1961 American Football League Draft

Because another league was in competition for the class of 1961 college stars, the American Football League draft for 1961 graduates was actually held in 1960, with a six-round telephone draft on November 23, that saw the Denver Broncos select New Mexico State's Bob Gaiters as the overall first draft pick. The draft was completed on December 5 and 6th, with rounds seven through thirty.

Contents

Boston Patriots draft picks (Selected second)

Round Player Position College
1 Tommy MasonTommy Mason Half back Tulane
2 Rip HawkinsRip Hawkins Center North Carolina
3 Danny LaRoseDanny LaRose Offensive end Missouri
4 Mike ZenoMike Zeno Guard Virginia Tech
5 Fran TarkentonFran Tarkenton 4 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 Dan OakesDan 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 Robert MinihaneRobert Minihane Tackle Boston
26 Charles GrangerCharles 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

Buffalo Bills draft picks (Selected third)

Round Player Position College
1 Ken RiceKen Rice 1 Tackle Auburn
2 Billy ShawBilly Shaw 1,2,4 Tackle Georgia Tech
3 Art BakerArt Baker Fullback Syracuse (from New York)
3 Tom GilburgTom Gilburg Tackle Syracuse
4 Stew BarberStew Barber 1 Tackle Penn State
5 Norm SneadNorm Snead Quarterback Wake Forest
6 Fred BrownFred Brown Halfback Georgia
7 Albert BemillerAlbert Bemiller 1 Center Syracuse
8 Charles LinningCharles Linning Tackle Miami
9 William MajorsWilliam Majors Halfback Tennessee
10 Don KernDon Kern Halfback VMI
11 Roy WallRoy Wall Halfback North Carolina
12 Floyd PowersFloyd Powers Guard Mississippi State
13 Tom CauseyTom Causey Offensive end Louisiana Tech
14 Ron KostelnikRon Kostelnik Tackle Cincinnati
15 Jerry FryeJerry Frye Offensive end South Carolina
16 Vincent ScottVincent Scott Offensive end Maryland
17 Wayne WolffWayne Wolff Tackle Wake Forest
18 John BodkinJohn Bodkin Guard South Carolina
19 Charles BarnesCharley Barnes Offensive end NE Louisiana State
20 Everett CloudEverett Cloud Halfback Maryland
21 Larry VargoLarry Vargo Offensive end Detroit
22 Charles BakerCharles Baker Tackle Tennessee
23 William MackWilliam "Red" Mack Halfback Notre Dame
24 Frank JackunasFrank Jackunas Center Detroit
25 Jack HarbaughJack Harbaugh Halfback Bowling Green
26 Lorenzo StanfordLorenzo Stanford Tackle North Carolina A & T
27 Bob AllenBob Allen Offensive end Wake Forest
28 Jason HarnessJason Harness Offensive end Michigan State
29 Mike StockMike Stock Halfback Northwestern
30 William MartinWilliam Martin Halfback Minnesota

Dallas Texans draft picks (Selected sixth)

Round Player Position College
1 E.J. HolubE.J. Holub 1 Center Texas Tech
2 Bob LillyBob Lilly Tackle TCU
3 Jim TyrerJim Tyrer 1,2 Tackle Ohio State
4 Claude MoormanClaude Moorman Offensive End Duke
5 Jerry MaysJerry Mays 1,2 Tackle Southern Methodist
7 Fred ArbanasFred Arbanas 1,2 Offensive End Michigan State
8 John O'DayJohn O'Day Tackle Miami
9 Dick MillsDick Mills Tackle Pittsburgh
10 Jerry DanielsJerry Daniels Tackle Mississippi
11 Marvin TibbetsMarvin Tibbets Halfback Georgia Tech
12 Paul HynesPaul Hynes Halfback Louisiana Tech
13 Glynn GregoryGlynn Gregory Halfback Southern Methodist
14 Curtis McClintonCurtis McClinton 1,3 Halfback Kansas
15 Ed NuttingEd Nutting Tackle Georgia Tech
15 Roy Lee RamboRoy Lee Rambo Guard TCU
16 Aaron ThomasAaron Thomas Offensive End Oregon State
17 Jarrell WilliamsJarrell Williams Halfback Arkansas
18 Ron HartlineRon Hartline Fullback Oklahoma
19 Frank JacksonFrank Jackson Halfback Southern Methodist
20 Bob LaneBob Lane Offensive End Baylor
21 Dick ThorntonDick Thornton Quarterback Northwestern
22 Ed SharockmanEd Sharockman Halfback Pittsburgh
23 Lou ZivkovichLou Zivkovich Tackle New Mexico State
24 Pat DyePat Dye Guard Georgia
25 Ray RamseyRay Ramsey Quarterback Adams State
26 Danny HouseDanny House Halfback Davidson
27 Bob SchloredtBob Schloredt Quarterback Washington
28 Bill StineBill Stine Guard Michigan
29 Lonnie CaddellLonnie Caddell Fullback Rice
30 Cedric PriceCedric Price Offensive End Kansas State

