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1961 Green Bay Packers season

NFL team season (7th championship)

Field	Value
team	Green Bay Packers
year	1961
record	11–3
division_place	1st NFL Western
coach	Vince Lombardi
general manager	Vince Lombardi
stadium	City Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium
playoffs	Won [NFL Championship](1961-nfl-championship-game)
(vs. [Giants](1961-new-york-giants-season)) 37–0
shortnavlink	Packers seasons

Milwaukee County Stadium (vs. Giants) 37–0 The 1961 Green Bay Packers season was their 43rd season overall and their 41st season in the National Football League. The team finished with an 11–3 record under third-year head coach Vince Lombardi, earning them a first-place finish in the Western Conference. The Packers ended the season by shutting out the New York Giants 37–0 in the NFL Championship Game, the first title game ever played in Green Bay. This was the Packers seventh NFL league championship. The 1961 Packers also featured 12 future Hall of Famers, the most on any single team in NFL history.

The 1961 season was the first in which the Packers wore their trademark capital "G" logo on their helmets.

Offseason

NFL draft

The 1961 NFL draft was held in late December 1960.

Round	Overall	Player	Position	School
1	12	Herb Adderley	Cornerback	[Michigan State](1960-michigan-state-spartans-football-team)
2	26	Ron Kostelnik	Defensive tackle	[Cincinnati](1960-cincinnati-bearcats-football-team)
3	40	Phil Nugent	Back	[Tulane](1960-tulane-green-wave-football-team)
4	54	Paul Dudley	Back	[Arkansas](1960-arkansas-razorbacks-football-team)
4	56	Joe LeSage	Guard	Tulane
5	68	Jack Novak	Guard	[Miami (FL)](1960-miami-hurricanes-football-team)
6	82	Lee Folkins	Tight end	[Washington](1960-washington-huskies-football-team)
7	96	Lewis Johnson	Back	[Florida A&M](1960-florida-a-m-rattlers-football-team)
9	124	Vester Flanagan	Tackle	[Humboldt State](1960-humboldt-state-lumberjacks-football-team)
10	128	Roger Hagberg	Back	[Minnesota](1960-minnesota-golden-gophers-football-team)
10	138	Buck McLeod	Tackle	[Baylor](1960-baylor-bears-football-team)
11	152	Val Keckin	Back	[Southern Miss](1960-mississippi-southern-southerners-football-team)
12	166	John Denvir	Tackle	[Colorado](1960-colorado-buffaloes-football-team)
13	180	Elijah Pitts	Halfback	Philander Smith
14	194	Nelson Toburen	Linebacker	[Wichita](1960-wichita-shockers-football-team)
15	208	Ray Lardani	Tackle	Miami (FL)
16	222	Clarence Mason	End	[Bowling Green](1960-bowling-green-falcons-football-team)
17	236	Jim Brewington	Tackle	North Carolina Central
18	250	Arthur Sims	Back	[Texas A&M](1960-texas-a-m-aggies-football-team)
19	264	Leland Bondhus	Tackle	[South Dakota State](1960-south-dakota-state-jackrabbits-football-team)
20	278	Ray Ratkowski	Back	[Notre Dame](1960-notre-dame-fighting-irish-football-team)

Green indicates a future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee
Yellow indicates a future Pro Bowl selection

Personnel

Staff

President – Dominic Olejniczak
Director of player personnel – Dick Voris
Head coach – Vince Lombardi
Offensive backs – Red Cochran
Ends – Dick Voris
Offensive line – Bill Austin
Defensive line – Phil Bengtson
Defensive backs – Norb Hecker

Roster

John Roach
Bart Starr
Paul Hornung K
Tom Moore
Elijah Pitts
Jim Taylor
Lew Carpenter
Boyd Dowler P
Max McGee P
Lee Folkins
Gary Knafelc
Ron Kramer
Forrest Gregg T / G
Ken Iman G/C
Norm Masters T
Jim Ringo C
Bob Skoronski T
Fuzzy Thurston G
Ben Davidson DE
Willie Davis DE
Dave Hanner DT
Henry Jordan DT
Ron Kostelnik DT
Bill Quinlan DE
Tom Bettis OLB/MLB
Dan Currie OLB
Bill Forester OLB
Ray Nitschke MLB
Nelson Toburen OLB
Herb Adderley CB
Hank Gremminger CB
John Symank SS
Emlen Tunnell FS
Jesse Whittenton CB
Willie Wood FS
Ben Agajanian K
Jerry Kramer G (IR) [[File:Injury icon.svg|7px]]

:Source:

Depth chart

Preseason

year=1961	border=2}}"	Week	Green Bay Packers	year=1961
at [Dallas Cowboys](1961-dallas-cowboys-season)	W 30–7	1–0	Cotton Bowl	[Recap](http://www.packershistory.net/1961PACKERS.html)
at [St. Louis Cardinals](1961-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season)	W 31–10	2–0	Sportsman's Park	[Recap](http://www.packershistory.net/1961PACKERS.html)
[Chicago Bears](1961-chicago-bears-season)	W 24–14	3–0	Milwaukee County Stadium	[Recap](http://www.packershistory.net/1961PACKERS.html)
[New York Giants](1961-new-york-giants-season)	W 20–17	4–0	City Stadium	[Recap](http://www.packershistory.net/1961PACKERS.html)
vs. [Washington Redskins](1961-washington-redskins-season)	W 31–24	5–0	A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium	[Recap](http://www.packershistory.net/1961PACKERS.html)

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 Department of Defense activated thousands of reservists. Two dozen football players were activated, including Paul Hornung, Boyd Dowler, and Ray Nitschke. On November 14, Hornung was to report to Fort Riley in north central Kansas. Wisconsin residents were so upset that Republican senator Alexander Wiley and Democratic congressman Clement Zablocki requested deferments for the players. On October 18, the final word was that the players had to serve. Hornung missed the November 19 game in Green Bay against the Rams, but was flown from Fort Riley to Detroit for the November 23 Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions at Tiger Stadium. Hornung kicked a field goal and two extra points in the 17–9 victory.

