia_Eagles" title="Philadelphia Eagles">Philadelphia Eagles</a>: <a href="/wiki/Buck_Shaw" title="Buck Shaw">Buck Shaw</a> was replaced by <a href="/wiki/Nick_Skorich" title="Nick Skorich">Nick Skorich</a>.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Washington_Redskins" class="mw-redirect" title="Washington Redskins">Washington Redskins</a>: <a href="/wiki/Mike_Nixon" title="Mike Nixon">Mike Nixon</a> was replaced by <a href="/wiki/Bill_McPeak" title="Bill McPeak">Bill McPeak</a>.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="In-season">In-season</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=11" title="Edit section: In-season"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/St._Louis_Cardinals_(NFL)" title="St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)">St. Louis Cardinals</a>: <a href="/wiki/Pop_Ivy" title="Pop Ivy">Pop Ivy</a> resigned after 12 games. <a href="/wiki/Chuck_Drulis" title="Chuck Drulis">Chuck Drulis</a>, <a href="/wiki/Ray_Prochaska" title="Ray Prochaska">Ray Prochaska</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Ray_Willsey" title="Ray Willsey">Ray Willsey</a> served as co-head coaches for the final two games of the season.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Stadium_changes">Stadium changes</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=12" title="Edit section: Stadium changes"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Briggs Stadium, the home of the <a href="/wiki/Detroit_Lions" title="Detroit Lions">Detroit Lions</a>, was renamed <a href="/wiki/Tiger_Stadium_(Detroit)" title="Tiger Stadium (Detroit)">Tiger Stadium</a></li> <li>The expansion <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Vikings" title="Minnesota Vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a> began play at <a href="/wiki/Metropolitan_Stadium" title="Metropolitan Stadium">Metropolitan Stadium</a> in <a href="/wiki/Bloomington,_Minnesota" title="Bloomington, Minnesota">Bloomington</a></li> <li>The <a href="/wiki/Washington_Redskins" class="mw-redirect" title="Washington Redskins">Washington Redskins</a> moved from <a href="/wiki/Griffith_Stadium" title="Griffith Stadium">Griffith Stadium</a> to <a href="/wiki/D.C._Stadium" class="mw-redirect" title="D.C. Stadium">D.C. Stadium</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=13" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1961_American_Football_League_season" title="1961 American Football League season">1961 American Football League season</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&action=edit&section=14" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"'Penalties Killed Us' Moans Eagles' Coach," <i>Delaware County Times</i>, Dec 11, 1961, p20</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text">"Giants Settle for Tie, Earn Division Title,", <i>The Independent</i> (Long Beach), Dec 18, 1961, pD-1</span> </li> <li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/8705247/hornung_is_most_valuable/">"Hornung Is 'Most Valuable'<span class="cs1-kern-right"></span>"</a>. <i>Star Tribune</i>. Associated Press. December 21, 1961. p. 21<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">February 2,</span> 2017</span> – via Newspapers.com.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Star+Tribune&rft.atitle=Hornung+Is+%27Most+Valuable%27&rft.pages=21&rft.date=1961-12-21&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Fclip%2F8705247%2Fhornung_is_most_valuable%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A1961+NFL+season" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFOlderman1961" class="citation news cs1">Olderman, Murray (December 27, 1961). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2209&dat=19611227&id=v6QrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7351,5752457&hl=en">"Players Name Tittle Thorpe Trophy Winner"</a>. <i>The Telegraph</i>. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 12<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">June 27,</span> 2016</span>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Telegraph&rft.atitle=Players+Name+Tittle+Thorpe+Trophy+Winner&rft.pages=12&rft.date=1961-12-27&rft.aulast=Olderman&rft.aufirst=Murray&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.google.com%2Fnewspapers%3Fnid%3D2209%26dat%3D19611227%26id%3Dv6QrAAAAIBAJ%26sjid%3DuvwFAAAAIBAJ%26pg%3D7351%2C5752457%26hl%3Den&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A1961+NFL+season" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10719351/paul_hornung_voted_nfl_player_of_year/">"Paul Hornung Voted NFL Player Of Year"</a>. <i>Pampa Daily News</i>. United Press International. December 29, 1961. p. 8<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 3,</span> 2017</span> – via Newspapers.com.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Pampa+Daily+News&rft.atitle=Paul+Hornung+Voted+NFL+Player+Of+Year&rft.pages=8&rft.date=1961-12-29&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Fclip%2F10719351%2Fpaul_hornung_voted_nfl_player_of_year%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A1961+NFL+season" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9748140/bears_mike_ditka_rookie_of_year/">"Bears' Mike Ditka Rookie Of Year"</a>. <i>Daily Independent Journal</i>. Associated Press. December 21, 1961. p. 14<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">March 23,</span> 2017</span> – via Newspapers.com.