The

Associated Press The Associated Press (AP) is an American not-for-profit organization, not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. Founded in 1846, it operates as a cooperative, unincorporated association, and produces news reports that are dist ...

(AP),

United Press International United Press International (UPI) is an American international news agency whose newswires, photo, news film, and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations for most of the 20th ce ...

(UPI), ''Pro Football Illustrated'' (PFI),(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") ''

New York Daily News The ''Daily News'' is an American newspaper based in Jersey City, New Jersey. It was founded in 1919 by Joseph Medill Patterson in New York City as the ''Illustrated Daily News''. It was the first U.S. daily printed in Tabloid (newspaper format ...

'' (NYDN),

Newspaper Enterprise Association The Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA) is an editorial column and comic strip newspaper syndication service based in the United States and established in 1902. The oldest syndicate still in operation, the NEA was originally a secondary new ...

(NEA), and ''

Sporting News ''The Sporting News'' is a website and former magazine publication owned by Sporting News Holdings, which is a U.S.-based sports media company formed in December 2020 by a private investor consortium. It was originally established in 1886 as a ...

'' (SN) were among selectors of

All-Pro All-Pro is an honor bestowed upon professional American football players that designates the best player at each position during a given season. All-Pro players are typically selected by press organizations, who select an "All-Pro team," a list t ...

s for the 1961 National Football League season.

Offensive selections

Quarterbacks

Sonny Jurgensen Christian Adolph "Sonny" Jurgensen III (born August 23, 1934) is an American former professional American football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 18 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington ...

, Philadelphia Eagles (AP, PFI, UPI) *

Y. A. Tittle Yelberton Abraham Tittle Jr. (October 24, 1926 – October 8, 2017) was an American professional American football, football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the San Francisco 49ers and New York Giants; he also ...

, New York Giants (NYDN, UPI-2) *

Bart Starr Bryan Bartlett Starr (January 9, 1934 – May 26, 2019) was an American professional football quarterback and head coach for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson T ...

, Green Bay Packers (NEA-2, NYDN-2)

Halfbacks

Paul Hornung Paul Vernon Hornung (December 23, 1935 – November 13, 2020), nicknamed "the Golden Boy", was an American professional football halfback and kicker who played for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 to 1966 ...

, Green Bay Packers (PFI)

Fullbacks

Jim Brown James Nathaniel Brown (February 17, 1936 – May 18, 2023) was an American professional American football, football player, civil rights activist, and actor. He played as a Fullback (gridiron football), fullback for the Cleveland Browns of the ...

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

Flankers

Lenny Moore Leonard Edward Moore (born November 25, 1933) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a Halfback (American football), halfback and wide receiver, flanker for the Baltimore Colts of the National Football Leag ...

, 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 Michael Keller Ditka ( ; born Michael Dyczko; October 18, 1939) is an American former professional American football, football player, coach, and television commentator. During his playing career, he was UPI NFL-NFC Rookie of the Year, UPI NFL R ...

, Chicago Bears (NEA, NYDN-2, UPI-2) *

Buddy Dial Gilbert Leroy "Buddy" Dial (January 17, 1937 – February 29, 2008) was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys. He played college foo ...

, Pittsburgh Steelers (NYDN-2) *

Ron Kramer Ronald John Kramer (June 24, 1935 – September 11, 2010) was an American professional football player who was an end in the National Football League (NFL), primarily for the Green Bay Packers. A member of two NFL champion teams with the Pack ...

, 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 Alvis Forrest Gregg (October 18, 1933 – April 12, 2019) was an American professional football player and coach. A Pro Football Hall of Fame offensive tackle for 16 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), he was a part of six NFL champ ...

, 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 Gerald Louis Kramer (born January 23, 1936) is an American former professional football player, author and sports commentator. He played 11 years as a guard and placekicker with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He w ...

, 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 Charles Philip Bednarik (May 1, 1925 – March 21, 2015), nicknamed "Concrete Charlie", was an American professional football linebacker and center who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Penn Quak ...

, Philadelphia Eagles (UPI-2)

Defensive selections

Defensive ends

* Gino Marchetti, Baltimore Colts (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI) *

Jim Katcavage James Richard Katcavage (October 28, 1934 – February 22, 1995) was an American professional football defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) who played thirteen seasons for the New York Giants. Biography From 1952 until 195 ...

, New York Giants (AP, NYDN, PFI, UPI, NEA-2) * Doug Atkins, Chicago Bears (NEA, NYDN-2) *

Andy Robustelli Andrew Richard Robustelli (December 6, 1925 – May 31, 2011) was an American professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) for the Los Angeles Rams and the New York Giants. He played college football ...

, New York Giants (NEA-2, NYDN-2, UPI-2) * Leo Sugar, Philadelphia Eagles (UPI-2)

Defensive tackles

Henry Jordan the Virginia Cavaliers Henry Wendell Jordan (January 26, 1935 – February 21, 1977) was an American professional football player who was a defensive tackle for 13 seasons in the National Football League (NFL) with the Cleveland Browns ...

, Green Bay Packers (AP, NEA, NYDN, PFI, UPI) *

Alex Karras Alexander George Karras (July 15, 1935October 10, 2012) was an American professional American football, football player, professional wrestler, sportscaster, and actor. He was a four-time Pro Bowl selection playing defensive tackle for the Detro ...

, Detroit Lions (AP, PFI, UPI, NYDN-2) * Roger Brown, Detroit Lions (NEA-2, UPI-2) *

Rosey Grier Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier (born July 14, 1932) is an American former football player, bodyguard, actor, singer, Protestant minister, and motivational speaker. He played professionally as a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) ...

, New York Giants (NYDN-2) *

Leo Nomellini Leo Joseph Nomellini (June 19, 1924 – October 17, 2000) was an Italian-American professional football player and professional wrestler. He played college football for the Minnesota Gophers and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the ...

, 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 Maxie Callaway Baughan Jr. (August 3, 1938 – August 19, 2023) was an American professional football player and coach in the National Football League (NFL). Baughan played linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Washingto ...

, Philadelphia Eagles (NYDN, UPI-2) *

Sam Huff Robert Lee "Sam" Huff (October 4, 1934 – November 13, 2021) was an American professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL) for the New York Giants and the Washington Redskins. He played college footba ...

, 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 Richard Lane (April 16, 1928 – January 29, 2002), commonly known as Dick "Night Train" Lane, was an American professional American football, football cornerback who played for 14 years in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the ...

, Detroit Lions (AP, NEA, PFI, NYDN-2, UPI-2) *

Jimmy Hill James William Thomas Hill, Order of the British Empire, OBE (22 July 1928 – 19 December 2015) was an English football in England, footballer and later a television personality. His career included almost every role in the sport, including pla ...

, 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

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

Punters

* Jerry Norton, St. Louis Cardinals (NEA, NYDN-2) *

Yale Lary Robert Yale Lary Sr. (November 24, 1930 – May 11, 2017) was an American professional football player, businessman, and politician. He played for 11 seasons as a safety, punter and return specialist for the Detroit Lions of the National Foo ...

, Detroit Lions (NEA-2)

Return specialists

Abe Woodson Abraham Benjamin Woodson (February 15, 1934 – February 8, 2014) was an American professional American football, football cornerback and kick returner who played nine seasons in the National Football League (NFL), mainly with the San Francis ...

, 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

External links

1961 NFL All-Pros – Pro-Football-Reference
{{DEFAULTSORT:1961 All-Pro Team All-Pro Teams 1961 NFL season