1961 Chicago Bears season - Misplaced Pages

NFL team season

1961 Chicago Bears season
Owner	George Halas
General manager	George Halas
Head coach	George Halas
Home field	Wrigley Field
Results
Record	8–6
Division place	3rd (tied) NFL Western
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
← 1960 Bears seasons 1962 →

The 1961 Chicago Bears season was their 42nd regular season completed in the National Football League. The team finished with 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.

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.

Roster

**1961 Chicago Bears roster**
Quarterbacks (QB) 12 Dick Norman 9 Billy Wade Running backs (RB) 39 John Adams 49 Charlie Bivins 38 Bill Brown 28 Willie Galimore Wide receivers (WR) 46 Angelo Coia 84 Bo Farrington 47 Johnny Morris Tight ends (TE) 89 Mike Ditka		Offensive linemen (OL) 50 Mike Pyle C 63 Bob Wetoska T 72 Charles Linning RG 79 Art Anderson RT 73 Stan Jones G Defensive linemen (DL) 81 Doug Atkins DE 74 Bob Kilcullen DT 82 Maury Youmans DE		Linebackers (LB) 31 Joe Fortunato 61 Bill George 33 Larry Morris Defensive backs (DB) 25 J.C. Caroline CB 17 Richie Petitbon S 24 Rosey Taylor S 23 Dave Whitsell CB Special teams		Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Attendance
1	September 17	at Minnesota Vikings	L 13–37	0–1	32,236
2	September 23	at Los Angeles Rams	W 21–17	1–1	53,315
3	October 1	at Green Bay Packers	L 0–24	1–2	38,669
4	October 8	at Detroit Lions	W 31–17	2–2	53,854
5	October 15	Baltimore Colts	W 24–10	3–2	48,719
6	October 22	San Francisco 49ers	W 31–0	4–2	49,070
7	October 29	at Baltimore Colts	W 21–20	5–2	57,641
8	November 5	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 14–16	5–3	60,671
9	November 12	Green Bay Packers	L 28–31	5–4	49,711
10	November 19	at San Francisco 49ers	L 31–41	5–5	52,972
11	November 26	Los Angeles Rams	W 28–24	6–5	45,965
12	December 3	Detroit Lions	L 15–16	6–6	51,017
13	December 10	Cleveland Browns	W 17–14	7–6	38,717
14	December 17	Minnesota Vikings	W 52–35	8–6	34,539

Game summaries

Week 1

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	6	0	7	13
• Vikings	3	7	14	13	37

Date: September 17
Location: Metropolitan Stadium
Game attendance: 32,236
Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C); wind 13 mph

Week 2

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Bears	7	0	7	7	21
Rams	3	7	0	7	17

Date: September 23
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Game attendance: 53,315
Game weather: 65 °F (18 °C); wind 10 mph

Week 3

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	0	0	0	0
• Packers	7	3	7	7	24

Date: October 1
Location: City Stadium
Game attendance: 38,669
Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C); wind 19 mph

Week 4

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Bears	0	7	3	21	31
Lions	10	0	7	0	17

Date: October 8
Location: Tiger Stadium
Game attendance: 53,854
Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C); wind 7 mph

Week 5

	1	2	3	4	Total
Colts	0	7	0	3	10
• Bears	3	7	0	14	24

Date: October 15
Location: Wrigley Field • Chicago, Illinois
Game attendance: 48,719
Game weather: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind 13 mph

Scoring summary

1	CHI	Roger LeClerc 14-yard field goal	Bears 3–0

2	BAL	Johnny Unitas 7-yard run (Steve Myhra kick)	Colts 7–3

2	CHI	Johnny Morris 8-yard pass from Ed Brown (Roger LeClerc kick)	Bears 10–7

4	BAL	Steve Myhra 32-yard field goal	Tie 10–10

4	CHI	Willie Galimore 84-yard pass from Ed Brown (Roger LeClerc kick)	Bears 17–10

4	CHI	Rick Casares 1-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick)	Bears 24–10

Week 6

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	0	0
• Bears	0	14	7	10	31

Date: October 22
Location: Wrigley Field
Game attendance: 49,070
Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C); wind 8 mph

Week 7

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Bears	0	7	7	7	21
Colts	7	7	6	0	20

Date: October 29
Location: Memorial Stadium • Baltimore, Maryland
Game attendance: 57,641
Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C) • Wind 8 mph

Scoring summary

1	BAL	Joe Perry 21 -yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Steve Myhra kick)	Colts 7–0

2	BAL	Lenny Moore 68-yard pass from Johnny Unitas (Steve Myhra kick)	Colts 14–0

2	CHI	Mike Ditka 19-yard pass from Bill Wade (Roger LeClerc kick)	Colts 14–7

3	BAL	Alex Hawkins 1-yard run (kick failed)	Colts 20–7

3	CHI	Johnny Morris 41-yard pass from Bill Wade (Roger LeClerc kick)	Colts 20–14

4	CHI	Rick Casares 5-yard run (Roger LeClerc kick)	Bears 21–20

Week 8

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	7	7	0	0	14
• Eagles	3	7	6	0	16

