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1961 Boston Patriots season
Head Coach Lou Saban (fired)
Mike Holovak
General Manager Edward McKeever
Home Field Nickerson Field
Results
Record 9–4–1
Place 2nd AFL Eastern
Playoff Finish did not qualify
Uniform
AFC-1961-1964-Uniform-NE
Timeline
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1960 1962

The Boston Patriots finished the American Football League's 1961 season with a record of nine wins and four losses and one tie, and placed second in the AFL's Eastern division.

Staff[]

Boston Patriots 1961 staff
Front Office

Head Coaches

Offensive Coaches

 

Defensive Coaches

Season summary[]

In the off-season, the team acquired quarterback Babe Parilli from the Oakland Raiders, himself a former starter for the NFL's Green Bay Packers. After starting the season 2–3, the team fired head coad Lou Saban and replaced him with Mike Holovak. The change was a positive one, as the team would finish on a four game winning streak, including a season-finale shutout of the San Diego Chargers. Their record of 9–4–1 was good enough for 2nd place in the Eastern Division, and one game behind division leader Houston. This season was the first in which the team used their "Pat the Patriot" logo on their helmets.[1]

Draft picks[]

Round Player Position College
1 Tommy MasonTommy Mason Half back Tulane
2 Rip HawkinsRip Hawkins Center North Carolina
3 Danny LaRoseDanny LaRose Offensive end Missouri
4 Mike ZenoMike Zeno Guard Virginia Tech
5 Fran TarkentonFran Tarkenton Quarterback Georgia
6 Larry EisenhauerLarry Eisenhauer 1 Tackle Boston College
7 Paul TerhesPaul Terhes Quarterback Bucknell
8 Charles LongCharles Long 1 Guard Tennessee-Chattanooga
9 Roland LakesRoland Lakes Center Wichita
10 Richard MuellerRichard Mueller Offensive end Kentucky
11 Mel WestMel West Center Missouri
12 Wayne HarrisWayne Harris Center Arkansas
13 Dan UnderwoodDan Underwood Tackle McNeese State
14 James WrightJames Wright Quarterback Memphis State
16 George BalthazarGeorge Balthazar Tackle Tennessee A&I
17 Ray RatkowskiRay Ratkowski Halfback Notre Dame
18 Tom RodgersTom Rodgers Halfback Kentucky
19 Joe BellinoJoe Bellino Halfback Navy
20 Clarence ChildsClarence Childs Halfback Florida A&M
21 Dan OakesDan Oakes Guard Virginia Tech
22 Bob JohnsonBob Johnson Offensive end Michigan
23 Darrell DeDeckerDarrell DeDecker Center Illinois
24 Don WebbDon Webb Halfback Iowa State
25 Robert MinihaneRobert Minihane Tackle Boston
26 Charles GrangerCharles Granger Tackle Southern
27 Terry HuxholdTerry Huxhold Tackle Wisconsin
28 Bryant HarvardBryant Harvard Quarterback Auburn
29 Ernie McMillanErnie McMillan Tackle Illinois
30 George HultzGeorge Hultz Tackle Mississippi Southern

Game-by-game results[]

Home games in bold.

Week Opponent Result Patriots'
score
Opponents'
score
Record
1 New York Titans L 20 21 0–1
2 Denver Broncos W 45 17 1–1
3 Buffalo Bills W 23 21 2–1
4 New York Titans L 30 37 2–2
5 San Diego Chargers L 27 38 2–3
6 Houston Oilers T 31 31 2–3–1
7 Buffalo Bills W 52 21 3–3–1
8 Dallas Texans W 18 17 4–3–1
9 Dallas Texans W 28 21 5–3–1
10 Houston Oilers L 15 27 5–4–1
11 Oakland Raiders W 20 17 6–4–1
12 Bye 6–4–1
13 Denver Broncos W 28 24 7–4–1
14 Oakland Raiders W 35 21 8–4–1
15 San Diego Chargers W 41 0 9–4–1

Roster[]

All of the following players appeared in at least one game for the 1961 Boston Patriots. Players new to the team in 1961 are in bold

Charlie Long
Name Position Notes
Tom Addison LB
Houston Antwine DT Rookie
Walter Beach DB/RB
Fred Bruney DB
Ron Burton HB
Gino Cappelletti WR/K/DB Uniform number 20 retired by the New England Patriots
Jim Colclough WR
Jim Crawford FB/HB
Walt Cudzik C/LB
Bob Dee DE/DT Uniform number 89 retired by the New England Patriots
Jerry DeLucca T/DT
Larry Eisenhauer DE Rookie
Larry Garron HB
Milt Graham T/DT Rookie
Ron Hall DB
Jim Hunt DT/DE Uniform number 79 retired by the New England Patriots
Harry Jacobs LB/DE
Harry Jagielski DT/T
Joe Johnson HB/E/WR
Bill Kimber E
Dick Klein T
Chuck Leo G
Paul Lindquist DT Rookie
Ray Lardani T Rookie
T/G Rookie
Billy Lott FB
Rommie Loudd LB
Leroy Moore DE
Ross O'Hanley DB
Babe Parilli QB
Willis Perkins DE/G Rookie
Ray Ratkowski HB Rookie
Frank Robotti LB Rookie
Al Romine DB/HB
Tony Sardisco G/LB
Gerhard Schwedes HB
Chuck Shonta DB
John Simmerson C
Robert Soltis DB
Butch Songin QB
Thomas Stephens TE/DB
Bobby Towns DB
Clyde Washington DB/P
Don Webb DB Rookie
Mel West RB Rookie
Rob Yates T/C Rookie
Tom Yewcic QB/P/HB Rookie

See also[]

Notes and references[]

General references[]

Footnoted references[]

  1. "AFC east helmets". The Helmet Project. 2007. http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/afceast.htm. Retrieved 2007-04-12.
Eastern Division Western Division
Boston Dallas Texans
Buffalo Denver
Houston Oakland
New York Titans San Diego
1961 AFL Draft1961 AFL Championship Game1961 AFL All-Star game
Related: 1961 NFL Season
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