1961 All-Pro Team

Last updated March 21, 2025

The Associated Press (AP),^[1] United Press International (UPI),^[2]Pro Football Illustrated (PFI),^[3] New York Daily News (NYDN), Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA), and Sporting News (SN) were among selectors of All-Pros for the 1961 National Football League season.

Offensive selections

Quarterbacks

Sonny Jurgensen, Philadelphia Eagles (AP, PFI, UPI)
Y. A. Tittle, New York Giants (NYDN, UPI-2)
Bart Starr, Green Bay Packers (NEA-2, NYDN-2)

Halfbacks

Paul Hornung, Green Bay Packers (PFI)

Fullbacks

Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns (AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI)
Jim Taylor, Green Bay Packers (NEA, PFI, NYDN-2, UPI-2)

Flankers

Lenny Moore, Baltimore Colts (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI)
Tommy McDonald, Philadelphia Eagles (NEA-2, NYDN-2, UPI-2)

Ends

Del Shofner, New York Giants (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI)
Red Phillips, Los Angeles Rams (AP, NYDN, UPI, NEA-2)
Mike Ditka, Chicago Bears (NEA, NYDN-2, UPI-2)
Buddy Dial, Pittsburgh Steelers (NYDN-2)
Ron Kramer, Green Bay Packers (PFI)

Tackles

Jim Parker, Baltimore Colts (AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI-2)
Rosey Brown, New York Giants (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI)
Forrest Gregg, Green Bay Packers (PFI, UPI, NYDN-2)
Mike McCormack, Cleveland Browns (NEA-2, NYDN-2, UPI-2)
Bob St. Clair, San Francisco 49ers (NEA-2)

Guards

Fred Thurston, Green Bay Packers (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI)
Jim Ray Smith, Cleveland Browns (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI)
Bruce Bosley, San Francisco 49ers (NEA-2)
John Nisby, Pittsburgh Steelers (NEA-2)
Jack Stroud, New York Giants (NYDN-2, UPI-2)
Jerry Kramer, Green Bay Packers (NYDN-2)
Stan Jones, Chicago Bears (UPI-2)

Centers

Jim Ringo, Green Bay Packers (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI)
Ray Wietecha, New York Giants (NEA-2, NYDN-2)
Chuck Bednarik, Philadelphia Eagles (UPI-2)

Defensive selections

Defensive ends

Gino Marchetti, Baltimore Colts (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI)
Jim Katcavage, New York Giants (AP, NYDN, PFI, UPI, NEA-2)
Doug Atkins, Chicago Bears (NEA, NYDN-2)
Andy Robustelli, New York Giants (NEA-2, NYDN-2, UPI-2)
Leo Sugar, Philadelphia Eagles (UPI-2)

Defensive tackles

Henry Jordan, Green Bay Packers (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI)
Alex Karras, Detroit Lions (AP, PFI, UPI, NYDN-2)
Roger Brown, Detroit Lions (NEA-2, UPI-2)
Rosey Grier, New York Giants (NYDN-2)
Leo Nomellini, San Francisco 49ers (NEA-2)
Bob Gain, Cleveland Browns (UPI-2)

Linebackers

Bill George, Chicago Bears (AP, NEA, PFI, UPI-2)
Bill Forester, Green Bay Packers (AP, NYDN, PFI, UPI, NEA-2)
Joe Schmidt, Detroit Lions (AP, NEA, NYDN, UPI)
Dan Currie, Green Bay Packers (NEA, PFI, UPI)
Maxie Baughan, Philadelphia Eagles (NYDN, UPI-2)
Sam Huff, New York Giants (NEA-2, NYDN-2)
John Reger, Pittsburgh Steelers (NEA-2, NYDN-2)
Cliff Livingston, New York Giants (NYDN-2, UPI-2)

Defensive backs

Jimmy Patton, New York Giants (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI)
Erich Barnes, New York Giants (AP, NYDN, UPI)
Jesse Whittenton, Green Bay Packers (AP, PFI, UPI, NEA-2, NYDN-2)
Night Train Lane, Detroit Lions (AP, NEA, PFI, NYDN-2, UPI-2)
Jimmy Hill, St. Louis Cardinals (NEA)
Johnny Sample, Pittsburgh Steelers (PFI)
Don Burroughs, Philadelphia Eagles (NEA-2, NYDN-2, UPI-2)
Dick Lynch, New York Giants (UPI-2)
Eddie Dove, San Francisco 49ers (UPI-2)

Special teams selections

Kickers

Paul Hornung, Green Bay Packers (AP, NYDN, UPI, NEA-2)

Punters

Jerry Norton, St. Louis Cardinals (NEA, NYDN-2)
Yale Lary, Detroit Lions (NEA-2)

Return specialists

Abe Woodson, San Francisco 49ers (NYDN)
Jon Arnett, Los Angeles Rams (NEA-2, NYDN-2, UPI-2)
Johnny Sample, Pittsburgh Steelers (NYDN, PFI, UPI, NEA-2)

References

↑ "Packers, Giants Dominate All-Stars". The Nevada Daily Mail. Associated Press. December 20, 1961. p. 8. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
↑ "Moore on UPI NFL Team; Thurston Top Vote-Getter". Reading Eagle. United Press International. December 26, 1961. p. 17. Retrieved December 15, 2016.
↑ Ted Elbert (January 12, 1962). "PFI Selects its "Illustrious Elevens": Packers Place Ten Members on 22-Man Squad; Lombardi, Ditka, Jordan Hornung Honored Single". Pro Football Illustrated. pp. 1, 4.(based on a poll of "sportswriters and radio-TV broadcasters who were assigned to covering one of the 14 league teams or assigned to a different NFL game each week")

External links

1961 NFL All-Pros – Pro-Football-Reference

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[1] "Packers, Giants Dominate All-Stars". The Nevada Daily Mail. Associated Press. December 20, 1961. p. 8. Retrieved December 15, 2016.

[2] "Moore on UPI NFL Team; Thurston Top Vote-Getter". Reading Eagle. United Press International. December 26, 1961. p. 17. Retrieved December 15, 2016.

[3] Ted Elbert (January 12, 1962). "PFI Selects its "Illustrious Elevens": Packers Place Ten Members on 22-Man Squad; Lombardi, Ditka, Jordan Hornung Honored Single". Pro Football Illustrated. pp. 1, 4.(based on a poll of "sportswriters and radio-TV broadcasters who were assigned to covering one of the 14 league teams or assigned to a different NFL game each week")

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