The 1961 Green Bay Packers season was their 43rd season overall and their 41st season in the National Football League . The club posted an 11–3 record under coach Vince Lombardi , earning them a first-place finish in the Western Conference and ending a fifteen-year playoff drought. The Packers ended the season by defeating the New York Giants 37–0 in the NFL Championship Game , the first title game ever played in Green Bay . This was the Packers 7th NFL league championship.
The 1961 season was the first in which the Packers wore their trademark capital "G" logo on their helmets.[1]
Offseason [ ] NFL Draft [ ] Personnel [ ] Staff [ ]
1961 {{{team}}} staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
[2]
Roster [ ]
1961 Green Bay Packers roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
Reserve lists
Practice squad
Rookies in italics Active, Inactive, Practice squad
Depth chart [ ]
Defensive Starters
[3]
Offensive Starters
[4]
LT
LG
C
RG
RT
Bob Skoronski
Fuzzy Thurston
Jim Ringo
Jerry Kramer
Forrest Gregg
⋅
⋅
⋅
⋅
Norm Masters
Preseason [ ]
Week Date Opponent Result Score Game site TV Time Record Attendance
1
August 11, 1961
@ Dallas Cowboys
W 30–7
Cotton Bowl 9:00 PM CDT
1–0
30,000
2
August 18, 1961
@ St. Louis Cardinals
W 31–10
Sportsman's Park 8:30 PM CDT
2–0
31,056
3
August 26, 1961
Chicago Bears W 24–14
Milwaukee County Stadium 8:00 PM CDT
3–0
42,560
4
September 4, 1961
New York Giants W 20–17
City Stadium 8:00 PM CDT
4–0
33,452
5
September 9, 1961
vs. Washington Redskins (at Columbus , Georgia )
W 31–24
A. J. McClung Memorial Stadium 8:00 PM CDT
5–0
18,000
All times are CENTRAL time
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] Fort Riley in north central Kansas .[7] Alexander Wiley and Democratic congressman Clement Zablocki requested deferments for the players.[8] Rams , but was flown from Fort Riley to Detroit for the November 23 Thanksgiving Day game against the Lions at Tiger Stadium .[9] [10] [11]
Schedule [ ]
Week Date Opponent Result Score Game site TV Time Record Attendance
1
September 17
Detroit Lions L
13–17
Milwaukee County Stadium CBS 12:30 PM CDT
0–1
44,307
2
September 24
San Francisco 49ers W 30–10
City Stadium CBS
1:00 PM CDT
1–1
38,669
3
October 1
Chicago Bears W 24–0
City Stadium
CBS
1:00 PM CDT
2–1
38,669
4
October 8
Baltimore Colts W 45–7
City Stadium
CBS
1:00 PM CDT
3–1
38,669
5
October 15
at Cleveland Browns
W 49–17
Cleveland Stadium CBS
1:00 PM CDT
4–1
75,042
6
October 22
at Minnesota Vikings
W 33–7
Metropolitan Stadium CBS
1:30 PM CDT
5–1
42,007
7
October 29
Minnesota Vikings
W 28–10
Milwaukee County Stadium
CBS
1:00 PM CST
6–1
44,112
8
November 5
at Baltimore Colts
L
21–45
Memorial Stadium CBS
1:00 PM CST
6–2
57,641
9
November 12
at Chicago Bears
W 31–28
Wrigley Field CBS
1:00 PM CST
7–2
49,711
10
November 19
Los Angeles Rams W 35–17
City Stadium
CBS
1:00 PM CST
8–2
38,669
11
November 23
at Detroit Lions
W 17–9
Tiger Stadium CBS
11:00 AM CST
9–2
55,662
12
December 3
New York Giants W 20–17
Milwaukee County Stadium
CBS
1:00 PM CST
10–2
47,012
13
December 10
at San Francisco 49ers
L
21–22
Kezar Stadium CBS
3:30 PM CST
10–3
55,722
14
December 17
at Los Angeles Rams
W 24–17
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum CBS
3:30 PM CST
11–3
49,169
All times are CENTRAL time
Season summary [ ]
Week 1: Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Week 2: San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers
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
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
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
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
Week 7: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Week 8: Green Bay Packers at Baltimore Colts
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
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
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 12Game 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
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 12: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
Week 13: Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers
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
Week 14: Green Bay Packers at Los Angeles Rams
Playoffs [ ] All times are CENTRAL time
Game summary [ ]
1961 NFL Championship Game: New York Giants at Green Bay Packers
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
Standings [ ] Template:1961 NFL Western standings
Roster [ ] Stats [ ] Passing
Rushing
Receiving
Kicking
Punting
Kick Return
Punt Return
Interception
Team
Total Yards and Turnovers Passing Rushing
Awards and records [ ] Milestones [ ] References [ ]
↑ Gridiron Uniform Database: Green Bay Packers ↑ "All Time Coaches Database" . Packers.com. http://nfl.packers.com/history/all_time_roster/coaches/ . Retrieved March 28, 2011 .↑ ↑ ↑ "Paul Hornung to enter Army" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . Associated Press ((Idaho)): p. 2. November 4, 1961. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3speAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=6295%2C525143 .↑ 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 . Associated Press ((Idaho)): p. 16. November 24, 1961. https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=8speAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mzIMAAAAIBAJ&pg=2312%2C3824389 .↑ "Archived copy" . Archived from the original on 2009-06-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20090619081037/http://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/content/awards/bell/past_bell.htm . Retrieved 2010-06-28 .
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