Denver Broncos draft picks (Selected first)

Round Player Position College
1 Bob GaitersBob Gaiters Halfback New Mexico State
2 Jerry HillJerry Hill Halfback Wyoming
3 Charles StrangeCharles Strange Center LSU
4 Roland McDoleRoland McDole Tackle Nebraska
4 Sonny DavisSonny Davis Offensive End Baylor
5 Charles CowanCharles Cowan Offensive End Highlands
6 Dale EvansDale Evans Halfback Kansas State
7 Pat PatchenPat Patchen Offensive End Florida
9 Phil NugentPhil Nugent Quarterback Tulane
10 Charles SturgeonCharles Sturgeon Halfback Kentucky
11 John SimkoJohn Simko Offensive End Augustana
12 Jerry MillerJerry Miller Offensive End Howard Payne
13 Ron GreeneRon Greene Guard Washington State
14 Bill CooperBill Cooper Fullback Muskingum
15 Willie CraftsWillie Crafts Guard Texas A&I
16 Jim LarkinJim Larkin Tackle Hillsdale
17 Chuck WeissChuck Weiss - Colorado
18 Chick GraningChick Graning Halfback Georgia Tech
19 John HobbsJohn Hobbs Guard Maryland State
20 Buck McLeodBuck McLeod Tackle Baylor
21 Jim MorganJim Morgan Halfback Iowa State Tech
22 Tom HacklerTom Hackler Offensive End Tennessee Tech
23 Tom JewellTom Jewell Tackle Idaho State
24 E.A. SimmsE.A. Simms Offensive End New Mexico State
25 Pete SammsPete Samms Tackle Central Oklahoma
26 Sam SmithSam Smith Halfback Florence State
27 Donald OlsonDonald Olson Halfback Nebraska
28 Wayne LeeWayne Lee Guard Colorado State
29 Archie CobbArchie Cobb Tackle Nebraska
30 Dave MillsDave Mills Halfback Northeast Missouri Tech

Houston Oilers draft picks (Selected eighth)

Round Player Position College
1 Tommy MasonMike Ditka Offensive End Pittsburgh
2 Tom GoodeTom Goode Center Mississippi State
3 Walter SuggsWalter Suggs 1 Tackle Mississippi State
4 Bobby WaldenBobby Walden Halfback Georgia
5 Monte LeeMonte Lee Linebacker Texas
6 Jake GibbsJake Gibbs Quarterback Mississippi
7 Dick ReynoldsDick Reynolds Tackle North Carolina State
8 Houston AntwineHouston Antwine 1,2 Guard Southern Illinois
9 Ralph WhiteRalph White Tackle Bowling Green
10 Charles LeeCharles Lee Center Iowa
11 Robert BirdRobert Bird Guard Bowling Green
12 Bob McLeodBob McLeod Offensive End Abilene Christian
13 Gerald HintonGerald Hinton Guard Louisiana Tech
14 Jimmy KingJimmy King Tackle Clemson
15 Dennis FerriterDennis Ferriter Center Marquette
16 Larry WoodLarry Wood Halfback Northwestern
17 Sam FewellSam Fewell Tackle South Carolina
18 Mike GrimsleyMike Grimsley Halfback Michigan State
19 Myron PearsonMyron Pearson Halfback Colorado
20 Lewis JohnsonLewis Johnson Halfback Florida A&M
21 Ron MillerRon Miller Quarterback Wisconsin
22 Bob KellyBob Kelly Offensive End New Mexico State
23 James AndersonJames Anderson Fullback Mississippi
24 Ken GregoryKen Gregory Offensive End Whittier
25 Jack KreiderJack Kreider Halfback Tulsa
26 Don FuellDon Fuell Quarterback Mississippi Southern
27 Boyd KingBoyd King Center Rice
28 John FrongilloJohn Frongillo Center Baylor
29 Tom LewisJohn Frongillo Offensive End Lake Forest
29 Tom LewisErrol Linden Defensive End Houston
30 Tom LewisJim Stroud Tackle Rice

New York Titans draft picks (Selected fifth)

Round Player Position College
1 Tom BrownTom Brown Guard Minnesota
2 Herb AdderleyHerb Adderley Halfback Michigan State
5 Tom MatteTom Matte Quarterback Ohio State
6 Bill BrownBill Brown Fullback Illinois
7 Fred MautinoFred Mautino Offensive end Syracuse
8 Harold BeatyHarold Beaty Tackle Oklahoma State
9 Bernie CaseyBernie Casey Fullback Bowling Green
10 Joe ScibelliJoe Scibelli Tackle Notre Dame
11 Art GilmoreArt Gilmore Halfback Oregon State
12 Norris StevensonNorris Stevenson Halfback Missouri
13 Joe WendryhoskiJoe Wendryhoski Tackle Illinois
14 Jim CunninghamJim Cunningham Fullback Pittsburgh
15 Irv CrossIrv Cross Offensive end Northwestern
16 Jerry SteffenJerry Steffen Halfback Colorado
17 Mike PlyeMike Plye Tackle Yale
18 Alfred BentleyAlfred Bentley Offensive end Arkansas State
19 Jim KerrJim Kerr Halfback Penn State
20 Neil PlumleyNeil Plumley Tackle Oregon State
21 Bob BrooksBob Brooks Fullback Ohio
22 Wayne FontesWayne Fontes Halfback Michigan State
23 Mickey WalkerMickey Walker Halfback Michigan State
24 Howard DyerHoward Dyer Quarterback Virginia Military Institution
25 Andy GriffithAndy Griffith Halfback American International
26 Bob SmithBob Smith Halfback UCLA
27 Moses GrayMoses Gray Tackle Indiana
28 Fred CoxFred Cox Halfback Pittsburgh
30 William MimerlyWilliam Mimerly Halfback Connecticut

