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{{short description|9th season in franchise history}}
{{Infobox NFL_season
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
[[File:1961-colts-teamphoto.jpg|thumb|right|400px]]
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = Baltimore Colts
| team = Baltimore Colts
| year = 1961
| year = 1961
| record = 8–6
| record = 8–6
| division_place = T-3rd [[Eastern and Western Divisions (NFL) 1933-69|NFL Western]]
| division_place = T-3rd [[Western Division (NFL)|NFL Western]]
| coach = [[Weeb Ewbank]]
| owner = [[Carroll Rosenbloom]]
| owner = [[Carroll Rosenbloom]]
| general manager = [[Red Kellett|Don "Red" Kellett]]
| coach = [[Weeb Ewbank]]
| stadium = [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| stadium = [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| playoffs = ''did not qualify''
| playoffs = ''Did not qualify''
| shortnavlink = Colts seasons
| shortnavlink = Colts seasons
}}
}}
The '''1961 [[Baltimore Colts]] [[Indianapolis Colts seasons|season]]''' was the ninth for the team in the [[National Football League]]. They finished the {{nfly|1961}} season with a record of 8 wins and 6 losses, tied for third in the Western Conference with the [[1961 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]].<!-- There weren't any tiebreakers until [[1967 NFL season|1967]]. -->


Upset by the expansion [[1961 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]] on November 12, the Colts dipped to 4–5;<ref name=vjco>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=F4ZRAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8xAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=6106%2C1396965 |work=Milwaukee Sentinel |agency=Associated Press |title=Vikes jolt Colts with 28-20 kick |date=November 13, 1961 |page=2, part 2}}</ref> they won four of the last five to finish with a winning record.
The '''[[1961 NFL season|1961]] [[Indianapolis Colts|Baltimore Colts]] [[Indianapolis Colts seasons|season]]''' was the ninth season for the team in the [[National Football League]]. The Baltimore Colts finished the [[National Football League]]'s 1961 season with a record of 8 wins and 6 losses and finished tied for third in the Western Conference with the [[Chicago Bears]]. There weren't any tiebreakers until [[1967 NFL season|1967]].

== Roster ==
{{NFL season roster
| year = 1961
| team = Baltimore Colts

| quarterbacks =
{{NFLplayer|14|Lamar McHan}}
{{NFLplayer|19|Johnny Unitas}}

| running_backs =
{{NFLplayer|45|Jerry Hill|d=American football|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|27|Tom Matte|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|24|Lenny Moore}}
{{NFLplayer|34|Joe Perry|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|32|Mark Smolinski|rookie=y}}

| wide_receivers =
{{NFLplayer|82|Raymond Berry}}
{{NFLplayer|25|Alex Hawkins}}
{{NFLplayer|28|Jimmy Orr}}

| tight_ends =
{{NFLplayer|85|Dee Mackey}}
{{NFLplayer|84|Jim Mutscheller}}

| offensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|77|Jim Parker|d=American football|T}}
{{NFLplayer|60|George Preas|T}}
{{NFLplayer|62|Palmer Pyle|G}}
{{NFLplayer|52|Dick Szymanski|C}}


| defensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|81|Ordell Braase|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|70|Art Donovan|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|89|Gino Marchetti|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|83|Billy Ray Smith|d3=Sr.|DT}}

| linebackers =
{{NFLplayer|55|Jackie Burkett|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|66|Don Shinnick}}

| defensive_back =
{{NFLplayer|40|Bobby Boyd|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|43|Lenny Lyles|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|80|Andy Nelson|d=American football|S}}
{{NFLplayer|46|Jim Welch|S}}

| special_teams =
{{NFLplayer|65|Steve Myhra|G/LB/K}}

| reserve_lists =

| practice_squad =

}}

==Preseason==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Week
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Date
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Opponent
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Result
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Record
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Venue
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Attendance
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 1
| {{dow tooltip|August 12, 1961}}
| vs. [[1961 Pittsburgh Steelers season|Pittsburgh Steelers]]
| '''L''' 20–24
| 0–1
| [[Victory Stadium]]
| 15,000
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 2
| {{dow tooltip|August 18, 1961}}
| [[1961 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]
| '''W''' 13–3
| 1–1
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| 10,203
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 3
| {{dow tooltip|August 26, 1961}}
| vs. [[1961 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]
| '''W''' 41–7
| 2–1
| [[Foreman Field]]
| 20,302
|-style="background:#fcc"
! 4
| {{dow tooltip|September 1, 1961}}
| vs. [[1961 Dallas Cowboys season|Dallas Cowboys]]
| '''L''' 24–35
| 2–2
| [[Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium|Oklahoma Memorial Stadium]]
| 19,000
|-style="background:#cfc"
! 5
| September 10
| vs. [[1961 New York Giants season|New York Giants]]
| '''W''' 49–20
| 3–2
| [[Yale Bowl]]
| 50,737
|}


