| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | Jackson State Tigers |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southwestern Athletic Conference |
| Short Conf: | SWAC |
| Record: | 9–2 |
| Conf Record: | 6–1 |
| Head Coach: | John Merritt |
| Hc Year: | 10th |
| Stadium: | Alumni Stadium |
| Champion: | SWAC champion |
| Bowl: | Orange Blossom Classic |
| Bowl Result: | L 8–14 vs. Florida A&M |
The 1961 Jackson State Tigers football team represented Jackson College for Negro Teachers (now known as Jackson State University) as a member of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) during the 1961 college football season. Led by tenth-year head coach John Merritt, the Tigers compiled an overall record of 9–2, with a conference record of 6–1, and finished as SWAC champion.
Back Roy Curry received third-team honors on the 1961 Little All-America college football team.[1]