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=Daily+Independent+Journal&rft.atitle=Bears%27+Mike+Ditka+Rookie+Of+Year&rft.pages=14&rft.date=1961-12-21&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Fclip%2F9748140%2Fbears_mike_ditka_rookie_of_year%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A1961+NFL+season" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10719458/bears_mike_ditka_named_nfls_rookie_of/">"Bears' Mike Ditka Named NFL's Rookie Of The Year"</a>. <i>The Times Recorder</i>. United Press International. December 31, 1961. p. 18<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 3,</span> 2017</span> – via Newspapers.com.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Times+Recorder&rft.atitle=Bears%27+Mike+Ditka+Named+NFL%27s+Rookie+Of+The+Year&rft.pages=18&rft.date=1961-12-31&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Fclip%2F10719458%2Fbears_mike_ditka_named_nfls_rookie_of%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A1961+NFL+season" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/9698199/allie_sherman_coach_of_year/">"Allie Sherman Coach of Year"</a>. <i>The Portsmouth Herald</i>. Associated Press. December 19, 1961. p. 10<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">March 21,</span> 2017</span> – via Newspapers.com.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Portsmouth+Herald&rft.atitle=Allie+Sherman+Coach+of+Year&rft.pages=10&rft.date=1961-12-19&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Fclip%2F9698199%2Fallie_sherman_coach_of_year%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A1961+NFL+season" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.newspapers.com/clip/10719717/new_yorks_allie_sherman_named_nfl/">"New York's Allie Sherman Named NFL Coach Of Year"</a>. <i>The Times Recorder</i>. United Press International. December 28, 1961. p. 13<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">May 3,</span> 2017</span> – via Newspapers.com.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.jtitle=The+Times+Recorder&rft.atitle=New+York%27s+Allie+Sherman+Named+NFL+Coach+Of+Year&rft.pages=13&rft.date=1961-12-28&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.newspapers.com%2Fclip%2F10719717%2Fnew_yorks_allie_sherman_named_nfl%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3A1961+NFL+season" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> </ol></div></div> <ul><li><i>NFL Record and Fact Book</i> (<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-932994-36-X" title="Special:BookSources/1-932994-36-X">1-932994-36-X</a>)</li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.nfl.com/history/chronology/1961-1970">NFL History 1961–1970</a> (Last accessed December 4, 2005)</li> <li><i>Total Football: The Official Encyclopedia of the National Football League</i> (<link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-06-270174-6" title="Special:BookSources/0-06-270174-6">0-06-270174-6</a>)</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236075235">.mw-parser-output .navbox{box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #a2a9b1;width:100%;clear:both;font-size:88%;text-align:center;padding:1px;margin:1em auto 0}.mw-parser-output .navbox .navbox{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox,.mw-parser-output .navbox+.navbox-styles+.navbox{margin-top:-1px}.mw-parser-output .navbox-inner,.mw-parser-output .navbox-subgroup{width:100%}.mw-parser-output .navbox-group,.mw-parser-output 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rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:1961_NFL_season_by_team" title="Template:1961 NFL season by team"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:1961_NFL_season_by_team" title="Template talk:1961 NFL season by team"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:1961_NFL_season_by_team" title="Special:EditPage/Template:1961 NFL season by team"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="1961_NFL_season" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a class="mw-selflink selflink">1961 NFL season</a></div></th></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0;font-size:110%;"><div style="padding:0"><table style="text-align:center; margin:0; width:100%"> <tbody><tr> <th rowspan="4" style="background:#FFCCCC; width:auto;">Eastern Conference</th><td style="background:#FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Cleveland_Browns_season" title="1961 Cleveland Browns season">Cleveland</a></td> <td style="background:#FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Pittsburgh_Steelers_season" title="1961 Pittsburgh Steelers season">Pittsburgh</a></td><td style="background:#D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Baltimore_Colts_season" title="1961 Baltimore Colts season">Baltimore</a></td><td style="background:#D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Los_Angeles_Rams_season" title="1961 Los Angeles Rams season">Los Angeles</a></td> <th rowspan="4" style="background:#D0E7FF; width:auto;">Western Conference</th></tr> <tr> <td style="background:#FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Dallas_Cowboys_season" title="1961 Dallas Cowboys season">Dallas</a></td> <td style="background:#FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/1961_St._Louis_Cardinals_(NFL)_season" title="1961 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season">St. Louis</a></td><td style="background:#D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Chicago_Bears_season" title="1961 Chicago Bears season">Chicago</a></td><td style="background:#D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Minnesota_Vikings_season" title="1961 Minnesota Vikings season">Minnesota</a></td> </tr><tr> <td style="background:#FFCCCC;"><i><a href="/wiki/1961_New_York_Giants_season" title="1961 New York Giants season">New York</a></i></td> <td