| Team: | Cleveland Browns |
| Year: | 1961 |
| Record: | 8–5–1 |
| Division Place: | 3rd NFL Eastern |
| Playoffs: | Did not qualify |
| Pro Bowlers: | None |
| Shortnavlink: | Browns seasons |
The 1961 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 12th season with the National Football League.
On March 22, Dave R. Jones sold the Browns to a group headed by Arthur B. Modell.[1]
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | August 11 | L 7–35 | 0–1 | Tiger Stadium | 25,602 | ||
| 2 | August 20 | at San Francisco 49ers | W 27–24 | 1–1 | Kezar Stadium | 38,759 | |
| 3 | August 25 | W 34–17 | 2–1 | Los Angeles Coliseum | 40,086 | ||
| 4 | September 2 | vs. Pittsburgh Steelers | W 38–6 | 3–1 | Rubber Bowl | 27,758 | |
| 5 | September 9 | Detroit Lions | L 17–35 | 3–2 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 41,374 |
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 17 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 20–27 | 0–1 | Franklin Field | 60,671 | |
| 2 | September 24 | St. Louis Cardinals | W 20–17 | 1–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 50,443 | |
| 3 | October 1 | Dallas Cowboys | W 25–7 | 2–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 43,638 | |
| 4 | October 8 | Washington Redskins | W 31–7 | 3–1 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 46,186 | |
| 5 | October 15 | Green Bay Packers | L 17–49 | 3–2 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 75,042 | |
| 6 | October 22 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | W 30–28 | 4–2 | Forbes Field | 29,266 | |
| 7 | October 29 | at St. Louis Cardinals | W 21–10 | 5–2 | Busch Stadium (I) | 26,696 | |
| 8 | November 5 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 13–17 | 5–3 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 62,723 | |
| 9 | November 12 | at Washington Redskins | W 17–6 | 6–3 | D.C. Stadium | 28,975 | |
| 10 | November 19 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 45–24 | 7–3 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 68,399 | |
| 11 | November 26 | New York Giants | L 21–37 | 7–4 | Cleveland Municipal Stadium | 80,455 | |
| 12 | December 3 | at Dallas Cowboys | W 38–17 | 8–4 | Cotton Bowl | 23,500 | |
| 13 | December 10 | at Chicago Bears | L 14–17 | 8–5 | Wrigley Field | 38,717 | |
| 14 | December 17 | at New York Giants | T 7–7 | 8–5–1 | Yankee Stadium | 61,084 |