| Year: | 1961 |
| Team: | VMI Keydets |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Southern Conference |
| Short Conf: | SoCon |
| Record: | 6–4 |
| Conf Record: | 4–2 |
| Head Coach: | John McKenna |
| Hc Year: | 9th |
| Stadium: | Alumni Field |
The 1961 VMI Keydets football team was an American football team that represented the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) as a member of the Southern Conference (SoCon) during the 1961 college football season. Led by ninth-year head coach John McKenna, the Keydets compiled an overall record of 6–4 with a mark of 4–2 in conference play, tying for third place in the SoCon.[1]