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1961 Minnesota Vikings season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NFL team season (inaugural)
1961 Minnesota Vikings season
General manager Bert Rose
Head coach Norm Van Brocklin
Home stadiumMetropolitan Stadium
Results
Record3–11
Division place7th NFL Western
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers RB Hugh McElhenny
TE Jerry Reichow
Uniform

The 1961 season was the Minnesota Vikings' first in the National Football League (NFL) after being created as an expansion franchise to become the league's fourteenth team. Their inaugural regular season game was a 37–13 victory at home to the Chicago Bears; rookie quarterback Fran Tarkenton came off the bench to toss four touchdown passes and run for another.[1] However, under head coach Norm Van Brocklin, the Vikings won just two of their remaining 13 games, including a seven-game losing streak, and finished the season with a 3–11 record.

The Vikings' defense surrendered 5.41 rushing yards per attempt in 1961, the fifth-most of all time.[2]

Offseason

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Although the NFL originally had no interest in expanding, after Max Winter and Bill Boyer agreed to start an American Football League (AFL) franchise in Minnesota, the NFL approached them to change leagues. The "Vikings" name was given to the team by Ole Haugsrud, who had been given a 10% stake in the franchise as a result of having sold the Duluth Eskimos back to the league in the 1920s.[3]

1961 draft

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Main article: 1961 NFL draft
Pro Bowler
Hall of Famer
1961 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order Player name Position College Notes
Round Overall
1 1 Tommy Mason RB Tulane
2 15 Rip Hawkins LB North Carolina
3 29 Fran Tarkenton QB Georgia
4 43 Chuck Lamson S Wyoming
5 57 Ed Sharockman CB Pittsburgh
6 71 Jerry Burch E Georgia Tech
7 85 Allan Ferrie E Wagner
8 99 Paul Lindquist DT New Hampshire
9 113 Dan Sheehan OT Chattanooga
10 127 Doug Mayberry FB Utah State
11 141 Jerry Mays DE SMU
12 155 Steve Stonebreaker LB Detroit
13 169 Ray Hayes FB Central State (OK)
14 183 Ken Petersen G Utah
15 197 Mike Mercer K Arizona State
16 211 Ted Karpowicz HB Detroit
17 225 Willie Jones FB Purdue
18 239 Bob Voigt DT Los Angeles State
19 253 Bill Hill FB Presbyterian
20 267 Mike McFarland QB Western Illinois

1961 expansion draft

[edit ]
Player name Position College Acquired from
Grady Alderman Guard Detroit Detroit Lions
Tom Barnett Running back Purdue Pittsburgh Steelers
Byron Beams Offensive tackle Notre Dame Pittsburgh Steelers
Ken Beck Defensive tackle Texas A&M Green Bay Packers
Bill Bishop Defensive tackle North Texas State Chicago Bears
Don Boll Offensive tackle Nebraska New York Giants
Ed Culpepper Defensive tackle Alabama St. Louis Cardinals
Don Ellersick Defensive back Washington State Los Angeles Rams
Dick Haley Cornerback Pittsburgh Washington Redskins
Gerry Huth Guard Wake Forest Philadelphia Eagles
Charlie Janerette Guard Penn State Los Angeles Rams
Gene Johnson Defensive back Cincinnati Philadelphia Eagles
Don Joyce Defensive end Tulane Baltimore Colts
Bill Kimber End Florida State New York Giants
Bill Lapham Center Iowa Philadelphia Eagles
Hugh McElhenny Running back Washington San Francisco 49ers
Dave Middleton End Auburn Detroit Lions
Jack Morris Defensive back Oregon Pittsburgh Steelers
Rich Mostardi Defensive back Kent State Cleveland Browns
Fred Murphy End Georgia Tech Cleveland Browns
Clancy Osborne Linebacker Arizona State San Francisco 49ers
Dick Pesonen Defensive back Minnesota–Duluth Green Bay Packers
Mike Rabold Guard Indiana St. Louis Cardinals
Perry Richards End Detroit St. Louis Cardinals
Bill Roehnelt Linebacker Bradley Washington Redskins
Karl Rubke Linebacker USC San Francisco 49ers
Gene Selawski Offensive tackle Purdue Cleveland Browns
Glenn Shaw Fullback Kentucky Chicago Bears
Lebron Shields Defensive tackle Tennessee Baltimore Colts
Zeke Smith Linebacker Auburn Baltimore Colts
Jerry Stalcup Linebacker Wisconsin Los Angeles Rams
Louis Stephens Guard San Francisco Washington Redskins
Charlie Sumner Safety William & Mary Chicago Bears
Dave Whitsell Cornerback Indiana Detroit Lions
Paul Winslow Running back North Carolina Central Green Bay Packers
Frank Youso Offensive tackle Minnesota New York Giants