Oakland Raiders draft picks (Selected fourth)

Round Player Position College
1 Joe RutgensJoe Rutgens Tackle Illinois
2 George FlemingGeorge Fleming Halfback Washington
3 Myron PottiosMyron Pottios Linebacker Notre Dame
4 Elbert KimbroughElbert Kimbrough Defensive back Northwestern
5 Dick NormanDick Norman Quarterback Stanford
6 Bobby CrespinoBobby Crespino Tight End Mississippi
7 Ray PurdinRay Purdin Halfback Northwestern
8 Tom WatkinsTom Watkins Halfback Iowa State
8 Dick PriceDick Price Guard Mississippi
9 Lowndes ShinglerLowndes Shingler Quarterback Clemson
10 Ken PetersenKen Petersen Tackle Utah
11 Doug MayberryDoug Mayberry Fullback Utah State
12 Bob SchmitzBob Schmitz Linebacker Montana State
13 Gerald BurchGerald Burch Offensive end Georgia Tech
14 Clark MillerClark Miller Defensive end Utah State
15 Bob CoolbaughBob Coolbaugh Offensive end Richmond
16 Chuck LamsonChuck Lamson Defensive back Wyoming
17 Joe NovsekJoe Novsek Defensive end Tulsa
18 Joe KrakoskiJoe Krakoski Defensive back Illinois
19 Charles FullerCharles Fuller Halfback Cal State-San Francisco
20 Preston PowellPreston Powell Fullback Grambling
21 Mike JonesMike Jones Quarterback San Jose State
22 Blayne JonesBlayne Jones Guard Idaho State
23 Roger FisherRoger Fisher Center Utah State
24 Jack NovakJack Novak Guard Miami
25 Paul YankePaul Yanke End Northwestern
26 Paul YankeDean Hinshaw Tackle Stanford
27 Paul YankeClair Appledoorn End San Jose State
28 Paul YankeDave Grosz Quarterback Oregon
29 Paul YankeEd Morris Tackle Indiana
30 Paul YankeBill Face Halfback Stanford

San Diego Chargers draft picks (Selected seventh)

Round Player Position College
1 Earl FaisonEarl Faison 1 Defensive end Indiana
2 Keith LincolnKeith Lincoln 1 Halfback Washington State
3 Marlin McKeeverMarlin McKeever End USC
4 Jimmy JohnsonJimmy Johnson Halfback UCLA
5 Billy KilmerBilly Kilmer Quarterback UCLA
6 Calvin BirdCalvin Bird Halfback Kentucky
6 Cliff RobertsCliff Roberts Tackle Illinois
7 Claude GibsonClaude Gibson Defensive back North Carolina State
8 Charley JohnsonCharley Johnson Quarterback New Mexico State
9 Bob ScarpittoBob Scarpitto 1 Quarterback Notre Dame
10 Willie HectorWillie Hector Guard College of Pacific
11 Greg LarsonGreg Larson Center Minnesota
12 Hezekiah BraxtonHezekiah Braxton Fullback Virginia Union
13 Dale MesserDale Messer Fullback Fresno State
14 Billy WilsonBilly Wilson Tackle Auburn
15 Ernie LaddErnie Ladd 1 Tackle Grambling
16 Bud WhiteheadBud Whitehead Defensive back Florida State
17 Reg CarolanReggie Carolan End Idaho
18 Ed DyasEd Dyas Fullback Auburn
19 Jack EspenshipJack Espenship Halfback Florida
20 Mike LucciMike Lucci Center Tennessee
21 Gene GainesGene Gaines Halfback UCLA
22 John BrownJohn Brown Tackle Syracuse
23 Glenn BassGlenn Bass Halfback East Carolina
24 Ben BalmeBen Balme Guard Yale
25 Don CoffeeDon Coffee End Memphis State
26 Bill KinnuneBill Kinnune Guard Washington
27 Luther HayesLuther Hayes End USC
28 Chuck AllenChuck Allen Guard Washington
29 Dan FiccaDan Ficca Tackle USC
30 Mike McKeeverMike McKeever Guard USC

See also

External links
Eastern Division
Western Division
General
Broadcasters
Commissioners