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1961 Chicago Bears season

NFL team season

1961 Chicago Bears season

NFL team season

FieldValue
teamChicago Bears
year1961
record8–6
division_placeT–3rd NFL Western
coachGeorge Halas
general managerGeorge Halas
ownerGeorge Halas
stadiumWrigley Field
playoffs*Did not qualify*
shortnavlinkBears seasons

The 1961 Chicago Bears season was their 42nd regular season completed in the National Football League. The team finished with an 8–6 record under George Halas, which was an improvement over the 5–6–1 record of the previous season.

Offseason

On January 14, Chicago Bears End Willard Dewveall played out his option and joined the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. He became the first player to move deliberately from one league to another.

The Bears were notable for taking part in an exhibition game in their first ever game outside of the United States, taking on the CFL's Montreal Alouettes (the original team), winning 34–16.

Schedule

Chicago Bearsyear=1961border=2}}"GameChicago Bearsyear=1961border=2}}"DateChicago Bearsyear=1961border=2}}"OpponentChicago Bearsyear=1961border=2}}"ResultChicago Bearsyear=1961border=2}}"RecordChicago Bearsyear=1961border=2}}"VenueChicago Bearsyear=1961border=2}}"AttendanceChicago Bearsyear=1961border=2}}"RecapChicago Bearsyear=1961border=2}}"Sources1234567891011121314
September 17at **[Minnesota Vikings](1961-minnesota-vikings-season)****L** 13–370–1Metropolitan Stadium32,236[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196109170min.htm)
September 23at **[Los Angeles Rams](1961-los-angeles-rams-season)****W** 21–171–1L.A. Memorial Coliseum53,315[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196109230ram.htm)
October 1at **[Green Bay Packers](1961-green-bay-packers-season)****L** 0–241–2City Stadium38,669[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110010gnb.htm)
October 8at **[Detroit Lions](1961-detroit-lions-season)****W** 31–172–2Briggs Stadium53,854[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110080det.htm)
October 15**[Baltimore Colts](1961-baltimore-colts-season)****W** 24–103–2Wrigley Field48,719[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110150chi.htm)
October 22**[San Francisco 49ers](1961-san-francisco-49ers-season)****W** 31–04–2Wrigley Field49,070[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110220chi.htm)
October 29at **[Baltimore Colts](1961-baltimore-colts-season)****W** 21–205–2Memorial Stadium57,641[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110290clt.htm)
November 5at [Philadelphia Eagles](1961-philadelphia-eagles-season)**L** 14–165–3Franklin Field60,671[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111050phi.htm)
November 12**[Green Bay Packers](1961-green-bay-packers-season)****L** 28–315–4Wrigley Field49,711[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111120chi.htm)
November 19at **[San Francisco 49ers](1961-san-francisco-49ers-season)****L** 31–415–5Kezar Stadium52,972[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111190sfo.htm)
November 26**[Los Angeles Rams](1961-los-angeles-rams-season)****W** 28–246–5Wrigley Field45,965[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111260chi.htm)
December 3**[Detroit Lions](1961-detroit-lions-season)****L** 15–166–6Wrigley Field51,017[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112030chi.htm)
December 10[Cleveland Browns](1961-cleveland-browns-season)**W** 17–147–6Wrigley Field38,717[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112100chi.htm)
December 17**[Minnesota Vikings](1961-minnesota-vikings-season)****W** 52–358–6Wrigley Field34,539[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112170chi.htm)
**Note:** Intra-conference opponents in **bold**.

Standings

Program for the December 10 game against the visiting Cleveland Browns.

Game summaries

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Week 7

Week 8

Week 9

Week 10

Week 11

Week 12

Week 13

Week 14

Roster

1961 Bears offensive line practicing for the [[Armed Forces Benefit Football Game

  • Ed Brown P

  • Dick Norman

  • Billy Wade

  • John Adams

  • Charlie Bivins

  • Bill Brown

  • Rick Casares

  • Willie Galimore

  • Angelo Coia

  • Jim Dooley

  • Bo Farrington

  • Johnny Morris

  • Mike Ditka

  • Art Anderson T

  • Roger Davis G

  • Stan Fanning T

  • Stan Jones G

  • Ted Karras G

  • Herman Lee T

  • Mike Pyle C

  • Bob Wetoska G/T

  • Doug Atkins DE

  • Bob Kilcullen DT/DE

  • John Mellekas DT

  • Fred Williams DT

  • Maury Youmans DE

  • Joe Fortunato OLB

  • Bill George MLB

  • Ken Kirk OLB

  • Roger LeClerc MLB/K

  • Larry Morris OLB

  • J. C. Caroline CB

  • Harlon Hill FS/WR

  • Bobby Jackson SS

  • Pete Manning CB

  • Don Mullins FS

  • Richie Petitbon SS

  • Rosey Taylor FS/CB

  • Dave Whitsell CB

References

References

  1. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 282
  2. "Bears played game in Canada in 1961".
  3. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196109170min.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  4. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196109230ram.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  5. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110010gnb.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  6. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110080det.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  7. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110150chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
  8. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110220chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  9. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110290clt.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
  10. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111050phi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  11. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111120chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  12. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111190sfo.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  13. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111260chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  14. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112030chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  15. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112100chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
  16. [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112170chi.htm Pro-Football-Reference.com]
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