Roster

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1961 Minnesota Vikings roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Rookies in italics
, 5 practice squad

Preseason

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 August 5 Dallas Cowboys L 13–38 0–1 Howard Wood Field (Sioux Falls, SD) 4,954
2 August 18 at Baltimore Colts L 3–13 0–2 Memorial Stadium 10,203
3 August 26 at San Francisco 49ers L 10–14 0–3 Multnomah Stadium (Portland, OR) 27,044
4 September 2 Chicago Bears L 7–30 0–4 Kingston Stadium (Cedar Rapids, IA) 12,500
5 September 10 Los Angeles Rams L 17–21 0–5 Metropolitan Stadium 27,982

Regular season

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 17 Chicago Bears W 37–13 1–0 Metropolitan Stadium 32,236
2 September 24 at Dallas Cowboys L 7–21 1–1 Cotton Bowl 20,500
3 October 1 at Baltimore Colts L 33–34 1–2 Memorial Stadium 54,259
4 October 8 Dallas Cowboys L 0–28 1–3 Metropolitan Stadium 33,070
5 October 15 San Francisco 49ers L 24–38 1–4 Metropolitan Stadium 34,415
6 October 22 Green Bay Packers L 7–33 1–5 Metropolitan Stadium 42,007
7 October 29 at Green Bay Packers L 10–28 1–6 Milwaukee County Stadium 44,112
8 November 5 at Los Angeles Rams L 17–31 1–7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 38,594
9 November 12 Baltimore Colts W 28–20 2–7 Metropolitan Stadium 38,010
10 November 19 Detroit Lions L 10–37 2–8 Metropolitan Stadium 32,296
11 November 26 at San Francisco 49ers L 28–38 2–9 Kezar Stadium 43,905
12 December 3 Los Angeles Rams W 42–21 3–9 Metropolitan Stadium 30,068
13 December 10 at Detroit Lions L 7–13 3–10 Tiger Stadium 42,655
14 December 17 at Chicago Bears L 35–52 3–11 Wrigley Field 34,539

Game summaries

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Week 1: vs. Chicago Bears

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Week 1: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 6 0713
Vikings 3 7 141337

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • MIN – Jerry Reichow 29-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 17–6.
  • MIN – Hugh McElhenny 2-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 24–6.

Fourth quarter

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

This was the first regular season game in Vikings history. George Shaw started the game at quarterback for the Vikings, but he was soon replaced by rookie Fran Tarkenton, who threw four touchdown passes and ran for another as the Vikings won 37–13.[1] They were the last expansion team to win their first game until the 1996 Baltimore Ravens.

Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys

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Week 2: Minnesota Vikings at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 7 007
Cowboys 7 7 0721

at Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas

Game information

First quarter

  • DAL – Amos Marsh 6-yard run (Allen Green kick). Cowboys 7–0.

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays.

Fourth quarter

  • DAL – Amos Marsh 20-yard pass from Don Meredith (Allen Green kick). Cowboys 21–7.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Week 3: at Baltimore Colts

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Week 3: Minnesota Vikings at Baltimore Colts – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 3 10 101033
Colts 7 7 71334

at Memorial Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • MIN – A. D. Williams 7-yard pass from George Shaw (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 10–7.
  • BAL – Lenny Moore 4-yard run (Steve Myhra kick). Colts 14–10.
  • MIN – Mike Mercer 26-yard field goal. Colts 14–13.

Third quarter

  • BAL – Lenny Morre 17-yard pass from Lamar McHan (Steve Myhra kick). Colts 21–13.
  • MIN – Mike Mercer 10-yard field goal. Colts 21–16.
  • MIN – Jerry Reichow 23-yard pass from George Shaw (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 23–21.

