1961 Boston Patriots season

Season of American Football League team the Boston Patriots November 2013 March 2026 Boston Patriots 1961 9–4–1 2nd AFL Eastern Lou Saban (fired: 2–3)Mike Holovak (interim: 7–1–1) Billy Sullivan Edward McKeever Boston University Field Did not qualify LB Tom AddisonDB Fred BruneyWR Gino CappellettiDE Bob DeeRB Larry GarronDT Jim Lee Hunt G  Chuck Leo Image:AFC-1961-1964-Uniform-NE.PNG Patriots seasons The 1961 Boston Patriots season was the franchise's second season in the American Football League They finished with nine wins, four losses, and one tie, in second place in the AFL's Eastern Division. This was the first season that the now famous "Pat Patriot" logo appeared on the helmets. The logo itself would see minor updates throughout the years before it was finally retired after the 1992 season, after 32 years. Staff 1961 Boston Patriots President – Billy Sullivan General Manager – Edward McKeever Head Coach – Lou Saban (fired, 2–3) Mike Holovak (interim, 7–1–1) Offensive backfield – Mike Holovak Offensive line – Red Miller Defensive line – Jerry Smith Defensive backfield – Joe Collier Season summary In the off-season, the team acquired quarterback Babe Parilli from the Oakland Raiders, himself a former starter for the NFL's Green Bay Packers. After a 2–3 start and two consecutive losses, the team fired head coach Lou Saban on the night of Tuesday, October 10, and replaced him with offensive backfield coach Mike Holovak, formerly the head coach at Boston College.https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iKMrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=pPwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7149%2C3688070 The Telegraph Nashua, New Hampshire Associated Press Holovak shocked October 11, 1961 20 The change was a positive one, as the team was 7–1–1 under Holovak and finished on a four-game winning streak, capped with a road shutout of the Western Division champion San Diego Chargers in the season finale,https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=5qQrAAAAIBAJ&sjid=uvwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=7019%2C4897485 The Telegraph Nashua, New Hampshire Associated Press Pats toast of Boston December 18, 1961 17 the team which scored 38 points on them in Boston in Saban's last game. The Patriots' 9–4–1 record put them in second place in the Eastern Division, one game behind Houston; the Oilers went on to win the league championship with a 10–3 win over the Chargers. This was the first season in which Boston used their "Pat the Patriot" logo on their helmets. AFC east helmets The Helmet Project 2007 http://nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/afceast.htm April 12, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070402124802/http://www.nationalchamps.net/Helmet_Project/afceast.htm April 2, 2007 live Draft picks Round Player Position College 1 Tommy MasonTommy Mason Half back Tulane 2 Rip HawkinsRip Hawkins Center North Carolina 3 Danny LaRoseDanny LaRose Tight end Missouri 4 Mike ZenoMike Zeno Guard Virginia Tech 5 Fran TarkentonFran Tarkenton Quarterback Georgia 6 Larry EisenhauerLarry Eisenhauer 1 Tackle Boston College 7 Paul TerhesPaul Terhes Quarterback Bucknell 8 Charles LongCharles Long 1 Guard Tennessee-Chattanooga 9 Roland LakesRoland Lakes Center Wichita 10 Richard MuellerRichard Mueller Offensive end Kentucky 11 Mel WestMel West Center Missouri 12 Wayne HarrisWayne Harris Center Arkansas 13 Dan UnderwoodDan Underwood Tackle McNeese State 14 James WrightJames Wright Quarterback Memphis State 16 George BalthazarGeorge Balthazar Tackle Tennessee A&I 17 Ray RatkowskiRay Ratkowski Halfback Notre Dame 18 Tom RodgersTom Rodgers Halfback Kentucky 19 Joe BellinoJoe Bellino Halfback Navy 20 