image: 1961

The 1961 NFL Draft

image: Tommy Mason, RB, Tulane

#1 Pick

Tommy Mason, RB, Tulane

Minnesota Vikings, 1961-66; Los Angeles Rams, 1967-1970; Washington Redskins, 1971

Yards from Scrimmage: 6,527

Touchdowns: 45

1963 first-team All-Pro

The 1961 Draft Picks

Draft# Team Player, Position, College
1 Minnesota Vikings Tommy Mason, RB, Tulane
2 Washington Redskins 1 Norm Snead, QB, Wake Forest
3 Washington Redskins Joe Rutgens, DT, Illinois
4 Los Angeles Rams Marlin McKeever, LB, USC
5 Chicago Bears MIKE DITKA, TE, Pittsburgh
6 San Francisco 49ers 2 JIMMY JOHNSON, DB, UCLA
7 Baltimore Colts Tom Matte, RB, Ohio State
8 St. Louis Cardinals Ken Rice, OT, Auburn
9 San Francisco 49ers Bernie Casey, HB, Bowling Green
10 Cleveland Browns 3 Bobby Crespino, SE, Mississippi
11 San Francisco 49ers 4 Billy Kilmer, QB, UCLA
12 Green Bay Packers HERB ADDERLEY, DB, Michigan State
13 Dallas Cowboys 5 BOB LILLY, DT, TCU
14 Philadelphia Eagles Art Baker, FB, Syracuse

Pick Acquired From

  • 1 - Pick acquired from the Dallas Cowboys
  • 2 - Pick acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers
  • 3 - Pick acquired from the Detroit Lions
  • 4 - Pick acquired from the Baltimore Colts
  • 5 - Pick acquired from the Cleveland Browns

Hall of Famers selected in 1961 NFL Draft

  • MIKE DITKA (1st Round, 5th Overall) (Also drafted in 1961 AFL Draft in the 1st round by the Houston Oilers. Chose to play in the NFL)
  • JIMMY JOHNSON (1st Round, 6th Overall) (Also drafted in 1961 AFL Draft in the 4th round by the Los Angeles Chargers. Chose to play in the NFL)
  • HERB ADDERLEY (1st Round, 12th Overall) (Also drafted in 1961 AFL Draft in the 2nd round by the New York Titans. Chose to play in the NFL)
  • BOB LILLY (1st Round, 13th Overall) (Also drafted in 1961 AFL Draft in the 2nd round by the Dallas Texans. Chose to play in the NFL)
  • FRANK TARKENTON (3rd Round, 29th Overall) (Also drafted in 1961 AFL Draft in the 5th round by the Boston Patriots. Chose to play in the NFL)
  • BILLY SHAW (14th Round, 184th Overall) (Also drafted in 1961 AFL Draft in the 2nd round by the Buffalo Bills. Chose to play in the AFL)
  • DAVID "DEACON" JONES (14th Round, 186th Overall)