NFL team season (7th championship)
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.[ 1] [ 2]
The 1961 NFL draft was held in late December 1960.
1961 Green Bay Packers staff Front office Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
[ 3]
1961 Green Bay Packers final roster Quarterbacks Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen Defensive linemen
Linebackers Defensive backs
Special teams
3 Ben Agajanian K 86 Boyd Dowler P 46 Hank Gremminger KO 5 Paul Hornung K 85 Max McGee P 24 Willie Wood PR Rookies in italics
Source: [ 4] Defense
[1]
DE DT DT DE Bill Quinlan Henry Jordan Dave Hanner Willie Davis ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ ⋅
Offense
[2] LT LG C RG RT Bob Skoronski Fuzzy Thurston Jim Ringo Jerry Kramer Forrest Gregg ⋅ ⋅ ⋅ (Forrest Gregg) Norm Masters
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 .[ 5] [ 6] On November 14, Hornung was to report to Fort Riley in north central Kansas .[ 7] Wisconsin residents were so upset that Republican senator Alexander Wiley and Democratic congressman Clement Zablocki requested deferments for the players.[ 8] 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 .[ 9] Hornung kicked a field goal and two extra points in the 17–9 victory.[ 10] [ 11]
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.
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Lions 7 7 0 3 17 Packers 7 3 0 3 13
at Milwaukee County Stadium , Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Date : September 17Game time : 12:30 p.m. CDT Game weather : 60 °F (16 °C), relative humidity 63%, wind 9 mphGame attendance : 44,307Referee : Bud BrubakerTV : CBS Box Score
Week 2: San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total 49ers 7 3 0 0 10 Packers 7 13 3 7 30
at City Stadium , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date : September 24Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDT Game weather : 50 °F (10 °C), relative humidity 90%, wind 17 mphGame attendance : 38,669Referee : George RennixTV : CBS Box Score
Week 3: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Bears 0 0 0 0 0 Packers 7 3 7 7 24
at City Stadium , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date : October 1Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDT Game weather : 46 °F (8 °C), relative humidity 76%, wind 19 mphGame attendance : 38,669Referee : John PaceTV : CBS Box Score
Week 4: Baltimore Colts at Green Bay Packers
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Colts 0 7 0 0 7 Packers 7 10 14 14 45
at City Stadium , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date : October 8Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDT Game weather : 60 °F (16 °C), relative humidity 71%, wind 11 mphGame attendance : 38,669Referee : Bill DownesTV : CBS Box Score
Week 5: Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Packers 14 7 7 21 49 Browns 0 3 7 7 17
at Cleveland Stadium , Cleveland , Ohio
Date : October 15Game time : 1:00 p.m. CDT Game weather : 44 °F (7 °C), relative humidity 62%, wind 16 mphGame attendance : 75,042Referee : Ron GibbsTV : CBS Box Score
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP GB CLE 1 8:15 GB Taylor 25-yard touchdown run, Hornung kick good 7 0 1 0:43 GB Taylor 1-yard touchdown run, Hornung kick good 14 0 2 10:10 CLE 27-yard field goal by Groza 14 3 2 6:58 GB Hornung 3-yard touchdown run, Hornung kick good 21 3 3 11:30 GB Taylor 45-yard touchdown run, Hornung kick good 28 3 3 6:14 CLE Nagler 21-yard touchdown reception from Plum , Groza kick good 28 10 4 14:56 GB Taylor 4-yard touchdown run, Hornung kick good 35 10 4 9:58 CLE Renfro 13-yard touchdown reception from Plum , Groza kick good 35 17 4 6:48 GB McGee 45-yard touchdown reception from Starr , Hornung kick good 42 17 4 1:55 GB Roach 1-yard touchdown run, Hornung kick good 49 17 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 49 17
Week 6: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Packers 10 3 3 17 33 Vikings 0 7 0 0 7
at Metropolitan Stadium , Minneapolis , Minnesota