Clarence ChildsClarence Childs Halfback Florida A&M 21 Don OakesDon Oakes Guard Virginia Tech 22 Bob JohnsonBob Johnson Offensive end Michigan 23 Darrell DeDeckerDarrell DeDecker Center Illinois 24 Don WebbDon Webb Halfback Iowa State 25 Bob MinihaneBob Minihane Tackle Boston 26 Charley GrangerCharley Granger Tackle Southern 27 Terry HuxholdTerry Huxhold Tackle Wisconsin 28 Bryant HarvardBryant Harvard Quarterback Auburn 29 Ernie McMillanErnie McMillan Tackle Illinois 30 George HultzGeorge Hultz Tackle Mississippi Southern Schedule Regular season American Football League seasons Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 9, 1961 New York Titans L 20–21 0–1 Boston University Field 16,683 Recap 2 September 16, 1961 Denver Broncos W 45–17 1–1 Boston University Field14,479Recap 3 September 23, 1961 at Buffalo Bills W 23–21 2–1 War Memorial Stadium 21,504 Recap 4 October 1 at New York Titans L 30–37 2–2 Polo Grounds 15,189 Recap 5 October 7, 1961 San Diego Chargers L 27–38 2–3 Boston University Field 17,748 Recap 6 October 13, 1961 Houston Oilers T 31–31 2–3–1 Boston University Field 15,070 Recap 7 October 22 Buffalo Bills W 52–21 3–3–1 Boston University Field 9,398 Recap 8 October 29 at Dallas Texans W 18–17 4–3–1 Cotton Bowl 20,500 Recap 9 November 3, 1961 Dallas Texans W 28–21 5–3–1 Boston University Field 25,063 Recap 10 November 12 at Houston Oilers L 15–27 5–4–1 Jeppesen Stadium 35,649 Recap 11 November 17, 1961 Oakland Raiders W 20–17 6–4–1 Boston University Field 17,169 Recap 12 Bye 13 December 3 at Denver Broncos W 28–24 7–4–1 Bears Stadium 9,303 Recap 14 December 9, 1961 at Oakland Raiders W 35–21 8–4–1 Candlestick Park 6,500 Recap 15 December 17 at San Diego Chargers W 41–0 9–4–1Balboa Stadium 21,339 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. Standings Roster Boston Patriots 1961 roster Quarterbacks 15 Babe Parilli 11 Butch Songin Running backs 22 Ron Burton 30 Jim Crawford 40 Larry Garron 32 Billy Lott 44 Gerhard Schwedes Wide receivers 20 Gino Cappelletti K 81 Jim Colclough Tight ends 45 Thomas Stephens Offensive linemen 65 Houston Antwine G 54 Walt Cudzik C 74 Jerry DeLucca T 70 Milt Graham T 63 Chuck Leo G 76 Charlie Long T 64 Tony Sardisco G 50 Bob Yates C Defensive linemen 89 Bob Dee DE 72 Larry Eisenhauer DE 79 Jim Lee Hunt DT 62 Dick Klein DT 61 Leroy Moore DE Linebackers 53 Tom Addison OLB 60 Rommie Loudd OLB 83 Harry Jacobs MLB Defensive backs 41 Walter Beach CB 33 Fred Bruney FS 23 Ron Hall SS 34 Chuck Shonta CB 31 Clyde Washington CB 48 Don Webb CB Special teams 14 Tom Yewcic P/RB/QB Reserve list 24 Joe Johnson TE (IR) 7px -- George McGee T (Military) 25 Ross O'Hanley S (Military) 51 Frank Robotti LB (IR) 7px 80 Jack Rudolph LB (IR) 7px 75 John Simerson T (IR) 7px 42 Bob Soltis S (IR) 7px Notes and references General references 1961 Boston Patriots Football @ JT-SW.com John Troan 2002 http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/results.nsf/Teams/1961-bos April 11, 2007. For game-by-game results 1961 Boston Patriots Roster Football @ JT-SW.com John Troan 2002 http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/rosters.nsf/Annual/1961-bos April 12, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070425150429/http://www.jt-sw.com/football/pro/rosters.nsf/Annual/1961-bos April 25, 2007 live. For team roster New England Patriots (1960–present) Sports E-cyclopedia Tank Productions 2007 http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/nengalnd/patriots.html April 11, 2007 https://web.archive.org/web/20070417052124/http://www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/nengalnd/patriots.html April 17, 2007 live. For season summary Footnoted references Boston Patriots Category:New England Patriots seasons Boston Patriots Category:1961 in Boston