style="background:#FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Washington_Redskins_season" title="1961 Washington Redskins season">Washington</a></td><td style="background:#D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Detroit_Lions_season" title="1961 Detroit Lions season">Detroit</a></td><td style="background:#D0E7FF;"><a href="/wiki/1961_San_Francisco_49ers_season" title="1961 San Francisco 49ers season">San Francisco</a></td> </tr><tr> <td style="background:#FFCCCC;"><a href="/wiki/1961_Philadelphia_Eagles_season" title="1961 Philadelphia Eagles season">Philadelphia</a></td> <td style="background:#FFCCCC;"></td><td style="background:#D0E7FF;"><b><a href="/wiki/1961_Green_Bay_Packers_season" title="1961 Green Bay Packers season">Green Bay</a></b></td><td style="background:#D0E7FF;"></td> </tr> </tbody></table></div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2" style="background-color:#FFE6BD"><div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1961_NFL_Draft" class="mw-redirect" title="1961 NFL Draft">1961 NFL Draft</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1961_NFL_expansion_draft" title="1961 NFL expansion draft">Expansion Draft</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1961_NFL_Championship_Game" title="1961 NFL Championship Game">NFL Championship</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1962_Pro_Bowl" title="1962 Pro Bowl">Pro Bowl</a></li></ul> <ul><li><i>Related: <a href="/wiki/1961_American_Football_League_season" title="1961 American Football League season">1961 AFL season</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div class="navbox-styles"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236075235"></div><div role="navigation" class="navbox" aria-labelledby="NFL_seasons" style="padding:3px"><table class="nowraplinks mw-collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner" style="border-spacing:0;background:transparent;color:inherit"><tbody><tr><th scope="col" class="navbox-title" colspan="2"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1129693374"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1239400231"><div class="navbar plainlinks hlist navbar-mini"><ul><li class="nv-view"><a href="/wiki/Template:NFL_seasons" title="Template:NFL seasons"><abbr title="View this template">v</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-talk"><a href="/wiki/Template_talk:NFL_seasons" title="Template talk:NFL seasons"><abbr title="Discuss this template">t</abbr></a></li><li class="nv-edit"><a href="/wiki/Special:EditPage/Template:NFL_seasons" title="Special:EditPage/Template:NFL seasons"><abbr title="Edit this template">e</abbr></a></li></ul></div><div id="NFL_seasons" style="font-size:114%;margin:0 4em"><a href="/wiki/List_of_NFL_seasons" title="List of NFL seasons">NFL seasons</a></div></th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%">Early era<br />(1920–1969)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"></div><table class="nowraplinks navbox-subgroup" style="border-spacing:0"><tbody><tr><td colspan="2" class="navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1920_APFA_season" title="1920 APFA season">1920</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1921_APFA_season" title="1921 APFA season">1921</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1922_NFL_season" title="1922 NFL season">1922</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1923_NFL_season" title="1923 NFL season">1923</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1924_NFL_season" title="1924 NFL season">1924</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1925_NFL_season" title="1925 NFL season">1925</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1926_NFL_season" title="1926 NFL season">1926</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1927_NFL_season" title="1927 NFL season">1927</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1928_NFL_season" title="1928 NFL season">1928</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1929_NFL_season" title="1929 NFL season">1929</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1930_NFL_season" title="1930 NFL season">1930</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1931_NFL_season" title="1931 NFL season">1931</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1932_NFL_season" title="1932 NFL season">1932</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1933_NFL_season" title="1933 NFL season">1933</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1934_NFL_season" title="1934 NFL season">1934</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1935_NFL_season" title="1935 NFL season">1935</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1936_NFL_season" title="1936 NFL season">1936</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1937_NFL_season" title="1937 NFL season">1937</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1938_NFL_season" title="1938 NFL season">1938</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1939_NFL_season" title="1939 NFL season">1939</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1940_NFL_season" title="1940 NFL season">1940</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1941_NFL_season" title="1941 NFL season">1941</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1942_NFL_season" title="1942 NFL season">1942</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1943_NFL_season" title="1943 NFL season">1943</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1944_NFL_season" title="1944 NFL season">1944</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1945_NFL_season" title="1945 NFL