The 1961 Green Bay Packers season was their 43rd season overall and their 41st season in the
National Football League. The team finished with an 11–3 record under third-year head coach
Vince Lombardi, earning them a first-place finish in the Western Conference. The Packers ended the season by shutting out the
New York Giants 37–0 in the
NFL Championship Game, the first title game ever played in
Green Bay. This was the Packers seventh NFL league championship. The 1961 Packers also featured 12 future Hall of Famers, the most on any single team in NFL history.
The 1961 season was the first in which the Packers wore their trademark capital "G" logo on their helmets.[1][2]
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] On November 14, Hornung was to report to
Fort Riley in north central
Kansas.[7] Wisconsin residents were so upset that Republican senator
Alexander Wiley and Democratic congressman
Clement Zablocki requested deferments for the players.[8] On October 18, the final word was that the players had to serve. Hornung missed the November 19 game in Green Bay against the
Rams, but was flown from Fort Riley to
Detroit for the November 23 Thanksgiving Day game against the
Lions at
Tiger Stadium.[9] Hornung kicked a field goal and two extra points in the 17–9 victory.[10][11]
Injured in late October, right guard
Jerry Kramer was sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Forrest Gregg moved in from right tackle to guard, and
Norm Masters started at right tackle.
The 1961 Green Bay Packers season was their 43rd season overall and their 41st season in the
National Football League. The team finished with an 11–3 record under third-year head coach
Vince Lombardi, earning them a first-place finish in the Western Conference. The Packers ended the season by shutting out the
New York Giants 37–0 in the
NFL Championship Game, the first title game ever played in
Green Bay. This was the Packers seventh NFL league championship. The 1961 Packers also featured 12 future Hall of Famers, the most on any single team in NFL history.
The 1961 season was the first in which the Packers wore their trademark capital "G" logo on their helmets.[1][2]
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] On November 14, Hornung was to report to
Fort Riley in north central
Kansas.[7] Wisconsin residents were so upset that Republican senator
Alexander Wiley and Democratic congressman
Clement Zablocki requested deferments for the players.[8] On October 18, the final word was that the players had to serve. Hornung missed the November 19 game in Green Bay against the
Rams, but was flown from Fort Riley to
Detroit for the November 23 Thanksgiving Day game against the
Lions at
Tiger Stadium.[9] Hornung kicked a field goal and two extra points in the 17–9 victory.[10][11]
Injured in late October, right guard
Jerry Kramer was sidelined for the remainder of the season.
Forrest Gregg moved in from right tackle to guard, and
Norm Masters started at right tackle.