Injured in late October, right guard Jerry Kramer was sidelined for the remainder of the season. Forrest Gregg moved in from right tackle to guard, and Norm Masters started at right tackle.

Schedule

Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Week	Green Bay Packers	year=1961
September 17	[Detroit Lions](1961-detroit-lions-season)	L 13–17	0–1	Milwaukee County Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196109170gnb.htm)
September 24	[San Francisco 49ers](1961-san-francisco-49ers-season)	W 30–10	1–1	City Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196109240gnb.htm)
October 1	[Chicago Bears](1961-chicago-bears-season)	W 24–0	2–1	City Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110010gnb.htm)
October 8	[Baltimore Colts](1961-baltimore-colts-season)	W 45–7	3–1	City Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110080gnb.htm)
October 15	at [Cleveland Browns](1961-cleveland-browns-season)	W 49–17	4–1	Cleveland Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110150cle.htm)
October 22	at [Minnesota Vikings](1961-minnesota-vikings-season)	W 33–7	5–1	Metropolitan Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110220min.htm)
October 29	Minnesota Vikings	W 28–10	6–1	Milwaukee County Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196110290gnb.htm)
November 5	at Baltimore Colts	L 21–45	6–2	Memorial Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111050clt.htm)
November 12	at Chicago Bears	W 31–28	7–2	Wrigley Field	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111120chi.htm)
November 19	[Los Angeles Rams](1961-los-angeles-rams-season)	W 35–17	8–2	City Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111190gnb.htm)
November 23	at Detroit Lions	W 17–9	9–2	Tiger Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196111230det.htm)
December 3	[New York Giants](1961-new-york-giants-season)	W 20–17	10–2	Milwaukee County Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112030gnb.htm)
December 10	at San Francisco 49ers	L 21–22	10–3	Kezar Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112100sfo.htm)
December 17	at Los Angeles Rams	W 24–17	11–3	Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112170ram.htm)

Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Season summary

Week 1: vs. [[1961 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]]

;Lions

;Packers

Week 2: vs. [[1961 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco]]

;49ers

;Packers

Week 3: vs. [[1961 Chicago Bears season|Chicago]]

;Bears

;Packers

Week 4: vs. [[1961 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore]]

;Colts

;Packers

Week 5: at [[1961 Cleveland Browns season|Cleveland]]

;Packers

;Browns

Week 6: at [[1961 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]]

;Packers

;Vikings

Week 7: vs. [[1961 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota]]

;Vikings

;Packers

Week 8: at [[1961 Baltimore Colts season|Baltimore]]

;Packers

;Colts

Week 9: at [[1961 Chicago Bears season|Chicago]]

;Packers

;Bears

Week 10: vs. [[1961 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles]]

;Rams

;Packers

Week 11: at [[1961 Detroit Lions season|Detroit]]

;Packers

;Lions

Week 12: vs. [[1961 New York Giants season|New York]]

;Giants

;Packers

Week 13: at [[1961 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco]]

;Packers

;49ers

Week 14: at [[1961 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles]]

;Packers

;Rams

Playoffs

Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Round	Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Date	Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Opponent	Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Result	Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Record	Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Venue	Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Recap	[NFL Championship](1961-nfl-championship-game)
December 31	[New York Giants](1961-new-york-giants-season)	W 37–0	1–0	City Stadium	[Recap](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/196112310gnb.htm)

Game summary

[[1961 NFL Championship Game]] vs. [[1961 New York Giants season|New York]]

;Giants

;Packers

Standings

Roster

Stats

Passing

Rushing

Receiving

Kicking

Punting

Kick Return

Punt Return

Interception

Team

Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Total yards and turnovers	Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Passing	Green Bay Packers	year=1961	border=2}}"	Rushing

Awards and records

Paul Hornung, NFL MVP
Paul Hornung, Bert Bell Award

Milestones

References

Sportsencyclopedia.com

References

Christi, Cliff. (September 24, 2015). "The G Stands for Green Bay". NFL Enterprises, LLC.
[http://uniformdatabases.com/packers.html Gridiron Uniform Database: Green Bay Packers]
"All Time Coaches Database". Packers.com.
(December 31, 1961). "TV rosters". Milwaukee Sentinel.
(November 4, 1961). "Paul Hornung to enter Army". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p. 284, Simon & Schuster, 1999, {{ISBN. 978-0-684-84418-3
When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p. 286, Simon & Schuster, 1999, {{ISBN. 978-0-684-84418-3
When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p. 285, Simon & Schuster, 1999, {{ISBN. 978-0-684-84418-3
When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p. 287, Simon & Schuster, 1999, {{ISBN. 978-0-684-84418-3
When Pride Still Mattered, David Maraniss, p. 288, Simon & Schuster, 1999, {{ISBN. 978-0-684-84418-3
(November 24, 1961). "Green Bay tops Lions 17-9 to take commanding lead". Lewiston Morning Tribune.
"Maxwell Football Club - Bert Bell Award Past Recipients".

Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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