1961 Houston Oilers season


The 1961 Houston Oilers season was the second season for the Houston Oilers as a professional American football franchise; For the second consecutive season, the Oilers scored a triumph in the AFL championship game over the San Diego Chargers, the Western Division champions.
The Oilers started slowly in 1961, with a 1–3–1 record. After a tie on October 13 with the Boston Patriots, head coach Lou Rymkus was fired by owner Bud Adams. Wally Lemm was hired, and the team went undefeated for the remainder of the season, including the championship game, a winning streak of ten games.
The Oilers set the AFL record for points scored in 1961, with 513. They also set an American Football League record with a +271 point differential, by allowing only 242 points. The 1961 Oilers are the only team in AFL or NFL history to score 45 points or more six times in a single season.

Offseason

On January 14, end Willard Dewveall played out his option with the Chicago Bears of the NFL and joined the Oilers. He became the first player to move deliberately from one league to another. Dewveall was the only one to move between leagues for five years, until placekicker Pete Gogolak moved from the Buffalo Bills to the New York Giants of the NFL in 1966.

AFL Draft

RoundPlayerPositionCollege
1Mike DitkaMike DitkaOffensive EndPittsburgh
2Tom GoodeTom GoodeCenterMississippi State
3Walter SuggsWalter Suggs 1TackleMississippi State
4Bobby WaldenBobby WaldenHalfbackGeorgia
5Monte LeeMonte LeeLinebackerTexas
6Jake GibbsJake GibbsQuarterbackMississippi
7Dick ReynoldsDick ReynoldsTackleNorth Carolina State
8Houston AntwineHouston Antwine 1,2GuardSouthern Illinois
9Ralph WhiteRalph WhiteTackleBowling Green
10Charles LeeCharles LeeCenterIowa
11Robert BirdRobert BirdGuardBowling Green
12Bob McLeodBob McLeodOffensive EndAbilene Christian
13Gerald HintonGerald HintonGuardLouisiana Tech
14Jimmy KingJimmy KingTackleClemson
15Dennis FerriterDennis FerriterCenterMarquette
16Larry WoodLarry WoodHalfbackNorthwestern
17Sam FewellSam FewellTackleSouth Carolina
18Mike GrimsleyMike GrimsleyHalfbackMichigan State
19Myron PearsonMyron PearsonHalfbackColorado
20Lewis JohnsonLewis JohnsonHalfbackFlorida A&M
21Ron MillerRon MillerQuarterbackWisconsin
22Bob KellyBob KellyOffensive EndNew Mexico State
23James AndersonJames AndersonFullbackMississippi
24Ken GregoryKen GregoryOffensive EndWhittier
25Jack KreiderJack KreiderHalfbackTulsa
26Don FuellDon FuellQuarterbackMississippi Southern
27Boyd KingBoyd KingCenterRice
28John FrongilloJohn FrongilloCenterBaylor
29Tom LewisJohn FrongilloOffensive EndLake Forest
29Tom LewisErrol LindenDefensive endHouston
30Tom LewisJim StroudTackleRice

Regular season

Standings

Season schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Roster

Postseason

AFL Championship Game

Houston Oilers 10, San Diego Chargers 3
Scoring