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 held in 1960, with a six-round telephone draft on November 21 and 22, 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. The San Diego Chargers were still the "Los Angeles Chargers" in this draft, as their relocation was not announced until late January 1961.

Boston Patriots draft picks (selected second)

RoundPlayerPositionCollege
1Tommy MasonTommy MasonHalf backTulane
2Rip HawkinsRip HawkinsCenterNorth Carolina
3Danny LaRoseDanny LaRoseOffensive endMissouri
4Mike ZenoMike ZenoGuardVirginia Tech
5Fran TarkentonFran Tarkenton 4QuarterbackGeorgia
6Larry EisenhauerLarry Eisenhauer 1TackleBoston College
7Paul TerhesPaul TerhesQuarterbackBucknell
8Charles LongCharles Long 1GuardTennessee-Chattanooga
9Roland LakesRoland LakesCenterWichita
10Richard MuellerRichard MuellerOffensive endKentucky
11Mel WestMel WestCenterMissouri
12Wayne HarrisWayne HarrisCenterArkansas
13Dan UnderwoodDan UnderwoodTackleMcNeese State
14James WrightJames Earl WrightQuarterbackMemphis State
16George BalthazarGeorge BalthazarTackleTennessee A&I
17Ray RatkowskiRay RatkowskiHalfbackNotre Dame
18Tom RodgersTom RodgersHalfbackKentucky
19Joe BellinoJoe BellinoHalfbackNavy
20Clarence ChildsClarence ChildsHalfbackFlorida A&M
21Don OakesDon OakesGuardVirginia Tech
22Bob JohnsonBob JohnsonOffensive endMichigan
23Darrell DeDeckerDarrell DeDeckerCenterIllinois
24Don WebbDon WebbHalfbackIowa State
25Robert MinihaneRobert MinihaneTackleBoston
26Charles GrangerCharles GrangerTackleSouthern
27Terry HuxholdTerry HuxholdTackleWisconsin
28Bryant HarvardBryant HarvardQuarterbackAuburn
29Ernie McMillanErnie McMillanTackleIllinois
30George HultzGeorge HultzTackleMississippi Southern

Buffalo Bills draft picks (selected third)

Dallas Texans draft picks (selected sixth)

Denver Broncos draft picks (selected first)

Houston Oilers draft picks (selected eighth)

New York Titans draft picks (selected fifth)

Oakland Raiders draft picks (selected fourth)

San Diego Chargers draft picks (selected seventh)