season">1945</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1946_NFL_season" title="1946 NFL season">1946</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1947_NFL_season" title="1947 NFL season">1947</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1948_NFL_season" title="1948 NFL season">1948</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1949_NFL_season" title="1949 NFL season">1949</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1950_NFL_season" title="1950 NFL season">1950</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1951_NFL_season" title="1951 NFL season">1951</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1952_NFL_season" title="1952 NFL season">1952</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1953_NFL_season" title="1953 NFL season">1953</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1954_NFL_season" title="1954 NFL season">1954</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1955_NFL_season" title="1955 NFL season">1955</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1956_NFL_season" title="1956 NFL season">1956</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1957_NFL_season" title="1957 NFL season">1957</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1958_NFL_season" title="1958 NFL season">1958</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1959_NFL_season" title="1959 NFL season">1959</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1960_NFL_season" title="1960 NFL season">1960</a></li> <li><a class="mw-selflink selflink">1961</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1962_NFL_season" title="1962 NFL season">1962</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1963_NFL_season" title="1963 NFL season">1963</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1964_NFL_season" title="1964 NFL season">1964</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1965_NFL_season" title="1965 NFL season">1965</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1966_NFL_season" title="1966 NFL season">1966</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1967_NFL_season" title="1967 NFL season">1967</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1968_NFL_season" title="1968 NFL season">1968</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1969_NFL_season" title="1969 NFL season">1969</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/All-America_Football_Conference" title="All-America Football Conference">AAFC seasons</a> (1946–1949)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1946_AAFC_season" title="1946 AAFC season">1946</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1947_AAFC_season" title="1947 AAFC season">1947</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1948_AAFC_season" class="mw-redirect" title="1948 AAFC season">1948</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1949_AAFC_season" class="mw-redirect" title="1949 AAFC season">1949</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/List_of_American_Football_League_seasons" title="List of American Football League seasons">AFL seasons</a> (1960–1969)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-odd" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1960_American_Football_League_season" title="1960 American Football League season">1960</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1961_American_Football_League_season" title="1961 American Football League season">1961</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1962_American_Football_League_season" title="1962 American Football League season">1962</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1963_American_Football_League_season" title="1963 American Football League season">1963</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1964_American_Football_League_season" title="1964 American Football League season">1964</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1965_American_Football_League_season" title="1965 American Football League season">1965</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1966_American_Football_League_season" title="1966 American Football League season">1966</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1967_American_Football_League_season" title="1967 American Football League season">1967</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1968_American_Football_League_season" title="1968 American Football League season">1968</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1969_American_Football_League_season" title="1969 American Football League season">1969</a></li></ul> </div></td></tr></tbody></table><div></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="navbox-group" style="width:1%"><a href="/wiki/AFL%E2%80%93NFL_merger" title="AFL–NFL merger">Modern era</a><br />(1970–present)</th><td class="navbox-list-with-group navbox-list navbox-even hlist" style="width:100%;padding:0"><div style="padding:0 0.25em"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/1970_NFL_season" title="1970 NFL season">1970</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1971_NFL_season" title="1971 NFL season">1971</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1972_NFL_season" title="1972 NFL season">1972</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1973_NFL_season" title="1973 NFL season">1973</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1974_NFL_season" title="1974 NFL season">1974</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1975_NFL_season" title="1975 NFL season">1975</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1976_NFL_season" title="1976 NFL season">1976</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1977_NFL_season" title="1977 