1961 Denver Broncos season
# 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.

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

## Offseason

### 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 ||||||

## 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 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. ||||||||

## Standings

AFL Western Division :

| viewtalkedit | 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.