== Regular season ==
== Regular season ==
[[File:Colts-program-611203.jpg|thumb|right|Program for the December 3 game against the visiting San Francisco 49ers.]]
=== Schedule ===
=== Schedule ===
{{main|1961 NFL season}}

{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|-
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Week
! Week
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Date
! Date
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Opponent
! Opponent
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Result
! Result
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Record
! Record
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Venue
! Game Site
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"| Attendance
! Attendance
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 1
! 1
| September 17, 1961
| September 17
| '''[[St. Louis Rams|Los Angeles Rams]]'''
| '''[[1961 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]'''
| '''W''' 27–24
| '''W''' 27–24
| 1–0
| 1–0
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| <center>54,259</center>
| 54,259
|-style="background:#fcc"
|-bgcolor="#ffdddd"
| 2
! 2
| September 24, 1961
| September 24
| '''[[Detroit Lions]]'''
| '''[[1961 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]'''
| '''L''' 15–16
| '''L''' 15–16
| 1–1
| 1–1
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| Memorial Stadium
| <center>54,259</center>
| 54,259
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 3
! 3
| October 1, 1961
| October 1
| '''[[Minnesota Vikings]]'''
| '''[[1961 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]'''
| '''W''' 34–33
| '''W''' 34–33
| 2–1
| 2–1
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| Memorial Stadium
| <center>54,259</center>
| 54,259
|-style="background:#fcc"
|-bgcolor="#ffdddd"
| 4
! 4
| October 8, 1961
| October 8
| at [[Green Bay Packers]]
| at '''[[1961 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]'''
| '''L''' 7–45
| '''L''' 7–45
| 2–2
| 2–2
| [[Lambeau Field]]
| [[Lambeau Field]]
| <center>38,669</center>
| 38,669
|-style="background:#fcc"
|-bgcolor="#ffdddd"
| 5
! 5
| October 15, 1961
| October 15
| at [[Chicago Bears]]
| at '''[[1961 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]'''
| '''L''' 10–24
| '''L''' 10–24
| 2–3
| 2–3
| [[Wrigley Field]]
| [[Wrigley Field]]
| <center>48,719</center>
| 48,719
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 6
! 6
| October 22, 1961
| October 22
| at [[Detroit Lions]]
| at '''[[1961 Detroit Lions season|Detroit Lions]]'''
| '''W''' 17–14
| '''W''' 17–14
| 3–3
| 3–3
| [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]]
| [[Tiger Stadium (Detroit)|Tiger Stadium]]
| <center>53,016</center>
| 53,016
|-style="background:#fcc"
|-bgcolor="#ffdddd"
| 7
! 7
| October 29, 1961
| October 29
| '''[[Chicago Bears]]'''
| '''[[1961 Chicago Bears season|Chicago Bears]]'''
| '''L''' 20–21
| '''L''' 20–21
| 3–4
| 3–4
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| Memorial Stadium
| <center>57,641</center>
| 57,641
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 8
! 8
| November 5, 1961
| November 5
| '''[[Green Bay Packers]]'''
| '''[[1961 Green Bay Packers season|Green Bay Packers]]'''
| '''W''' 45–21
| '''W''' 45–21
| 4–4
| 4–4
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| Memorial Stadium
| <center>57,641</center>
| 57,641
|-style="background:#fcc"
|-bgcolor="#ffdddd"
| 9
! 9
| November 12, 1961
| November 12
| at [[Minnesota Vikings]]
| at '''[[1961 Minnesota Vikings season|Minnesota Vikings]]'''
| '''L''' 20–28
| '''L''' 20–28
| 4–5
| 4–5
| [[Metropolitan Stadium]]
| [[Metropolitan Stadium]]
| <center>38,010</center>
| 38,010
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 10
! 10
| November 19, 1961
| November 19
| '''[[Arizona Cardinals|St. Louis Cardinals]]'''
| [[1961 St. Louis Cardinals (NFL) season|St. Louis Cardinals]]
| '''W''' 16–0
| '''W''' 16–0
| 5–5
| 5–5
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| Memorial Stadium
| <center>56,112</center>
| 56,112
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 11
! 11
| November 26, 1961
| November 26
| at [[Washington Redskins]]
| at [[1961 Washington Redskins season|Washington Redskins]]
| '''W''' 27–6
| '''W''' 27–6
| 6–5
| 6–5
| [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|D.C. Stadium]]
| [[Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium|D.C. Stadium]]
| <center>41,062</center>
| 41,062
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 12
! 12
| December 3, 1961
| December 3
| '''[[San Francisco 49ers]]'''
| '''[[1961 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]'''
| '''W''' 20–17
| '''W''' 20–17
| 7–5
| 7–5
| [[Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)|Memorial Stadium]]
| Memorial Stadium
| <center>57,641</center>
| 57,641
|-style="background:#fcc"
|-bgcolor="#ffdddd"
| 13
! 13
| December 9, 1961
| {{dow tooltip|December 9, 1961}}
| at [[St. Louis Rams|Los Angeles Rams]]
| at '''[[1961 Los Angeles Rams season|Los Angeles Rams]]'''
| '''L''' 17–34
| '''L''' 17–34
| 7–6
| 7–6
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
| [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]]
| <center>41,268</center>
| 41,268
|-style="background:#cfc"
|-bgcolor="#ddffdd"
| 14
! 14
| December 16, 1961
| {{dow tooltip|December 16, 1961}}
| at [[San Francisco 49ers]]
| at '''[[1961 San Francisco 49ers season|San Francisco 49ers]]'''
| '''W''' 27–24
| '''W''' 27–24
| 8–6
| 8–6
| [[Kezar Stadium]]
| [[Kezar Stadium]]
| <center>45,517</center>
| 45,517
|-style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Baltimore Colts|year=1961|border=2}}"
|colspan="8"| '''Note:''' Intra-conference opponents are in '''bold''' text.
|}
|}