Fourth quarter

  • BAL – Lenny Morre 23-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Steve Myhra kick). Colts 28–23.
  • MIN – Ray Hayes 4-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 30–28.
  • BAL – Steve Myhra 37-yard field goal. Colts 31–30.
  • MIN – Mike Mercer 29-yard field goal. Vikings 33–31.
  • BAL – Steve Myhra 52-yard field goal. Colts 34–33.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Week 4: vs. Dallas Cowboys

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Week 4: Dallas Cowboys at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 7 7 7728
Vikings 0 0 000

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • DAL – Don Perkins 3-yard run (Allen Green kick). Cowboys 14–0'

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

  • DAL – Frank Clarke 52-yard pass from Don Meredith (Allen Green kick). Cowboys 28–0.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Week 5: vs. San Francisco 49ers

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Week 5: San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
49ers 7 7 101438
Vikings 7 10 7024

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • MIN – Jerry Reichow 42-yard pass from George Shaw (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 14–7.
  • MIN – Mike Mercer 24-yard field goal. Vikings 17–7.
  • SF – Billy Kilmer 1-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). Vikings 17–14.

Third quarter

  • SF – Billy Kilmer 2-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 21–17.
  • MIN – Hugh McElhenny 32-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 24–21.
  • SF – Tommy Davis 12-yard field goal. Tied 24–24.

Fourth quarter

  • SF – Billy Kilmer 5-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 31–24.
  • SF – Billy Kilmer 20-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 38–24.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Week 6: vs. Green Bay Packers

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Week 6: Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Packers 10 3 31733
Vikings 0 7 007

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • MIN – Fran Tarkenton 1-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Packers 10–7.
  • GB – Paul Hornung 18-yard field goal. Packers 13–7.

Third quarter

  • GB – Paul Hornung 13-yard field goal. Packers 16–7.

Fourth quarter

  • GB – Paul Hornung 16-yard field goal. Packers 19–7.
  • GB – Jim Taylor 3-yard run (Paul Hornung kick). Packers 26–7.
  • GB – Dan Currie 21-yard interception return (Paul Hornung kick). Packers 33–7.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Week 7: at Green Bay Packers

[edit ]
Week 7: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 7 3010
Packers 14 7 0728

at Milwaukee County Stadium, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Game information

First quarter

  • GB – Paul Hornung 1-yard run (Paul Hornung kick). Packers 7–0.
  • GB – Ron Kramer 10-yard pass from Paul Hornung (Paul Hornung kick). Packers 14–0.

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • MIN – Mike Mercer 13-yard field goal. Packers 21–10.

Fourth quarter

  • GB – Max McGee 23-yard pass from Bart Starr (Paul Hornung kick). Packers 28–10.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Week 8: at Los Angeles Rams

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Week 8: Minnesota Vikings at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 7 3 7017
Rams 14 3 01431

at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • LA – Danny Villanueva 16-yard field goal. Rams 17–7.
  • MIN – Mike Mercer 34-yard field goal. Rams 17–10.

Third quarter

  • MIN – Fran Tarkenton 52-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Tied 17–17.

Fourth quarter

  • LA – Tommy Wilson 14-yard run (Danny Villanueva kick). Rams 24–17.
  • LA – Joe Marconi 7-yard run (Danny Villanueva kick). Rams 31–17.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • MIN – Gordie Smith – 2 receptions, 49 yards, TD
  • LA – Jon Arnett – 2 receptions, 36 yards

Week 9: vs. Baltimore Colts

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Week 9: Baltimore Colts at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Colts 0 14 3320
Vikings 7 7 7728

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • BAL – Steve Myhra 37-yard field goal. Colts 17–14.
  • MIN – Dave Middleton 57-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 21–17.

Fourth quarter

  • BAL – Steve Myhra 38-yard field goal. Vikings 21–20.
  • MIN – Fran Tarkenton 1-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 28–20.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Week 10: vs. Detroit Lions

[edit ]
Week 10: Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 14 91437
Vikings 10 0 0010

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • DET – Jim Martin 15-yard field goal. Lions 17–10.
  • DET – Gail Cogdill 37-yard pass from Earl Morrall (kick failed). Lions 23–10.

Fourth quarter

  • DET – Terry Barr 9-yard pass from Earl Morrall (Jim Martin kick). Lions 30–10.
  • DET – Joe Schmidt 8-yard interception return (Jim Martin kick). Lions 37–10.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers

[edit ]
Week 11: Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 14 7728
49ers 14 10 7738

at Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • SF – J. D. Smith 15-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 31–14.
  • MIN – Gordie Smith 71-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). 49ers 31–21.

Fourth quarter

  • SF – John Brodie 16-yard run (Tommy Davis kick). 49ers 38–21.
  • MIN – Fran Tarkenton 1-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). 49ers 38–28.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • MIN – Gordie Smith – 3 receptions, 123 yards, TD
  • SF – R. C. Owens – 5 receptions, 138 yards, TD

Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams

[edit ]
Week 12: Los Angeles Rams at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 0 14 7021
Vikings 7 14 14742

at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • LA – Dick Bass 73-yard run (Danny Villanueva kick). Tied 21–21.
  • MIN – Jerry Reichow 9-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 28–21.
  • MIN – Ray Hayes 2-yard run (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 35–21.

