1961 All-Pro Team Explained

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 (UPI, NYDN-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)

External links

• 1961 NFL All-Pros – Pro-Football-Reference

Notes and References

1. News: Packers, Giants Dominate All-Stars. December 15, 2016. The Nevada Daily Mail. Associated Press. December 20, 1961. 8.
2. News: Moore on UPI NFL Team; Thurston Top Vote-Getter. December 15, 2016. Reading Eagle. United Press International. December 26, 1961. 17.
3. News: PFI Selects its "Illustrious Elevens": Packers Place Ten Members on 22-Man Squad; Lombardi, Ditka, Jordan Hornung Honored Single. Pro Football Illustrated. Ted Elbert. January 12, 1962. 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")