==Standings==
== Standings ==
{{1961 NFL Western standings}}
{{1961 NFL Western standings}}


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== See also ==
== See also ==
*[[History of the Indianapolis Colts]]
* [[History of the Indianapolis Colts]]
*[[Indianapolis Colts seasons]]
* [[Indianapolis Colts seasons]]
*[[Colts-Patriots rivalry]]
* [[Colts–Patriots rivalry]]


{{Indianapolis Colts}}
{{Indianapolis Colts}}
Line 158: Line 274:
{{DEFAULTSORT:1961 Baltimore Colts Season}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:1961 Baltimore Colts Season}}
[[Category:1961 National Football League season by team|Baltimore Colts]]
[[Category:1961 National Football League season by team|Baltimore Colts]]
[[Category:Baltimore Colts seasons|1961]]
[[Category:Baltimore Colts seasons]]
[[Category:1961 in sports in Maryland|Baltimore Colts]]


{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}

Latest revision as of 08:03, 11 December 2024

1961 Baltimore Colts season
OwnerCarroll Rosenbloom
General managerDon "Red" Kellett
Head coachWeeb Ewbank
Home fieldMemorial Stadium
Results
Record8–6
Division placeT-3rd NFL Western
Playoff finishDid not qualify

The 1961 Baltimore Colts season was the ninth for the team in the National Football League. They finished the 1961 season with a record of 8 wins and 6 losses, tied for third in the Western Conference with the Chicago Bears.

Upset by the expansion Minnesota Vikings on November 12, the Colts dipped to 4–5;[1] they won four of the last five to finish with a winning record.

Roster

[edit]
1961 Baltimore Colts 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

Preseason

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 August 12 vs. Pittsburgh Steelers L 20–24 0–1 Victory Stadium 15,000
2 August 18 Minnesota Vikings W 13–3 1–1 Memorial Stadium 10,203
3 August 26 vs. Washington Redskins W 41–7 2–1 Foreman Field 20,302
4 September 1 vs. Dallas Cowboys L 24–35 2–2 Oklahoma Memorial Stadium 19,000
5 September 10 vs. New York Giants W 49–20 3–2 Yale Bowl 50,737

Regular season

[edit]
Program for the December 3 game against the visiting San Francisco 49ers.

Schedule

[edit]
Main article: 1961 NFL season
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance
1 September 17 Los Angeles Rams W 27–24 1–0 Memorial Stadium 54,259
2 September 24 Detroit Lions L 15–16 1–1 Memorial Stadium 54,259
3 October 1 Minnesota Vikings W 34–33 2–1 Memorial Stadium 54,259
4 October 8 at Green Bay Packers L 7–45 2–2 Lambeau Field 38,669
5 October 15 at Chicago Bears L 10–24 2–3 Wrigley Field 48,719
6 October 22 at Detroit Lions W 17–14 3–3 Tiger Stadium 53,016
7 October 29 Chicago Bears L 20–21 3–4 Memorial Stadium 57,641
8 November 5 Green Bay Packers W 45–21 4–4 Memorial Stadium 57,641
9 November 12 at Minnesota Vikings L 20–28 4–5 Metropolitan Stadium 38,010
10 November 19 St. Louis Cardinals W 16–0 5–5 Memorial Stadium 56,112
11 November 26 at Washington Redskins W 27–6 6–5 D.C. Stadium 41,062
12 December 3 San Francisco 49ers W 20–17 7–5 Memorial Stadium 57,641
13 December 9 at Los Angeles Rams L 17–34 7–6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 41,268
14 December 16 at San Francisco 49ers W 27–24 8–6 Kezar Stadium 45,517
Note: Intra-conference opponents are in bold text.

Standings

[edit]
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.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Vikes jolt Colts with 28-20 kick". Milwaukee Sentinel. Associated Press. November 13, 1961. p. 2, part 2.

See also

[edit]


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