NFL season">1977</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1978_NFL_season" title="1978 NFL season">1978</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1979_NFL_season" title="1979 NFL season">1979</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1980_NFL_season" title="1980 NFL season">1980</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1981_NFL_season" title="1981 NFL season">1981</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1982_NFL_season" title="1982 NFL season">1982</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1983_NFL_season" title="1983 NFL season">1983</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1984_NFL_season" title="1984 NFL season">1984</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1985_NFL_season" title="1985 NFL season">1985</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1986_NFL_season" title="1986 NFL season">1986</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1987_NFL_season" title="1987 NFL season">1987</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1988_NFL_season" title="1988 NFL season">1988</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1989_NFL_season" title="1989 NFL season">1989</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1990_NFL_season" title="1990 NFL season">1990</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1991_NFL_season" title="1991 NFL season">1991</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1992_NFL_season" title="1992 NFL season">1992</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1993_NFL_season" title="1993 NFL season">1993</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1994_NFL_season" title="1994 NFL season">1994</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1995_NFL_season" title="1995 NFL season">1995</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1996_NFL_season" title="1996 NFL season">1996</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1997_NFL_season" title="1997 NFL season">1997</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1998_NFL_season" title="1998 NFL season">1998</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/1999_NFL_season" title="1999 NFL season">1999</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2000_NFL_season" title="2000 NFL season">2000</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2001_NFL_season" title="2001 NFL season">2001</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2002_NFL_season" title="2002 NFL season">2002</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2003_NFL_season" title="2003 NFL season">2003</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2004_NFL_season" title="2004 NFL season">2004</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2005_NFL_season" title="2005 NFL season">2005</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2006_NFL_season" title="2006 NFL season">2006</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2007_NFL_season" title="2007 NFL season">2007</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2008_NFL_season" title="2008 NFL season">2008</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2009_NFL_season" title="2009 NFL season">2009</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2010_NFL_season" title="2010 NFL season">2010</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2011_NFL_season" title="2011 NFL season">2011</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2012_NFL_season" title="2012 NFL season">2012</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2013_NFL_season" title="2013 NFL season">2013</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2014_NFL_season" title="2014 NFL season">2014</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2015_NFL_season" title="2015 NFL season">2015</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2016_NFL_season" title="2016 NFL season">2016</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2017_NFL_season" title="2017 NFL season">2017</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2018_NFL_season" title="2018 NFL season">2018</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2019_NFL_season" title="2019 NFL season">2019</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2020_NFL_season" title="2020 NFL season">2020</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2021_NFL_season" title="2021 NFL season">2021</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2022_NFL_season" title="2022 NFL season">2022</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2023_NFL_season" title="2023 NFL season">2023</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/2024_NFL_season" title="2024 NFL season">2024</a></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/2025_NFL_season" class="mw-redirect" title="2025 NFL season">2025</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/2026_NFL_season" class="mw-redirect" title="2026 NFL season">2026</a></i></li> <li><i><a href="/wiki/2027_NFL_season" class="mw-redirect" title="2027 NFL season">2027</a></i></li></ul> </div></td></tr><tr><td class="navbox-abovebelow" colspan="2"><div><i>Italics</i> indicate future seasons</div></td></tr></tbody></table></div>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; position: absolute;"></noscript> <div class="printfooter" data-nosnippet="">Retrieved from "<a dir="ltr" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&oldid=1259404447">https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1961_NFL_season&oldid=1259404447</a>"</div></div> <div id="catlinks" class="catlinks" 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