Fourth quarter

  • MIN – Gordie Smith 12-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Vikings 42–21.

Top passers

Top rushers

  • LA – Dick Bass – 8 rushes, 113 yards, TD
  • MIN – Ray Hayes – 18 rushes, 123 yards, TD

Top receivers

Week 13: at Detroit Lions

[edit ]
Week 13: Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 0 0 707
Lions 0 7 3313

at Tiger Stadium, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

First quarter

  • No scoring plays.

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

  • DET – Jim Martin 23-yard field goal. Lions 13–7.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Week 14: at Chicago Bears

[edit ]
Week 14: Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Vikings 14 7 7735
Bears 7 14 24752

at Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

First quarter

Second quarter

  • CHI – Willie Galimore 8-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick). Tied 14–14.
  • CHI – Mike Ditka 2-yard pass from Billy Wade (Roger LeClerc kick). Bears 21–14.
  • MIN – Jerry Reichow 11-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Tied 21–21.

Third quarter

  • CHI – Angelo Coia 16-yard pass from Billy Wade (Roger LeClerc kick). Bears 28–21.
  • CHI – Roger LeClerc 17-yard field goal. Bears 31–21.
  • CHI – Mike Ditka 30-yard pass from Billy Wade (Roger LeClerc kick). Bears 38–21.
  • MIN – Gordie Smith 10-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Bears 38–28.
  • CHI – Charlie Bivins 30-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick). Bears 45–28.

Fourth quarter

  • MIN – Jerry Reichow 24-yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick). Bears 45–35.
  • CHI – Willie Galimore 60-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick). Bears 52–35.

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

Standings

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NFL Western Conference
W L T PCT CONF PF PA STK
Green Bay Packers 11 3 0 .786 9–3 391 223 W1
Detroit Lions 8 5 1 .615 7–4–1 270 258 L1
Chicago Bears 8 6 0 .571 7–5 326 302 W2
Baltimore Colts 8 6 0 .571 6–6 302 307 W1
San Francisco 49ers 7 6 1 .538 6–5–1 346 272 L1
Los Angeles Rams 4 10 0 .286 3–9 263 333 L1
Minnesota Vikings 3 11 0 .214 3–9 285 407 L2
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972.

Awards and honors

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Both halfback Hugh McElhenny and receiver (end) Jerry Reichow were voted to the East–West Pro Bowl game, played January 14, 1962, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The coach for the West squad was Vikings head coach Norm Van Brocklin. McElhenny scored a third-quarter touchdown on a 10-yard pass from Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr, and the West won the game 31–30.[4]

Statistics

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Team leaders

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Category Player(s) Value
Passing yards Fran Tarkenton 1,997
Passing touchdowns Fran Tarkenton 18
Rushing yards Hugh McElhenny 570
Rushing touchdowns Fran Tarkenton 5
Receiving yards Jerry Reichow 859
Receiving touchdowns Jerry Reichow 11
Points Jerry Reichow 66
Kickoff return yards Tommy Mason 603
Punt return yards Hugh McElhenny 155
Interceptions Rip Hawkins 5
Sacks Jim Marshall 6

Note that sack totals from 1960 to 1981 are considered unofficial by the NFL.[5]

League rankings

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Category Total yards Yards per game NFL rank
(out of 14)
Passing offense 1,989 142.1 13th
Rushing offense 1,897 135.5 6th
Total offense 3,886 277.6 12th
Passing defense 2,926 209.0 13th
Rushing defense 2,667 190.5 14th
Total defense 5,593 399.5 14th

References

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  1. ^ a b "Vikings, 49ers, Colts, Eagles win openers". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. September 18, 1961. p. 3B.
  2. ^ "Cold Hard Football Facts: The 5.0 Club: run defense in '11 lit up like hippies in '69". Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved May 16, 2012.
  3. ^ Gruver, The American Football League, pp. 22–23.
  4. ^ "Unitas' last-second pass nips East; 31–30". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette . Associated Press. January 15, 1962. p. 23. Retrieved January 23, 2012.
  5. ^ "Pre-1982 Sacks Added To Pro Football Reference". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  • "1961 Draft". Pro Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
  • "1961 Minnesota Vikings". DatabaseFootball. Archived from the original on April 11, 2007. Retrieved April 8, 2007.
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