Date : October 22Game time : 1:30 p.m. CDT Game weather : 48 °F (9 °C), relative humidity 82%, wind 13 mphGame attendance : 42,117Referee : John PaceTV : CBS Box Score
Week 8: Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Colts
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Packers 7 7 0 7 21 Colts 7 14 10 14 45
at Memorial Stadium , Baltimore , Maryland
Date : November 5Game time : 1:00 p.m. CST Game weather : 69 °F (21 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 11 mphGame attendance : 57,641TV : CBS Box Score
Scoring summary Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP GB BAL 1 BAL Perry 2-yard touchdown run, Myhra kick good 0 7 1 GB Starr 21-yard touchdown run, Hornung kick good 7 7 2 BAL Hawkins 4-yard touchdown reception from Unitas , Myhra kick good 7 14 2 GB Hornung 17-yard touchdown run, Hornung kick good 14 14 2 BAL Moore 38-yard touchdown reception from Unitas , Myhra kick good 14 21 3 BAL 12-yard field goal by Myhra 14 24 3 BAL Orr 19-yard touchdown reception from Unitas , Myhra kick good 14 31 4 BAL Orr 4-yard touchdown reception from Unitas , Myhra kick good 14 38 4 BAL Perry 15-yard touchdown run, Myhra kick good 14 45 4 — — — GB Interception returned 41 yards for touchdown by Whittenton , Hornung kick good 21 45 "TOP" = time of possession . For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football . 21 45
Week 9: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Packers 7 21 3 0 31 Bears 7 0 7 14 28
at Wrigley Field , Chicago , Illinois
Date : November 12Game time : 1:00 p.m. CST Game weather : 52 °F (11 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 13 mphGame attendance : 49,711TV : CBS Box Score
Week 10: Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Rams 7 3 0 7 17 Packers 0 28 0 7 35
at City Stadium , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date : November 19Game time : 1:00 p.m. CST Game weather : 26 °F (−3 °C), relative humidity 81%, wind 5 mph, wind chill 20 °F (−7 °C)Game attendance : 38,669TV : CBS Box Score
Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Packers 0 7 0 10 17 Lions 3 3 3 0 9
at Tiger Stadium , Detroit , Michigan
Date : November 23Game time : 11:00 a.m. CST Game weather : 43 °F (6 °C), relative humidity 97%, wind 8 mphGame attendance : 55,662TV : CBS Box Score
Week 13: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Packers 0 7 7 7 21 49ers 0 14 2 6 22
at Kezar Stadium , San Francisco , California
Date : December 10Game time : 3:30 p.m. CST Game weather : 48 °F (9 °C), relative humidity 72%, wind 12 mphGame attendance : 55,722Referee : Emil HeintzTV : CBS Box Score
1961 NFL Championship Game: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total Giants 0 0 0 0 0 Packers 0 24 10 3 37
at City Stadium , Green Bay, Wisconsin
Date : December 31Game time : 1:00 p.m. CST Game weather : 17 °F (−8 °C), relative humidity 82%, wind 10 mph, wind chill 6 °F (−14 °C)Game attendance : 39,029TV : NBC Box Score
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972. Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Kicking
Punting
Kick Return
Punt Return
Interception
Team
Total Yards and Turnovers Passing Rushing
^ Christi, Cliff (September 24, 2015). "The G Stands for Green Bay" . Packers.com . NFL Enterprises, LLC. Retrieved August 28, 2022 . ^ Gridiron Uniform Database: Green Bay Packers ^ "All Time Coaches Database" . Packers.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2011 . ^ "TV rosters" . Milwaukee Sentinel . December 31, 1961. p. 2, sports. ^ "Paul Hornung to enter Army" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). Associated Press. November 4, 1961. p. 2. ^ 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 ^ "Green Bay tops Lions 17-9 to take commanding lead" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). Associated Press. November 24, 1961. p. 16. ^ "Maxwell Football Club - Bert Bell Award Past Recipients" . Archived from the original on June 19, 2009. Retrieved June 28, 2010 .
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† does not include 1966 or 1967 NFL championships