1961 Chicago Bears season
Head Coach George Halas
General Manager George Halas
Home Field Wrigley Field
Results
Record 8–6
Place 3rd NFL Western
Playoff Finish did not qualify
Timeline
Previous season
Next season
1960
1962
The 1961 Chicago Bears season was their 42nd regular season completed in the National Football League . The club posted an 8–6 record under George Halas , which was an improvement over the 5–6–1 record of the previous season.
Offseason On January 14, Chicago Bears End Willard Dewveall played out his option and joined the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. He became the first player to move deliberately from one league to another.[1]
The Bears were notable for taking part in an exhibition game in their first ever game outside of the United States , taking on the CFL's Montreal Alouettes (the original team), winning 34–16.[2]
NFL Draft
1961 Chicago Bears roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics 53 Active, 5 Inactive, 5 Practice squad
Regular season
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Attendance
1
September 17, 1961
at Minnesota Vikings
L 37–13
32,236
2
September 23, 1961
at Los Angeles Rams
W 21–17
53,315
3
October 1, 1961
at Green Bay Packers
L 24–0
38,669
4
October 8, 1961
at Detroit Lions
W 31–17
53,854
5
October 15, 1961
Baltimore Colts
W 24–10
48,719
6
October 22, 1961
San Francisco 49ers
W 31–0
49,070
7
October 29, 1961
at Baltimore Colts
W 21–20
57,641
8
November 5, 1961
at Philadelphia Eagles
L 16–14
60,671
9
November 12, 1961
Green Bay Packers
L 31–28
49,711
10
November 19, 1961
at San Francisco 49ers
L 41–31
52,972
11
November 26, 1961
Los Angeles Rams
W 28–24
45,965
12
December 3, 1961
Detroit Lions
L 16–15
51,017
13
December 10, 1961
Cleveland Browns
W 17–14
38,717
14
December 17, 1961
Minnesota Vikings
W 52–35
34,539
Game summaries
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
Bears
0 6 0 7
13
• Vikings
3 7 14 13
37
[3]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
• Bears
7 0 7 7
21
Rams
3 7 0 7
17
[4]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
Bears
0 0 0 0
0
• Packers
7 3 7 7
24
[5]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
• Bears
0 7 3 21
31
Lions
10 0 7 0
17
[6]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
Colts
0 7 0 3
10
• Bears
3 7 0 14
24
[7]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
49ers
0 0 0 0
0
• Bears
0 14 7 10
31
[8]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
• Bears
0 7 7 7
21
Colts
7 7 6 0
20
[9]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
Bears
7 7 0 0
14
• Eagles
3 7 6 0
16
[10]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
• Packers
7 21 3 0
31
Bears
7 0 7 14
28
[11]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
Bears
7 3 7 14
31
• 49ers
17 3 21 0
41
[12]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
Rams
7 0 3 14
24
• Bears
7 14 0 7
28
[13]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
• Lions
0 9 0 7
16
Bears
3 3 6 3
15
[14]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
Browns
14 0 0 0
14
• Bears
0 0 0 17
17
[15]
by Quarter 1 2 3 4
Total
Vikings
14 7 7 7
35
• Bears
7 14 24 7
52
Scoring summary 1
MIN Hugh McElhenny 81 yard punt return (Mike Mercer kick)MIN 7–0 1
MIN Jerry Reichow 30 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick)MIN 14–0 1
CHI Angelo Coia 62 yard pass from Bill Wade (Roger LeClerc kick)MIN 14–7 2
CHI Willie Galimore 8 yard run (Roger LeClerc kick)Tie 14–14 2
CHI Mike Ditka 2 yard pass from Bill Wade (Roger LeClerc kick)CHI 21–14 2
MIN Jerry Reichow 11 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick) Tie 21–21 3
CHI Angelo Coia 16 yard pass from Bill Wade (Roger LeClerc kick) CHI 28–21 3
CHI Roger LeClerc 17 yard field goal CHI 31–21 3
CHI Mike Ditka 30 yard pass from Bill Wade (Roger LeClerc kick) CHI 38–21 3
MIN Gordie Smith 10 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick)CHI 38–28 3
CHI Charlie Bivins 30 yard run (Roger LeClerc kick)CHI 45–28 4
MIN Jerry Reichow 24 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick) CHI 45–35 4
CHI Willie Galimore 60 yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) CHI 52–35
[16]
Standings Template:1961 NFL Western standings
References
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