Date: November 5
Location: Franklin Field
Game attendance: 60,671
Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C); wind 9 mph

Week 9

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Packers	7	21	3	0	31
Bears	7	0	7	14	28

Date: November 12
Location: Wrigley Field
Game attendance: 49,711
Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C); wind 13 mph

Week 10

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	7	3	7	14	31
• 49ers	17	3	21	0	41

Date: November 19
Location: Kezar Stadium
Game attendance: 52,972
Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C); wind 7 mph

Week 11

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	7	0	3	14	24
• Bears	7	14	0	7	28

Date: November 26
Location: Wrigley Field
Game attendance: 45,965
Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C); wind 12 mph

Week 12

	1	2	3	4	Total
• Lions	0	9	0	7	16
Bears	3	3	6	3	15

Date: December 3
Location: Wrigley Field
Game attendance: 51,017
Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C); wind 10 mph

Week 13

	1	2	3	4	Total
Browns	14	0	0	0	14
• Bears	0	0	0	17	17

Date: December 10
Location: Wrigley Field
Game attendance: 38,717
Game weather: 30 °F (−1 °C); wind 15 mph

Week 14

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	14	7	7	7	35
• Bears	7	14	24	7	52

Date: December 17
Location: Wrigley Field, Chicago, Illinois
Game attendance: 34,539
Game weather: 33 °F (1 °C); wind 13 mph

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

Standings

NFL Western Conference
view talk edit	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.

References

NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 282
"Bears played game in Canada in 1961". Archived from the original on August 24, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2012.
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2015-Dec-05.
Pro-Football-Reference.com

v t e Chicago Bears
Founded in 1919 Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1919–1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921) Based in Chicago, Illinois Headquartered in Lake Forest, Illinois
Franchise	History Coaches Seasons Current season
Records	Franchise records Team awards and honors All-time roster (A–Kla, Kle–Z) Head coaches Pro Football Hall of Famers First-round draft picks Starting quarterbacks
Stadiums	Staley Field Wrigley Field Memorial Stadium Soldier Field Chicago Bears Stadium (proposed)
Culture	Brian's Song 1971 2001 Brian Piccolo Award "Bear Down, Chicago Bears" "The Super Bowl Shuffle" Monsters of the Midway "Sweet Home Chicago" Bill Swerski's Superfans Chuck Swirsky Chicago Honey Bears Staley Da Bear Logos and uniforms Halas Hall A. E. Staley Jack Brickhouse George Halas Mike Ditka Roosevelt/Wabash 85386 Payton Jim Cornelison Club Dub ("Swag Surfin")
Lore	Staley Swindle 1932 Playoff Game First NFL Championship Game Sneakers Game T formation 73–0 1985 season Super Bowl XX 46 defense Asterisk Game Fog Bowl "They are who we thought they were!" Double Doink Hail Maryland
Rivalries	Arizona Cardinals Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers Minnesota Vikings New York Giants
Minor league affiliates	Newark Bears (AA, 1939–1941) Wichita Aero Commandos (1942) Akron Bears (AFL, 1946) Bloomfield Cardinals (AFL, 1947) Richmond Rebels (AFL, 1948–1950) Quad City Mohawks (MWPFL, 1970–1972)
Retired numbers	3 5 7 28 34 40 41 42 51 56 61 66 77 89
Key personnel	Principal owner: Virginia Halas McCaskey Chairman: George McCaskey President/CEO: Kevin Warren General manager: Ryan Poles Head coach: Thomas Brown (interim)
Division championships (21)	1933 1934 1937 1940 1941 1942 1943 1946 1956 1963 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1990 2001 2005 2006 2010 2018
Conference championships (4)	1956 1963 1985 2006
League championships (9)	1921 1932 1933 1940 1941 1943 1946 1963 1985 (XX)
Media	Broadcasters Radio: WMVP Personnel: Jeff Joniak (play-by-play) Tom Thayer (analyst) Jason McKie (sideline reporter) Television: WFLD (pre-season and most regular season games through Fox, official pre-game and post-game alternate) Marquee Sports Network (official post-game and in-season programming) Personnel: Lou Canellis (gameday television host, pre-season sideline reporter) Adam Amin (pre-season play-by-play) Jim Miller (pre-season analyst)
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: North Division
Category Commons WikiProject

v t e Chicago Bears seasons
Formerly the Decatur Staleys (1920) and the Chicago Staleys (1921)
1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Bold indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–present) victory Italics indicates NFL Championship (1920–69) or Super Bowl (1966–present) appearance

1961 NFL season

Eastern Conference	Cleveland	Pittsburgh	Baltimore	Los Angeles	Western Conference
	Dallas	St. Louis	Chicago	Minnesota
	New York	Washington	Detroit	San Francisco
	Philadelphia		Green Bay

Related: 1961 AFL season

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