1961 Denver Broncos season

The 1961 Denver Broncos season was the team's second year in the American Football League. Led by head coach Frank Filchock, the Broncos recorded three wins and eleven losses, finishing third in the AFL's Western Division.

1961 Denver Broncos season
General manager	Dean Griffing
Head coach	Frank Filchock
Home stadium	Bears Stadium
Results
Record	3–11
Division place	3rd AFL Western
Playoffs	Did not qualify
← 1960 Broncos seasons 1962 →

The 1961 Broncos set a modern pro football record with 68 giveaways, more than any other team in AFL or NFL history.^[1]

Offseason

AFL draft

Main article: 1961 American Football League draft

1961 Denver Broncos draft
Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
1	4	Bob Gaiters	HB	New Mexico State	Signed with New York Giants (NFL)
2	11	Jerry Hill	RB	Wyoming	Signed with Baltimore Colts (NFL)
3	20	Bo Strange	C	LSU
4	26	Sonny Davis	LB	Baylor	Signed with Dallas Cowboys (NFL)
4	27	Ron McDole	DE	Nebraska	Signed with St. Louis Cardinals (NFL)
5	36	Charlie Cowan	T	New Mexico Highlands	Signed with Los Angeles Rams (NFL)
6	43	Dale Evans	HB	Kansas State
7	49	Pat Patchen	E	Florida
9	65	Phil Nugent	DB	Tulane
10	73	Charley Sturgeon	HB	Kentucky
11	81	John Simko	E	Augustana
12	89	Jerry Miller	E	Howard Payne
13	97	Ron Greene	G	Washington State
14	105	Bill Cooper	FB	Muskingum	Signed with San Francisco 49ers (NFL)
15	113	Willie Crafts	G	Texas A&I
16	121	Jim Larkin	T	Hillsdale
17	129	Chuck Weiss	FB	Colorado
18	137	Chick Graning	HB	Georgia Tech
19	145	John Hobbs	G	Maryland State
20	153	Buck McLeod	T	Baylor
21	161	Jim Morgan	HB	Iowa State
22	169	Tom Hackler	E	Tennessee Tech
23	177	Tom Jewel	T	Idaho State
24	185	E. A. Sims	E	New Mexico State
25	193	Pete Samms	T	Central State (OK)
26	201	Sam Smith	HB	North Alabama
27	209	Don Olson	HB	Nebraska
28	217	Wayne Lee	G	Colorado State
29	225	Archie Cobb	T	Nebraska
30	233	Dave Mills	HB	Northeast Missouri State
Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

^[2]

Staff / Coaches

1961 Denver Broncos staff
Front Office Majority Owner/Chairman of the Board of Directors - Gerald Phipps Minority Owner/President - Calvin Kunz General Manager – Dean Griffing
Head coach Head Coach – Frank Filchock Assistant coaches Line coach – Dale Dodrill Assistant coach – Ken Carpenter

Roster

1961 Denver Broncos roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 18 Frank Tripucka 16 George Herring P /QB Running backs (RB) 24 Don Allen FB 20 Henry Bell HB 40 Dale Evans HB 33 Fred Bukaty FB 40 Al Carmichael 34 Donnie Stone FB 42 Al Frazier Wide receivers (WR) 41 Bob McNamara E /DB 84 Jack Hill HB /K 81 Ken Carpenter HB /WR 87 Lionel Taylor Tight ends (TE) 85 Jim Greer 81 Bill Jessup P /TE 88 Gene Prebola

Offensive linemen (OL) 51 Mike Nichols C 76 John Mattox LT 72 Jerry Strum LT 77 Carl Larpenter LT 63 Buzz Guy LG 75 Eldon Danenhouer 76 Leo Reed T Defensive linemen (DL) 66 John Cash 65 Joe Young DE 64 Bud McFadin 74 Gordy Holz 71 Art Hauser 73 Bob Konovsky 61 Chuck Gavin

Linebackers (LB) 53 Bob Hudson 54 Wahoo McDaniel MLB 62 Jerry Stalcup 36 James Stinnette 67 Jackie Simpson LB 63 Bill Roehnelt LB 62 Jim Elfrid LB 50 Pat Lamberti LB Defensive backs (DB) 45 Jim McMillin HB /DB 83 Johnny Pyeatt 15 Phil Nugent SS 23 Goose Gonsulin FS 35 Jimmy Sears DB 20 Dan Smith DB Special teams (ST) 21 Gene Mingo HB /K 20 Jerry Traynham K

Practice squad None - N/A Reserve None - N/A Rookies in italics 46 active, 0 reserve, 0 practice squad

Regular season

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance	Recap
1	September 10	at Buffalo Bills	W 22–10	1–0	War Memorial Stadium	16,636	Recap
2	September 16	at Boston Patriots	L 17–45	1–1	Boston University Field	14,479	Recap
3	September 24	at New York Titans	L 28–35	1–2	Polo Grounds	14,381	Recap
4	October 1	at Oakland Raiders	L 19–33	1–3	Candlestick Park	8,361	Recap
5	October 8	Dallas Texans	L 12–19	1–4	Bears Stadium	14,500	Recap
6	October 15	Oakland Raiders	W 27–24	2–4	Bears Stadium	11,129	Recap
7	October 22	New York Titans	W 27–10	3–4	Bears Stadium	12,508	Recap
8	October 29	at San Diego Chargers	L 0–37	3–5	Balboa Stadium	32,584	Recap
9	November 5	Houston Oilers	L 14–55	3–6	Bears Stadium	11,564	Recap
10	November 12	San Diego Chargers	L 16–19	3–7	Bears Stadium	7,859	Recap
11	November 19	Buffalo Bills	L 10–23	3–8	Bears Stadium	7,645	Recap
12	November 26	at Houston Oilers	L 14–45	3–9	Jeppesen Stadium	27,874	Recap
13	December 3	Boston Patriots	L 24–28	3–10	Bears Stadium	9,303	Recap
14	December 10	at Dallas Texans	L 21–49	3–11	Cotton Bowl	8,000	Recap
15	Bye
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFL Western Division
view talk edit	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	PF	PA	STK
San Diego Chargers	12	2	0	.857	6–0	396	219	L1
Dallas Texans	6	8	0	.429	4–2	334	343	W2
Denver Broncos	3	11	0	.214	1–5	251	432	L7
Oakland Raiders	2	12	0	.143	1–5	237	458	L6

Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings in the AFL.