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]
Offseason
NFL draft
The 1961 NFL draft was held in late December 1960.
Personnel
Staff
[3]
Roster
- Source:[4]
Depth chart
Preseason
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.[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.
Schedule
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.
Season summary
Week 1: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Date: September 17
- Game time: 12:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C), relative humidity 63%, wind 9 mph
- Game attendance: 44,307
- Referee: Bud Brubaker
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 2: San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers
at City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: September 24
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C), relative humidity 90%, wind 17 mph
- Game attendance: 38,669
- Referee: George Rennix
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 3: Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers
at City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: October 1
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C), relative humidity 76%, wind 19 mph
- Game attendance: 38,669
- Referee: John Pace
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 4: Baltimore Colts at Green Bay Packers
at City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: October 8
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C), relative humidity 71%, wind 11 mph
- Game attendance: 38,669
- Referee: Bill Downes
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 5: Green Bay Packers at Cleveland Browns
at Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: October 15
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C), relative humidity 62%, wind 16 mph
- Game attendance: 75,042
- Referee: Ron Gibbs
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 6: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings
at Metropolitan Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 22
- Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C), relative humidity 82%, wind 13 mph
- Game attendance: 42,117
- Referee: John Pace
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 7: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Date: October 29
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C), relative humidity 87%, wind 16 mph
- Game attendance: 44,116
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 8: Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Colts
at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland
- Date: November 5
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 69 °F (21 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 11 mph
- Game attendance: 57,641
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 9: Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears
at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
- Date: November 12
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C), relative humidity 78%, wind 13 mph
- Game attendance: 49,711
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 10: Los Angeles Rams at Green Bay Packers
at City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: November 19
- Game 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: 38,669
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 11: Green Bay Packers at Detroit Lions
at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan
- Date: November 23
- Game time: 11:00 a.m. CST
- Game weather: 43 °F (6 °C), relative humidity 97%, wind 8 mph
- Game attendance: 55,662
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 12: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Date: December 3
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 57 °F (14 °C), relative humidity 87%, wind 16 mph
- Game attendance: 47,012
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Week 13: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers
at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California
- Date: December 10
- Game time: 3:30 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C), relative humidity 72%, wind 12 mph
- Game attendance: 55,722
- Referee: Emil Heintz
- TV: CBS
- Box Score
Playoffs
Game summary
1961 NFL Championship Game: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
at City Stadium, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: December 31
- Game 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: 39,029
- TV: NBC
- Box Score
Standings
- Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.
Roster
Stats
Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Kicking
Punting
Kick Return
Punt Return
Interception
Team
Awards and records
Milestones
References
- ^ 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.