National Football League (NFL)

1961 NFL Season Overview

National Football League (NFL)

1961 NFL Season Overview

Leagues / Football / NFL / 1961 / Season Overview

The Houston Oilers defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 24-16 before 32,183 in the first AFL Championship Game, January 1. Detroit defeated Cleveland 17-16 in the first Playoff Bowl, or Bert Bell Benefit Bowl, between second-place teams in each conference in Miami, January 7. End Willard Dewveall of the Bears played out his option and joined the Oilers, becoming the first player to move deliberately from one league to the other, January 14. Ed McGah, Wayne Valley, and Robert Osborne bought out their partners in the ownership of the Raiders, January 17. The Chargers were transferred to San Diego, February 10. Dave R. Jones sold the Browns to a group headed by Arthur B. Modell, March 22. The Howsam brothers sold the Broncos to a group headed by Calvin Kunz and Gerry Phipps, May 26. NBC was awarded a two-year contract for radio and television rights to the NFL Championship Game for $615,000 annually, $300,000 of which was to go directly into the NFL Player Benefit Plan, April 5. Canton, Ohio, where the league that became the NFL was formed in 1920, was chosen as the site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, April 27. Dick McCann, a former Redskins executive, was named executive director. A bill legalizing single-network television contracts by professional sports leagues was introduced in Congress by Representative Emanuel Celler. It passed the House and Senate and was signed into law by President John F. Kennedy, September 30. Houston defeated San Diego 10-3 for the AFL championship, December 24. Green Bay won its first NFL championship since 1944, defeating the New York Giants 37-0, December 31.

1961 NFL Champions

Green Bay Packers

defeated New York Giants

Commissioner Pete Rozelle

Players' Attorney Creighton Miller

Players' President Bill Howton

1961 NFL Draft

Pick Player Team

1 Tommy Mason RB Vikings

1 Bob Gaiters RB Broncos

2 Norm Snead QB Redskins

3 Joe Rutgens T Redskins

4 Marlin McKeever LB Rams

View Entire 1961 NFL Draft

1961 NFL Draft

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