1961 in football

American football

 * AFL Championship – Houston Oilers won 10-3 over the San Diego Chargers
 * NFL Championship – Green Bay Packers won 37-0 over the New York Giants
 * Rose Bowl (1960 season):
 * The Minnesota Golden Gophers lose 17-7 to the Washington Huskies; still voted national champions
 * The Ohio State Buckeyes boycott a trip to the Rose Bowl the following January resulting in student protests on campus.