1961 NFL Expansion Draft
Encyclopedia
The 1961 NFL Expansion Draft was a National Football League (NFL) draft in which a new expansion team, named the Minnesota Vikings
, selected its first players. In August 1959, a group of Minneapolis businessmen were awarded a franchise in the new American Football League
(AFL). In January 1960, they forfeited their AFL membership and were awarded a 90% stake in the 14th franchise of the NFL (the other 10%, under a decades-old agreement, went to former Duluth Kelleys/Eskimos owner Ole Haugsrud
).
So that the Vikings could become competitive with existing teams, the league awarded the Vikings the first pick in the 1961 NFL Draft
and gave them the opportunity to select current players from existing teams. That selection was provided by the expansion draft, held on January 26, 1961. In this draft, the existing franchises listed players from which the Vikings could select to switch to the new team.
Though the ownership group had participated in the 1960 American Football League Draft
before jumping leagues to the NFL, they did not take any of the players they selected in that draft with them. As such, they entered the 1961 draft with an empty roster.
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
, selected its first players. In August 1959, a group of Minneapolis businessmen were awarded a franchise in the new American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
(AFL). In January 1960, they forfeited their AFL membership and were awarded a 90% stake in the 14th franchise of the NFL (the other 10%, under a decades-old agreement, went to former Duluth Kelleys/Eskimos owner Ole Haugsrud
Ole Haugsrud
Ole Haugsrud was an American sports executive. Haugsrud was born in Superior, Wisconsin. There is also a field in Superior, Wisconsin called Ole Haugsrud Field. The Superior High School Spartans and University of Wisconsin–Superior Yellowjackets play there. Haugsrud was owner of the Duluth Eskimos...
).
So that the Vikings could become competitive with existing teams, the league awarded the Vikings the first pick in the 1961 NFL Draft
1961 NFL Draft
The 1961 National Football League Draft took place on December 27–28, 1960. The league would later hold an expansion draft for the Minnesota Vikings expansion franchise, and the Vikings were also awarded the first selection position in this draft. This draft was also the first regular draft for...
and gave them the opportunity to select current players from existing teams. That selection was provided by the expansion draft, held on January 26, 1961. In this draft, the existing franchises listed players from which the Vikings could select to switch to the new team.
Though the ownership group had participated in the 1960 American Football League Draft
1960 American Football League Draft
The 1960 American Football League Draft was held on November 22, 1959, shortly after the organization of the league, and lasted 33 rounds. An additional draft of 20 rounds was held by the AFL on December 2.- Territorial draft :...
before jumping leagues to the NFL, they did not take any of the players they selected in that draft with them. As such, they entered the 1961 draft with an empty roster.
Rules of the Draft
Every existing NFL team except the Dallas Cowboys listed eight of its thirty-eight players, and the Vikings selected three players on the list from each team.Player selections
| Player | |College Team | Grady Alderman Grady Alderman Grady Alderman was an offensive lineman who played sixteen seasons in the NFL. He played most of his career with the Minnesota Vikings, and he played in three Super Bowls and was selected to five Pro Bowls... | Guard | Detroit | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
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| Tom Barnett Tom Barnett (American football) Thomas George Barnett is a former professional American football halfback & defensive back in the National Football League.-References:... |
Halfback | Purdue | Pittsburgh Steelers Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC... |
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| Byron Beams Byron Beams Byron Donnell Beams was an American football defensive and offensive tackle who played professionally in the National Football League and the American Football League . He played college football at Notre Dame. Beams was a 20th round selection of the Los Angeles Rams in the 1957 NFL Draft... |
Tackle | Notre Dame | Pittsburgh Steelers | ||
| Ken Beck Ken Beck Ken Beck is a retired Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League .Originally from Stawell, Beck was a tall ruckman and made his league debut in 1962. He was a regular member of the team during the 1960s and was a reserve in their 1971 premiership... |
Defensive tackle | Texas A&M | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
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| Bill Bishop | Defensive tackle | North Texas State | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
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| Don Boll Don Boll Donald Elroy Boll was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants. He played college football at the University of Nebraska and was drafted in the fourth round of the 1953 NFL Draft.... |
Tackle | Nebraska | New York Giants New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
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| Ed Culpepper Ed Culpepper Ed Culpepper is a former defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played two seasons with the Chicago Cardinals before moving with the team to St. Louis, Missouri before the 1960 NFL season. Culpepper was later selected in the 1961 NFL Expansion Draft by the Minnesota Vikings and would... |
Defensive tackle | Alabama | St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis Cardinals The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to... |
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| Don Ellersick | Flanker | Washington State | Los Angeles Rams | ||
| Dick Haley Dick Haley George Richard Haley, Jr. is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Washington Redskins, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Pittsburgh Steelers... |
Defensive back | Pittsburgh | Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
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| Gerry Huth Gerry Huth Gerald Bernard Huth was an American football guard in the National Football League for the New York Giants, the Philadelphia Eagles, and the Minnesota Vikings. He played college football at Wake Forest University and was drafted in the twenty fourth round of the 1956 NFL Draft.... |
Guard | Wake Forest | Philadelphia Eagles Philadelphia Eagles The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
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| Charlie Janerette | Guard | Penn State | Los Angeles Rams | ||
| Gene Johnson | Defensive back | Cincinnati | Philadelphia Eagles | ||
| Don Joyce | Defensive end | Tulane | Baltimore Colts History of the Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the AFC South division of the National Football League. They have won 3 NFL championships and 2 Super Bowls.... |
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| Bill Kimber | End | Florida State | New York Giants | ||
| Bill Lapham | Center | Iowa | Philadelphia Eagles | ||
| Hugh McElhenny Hugh McElhenny Hugh Edward McElhenny is a former American football running back in the National Football League who played from 1952–1964, for the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions. He was noted for his explosive, elusive running style and was frequently called "The... |
Halfback | Washington | San Francisco 49ers San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
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| Dave Middleton Dave Middleton David Middleton was an American football wide receiver, who played for the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He played college football at Auburn University.... |
End | Auburn | Detroit Lions | ||
| Jack Morris Jack Morris John Scott "Jack" Morris is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher. He played in 18 big league seasons between 1977 and 1994, mainly for the Detroit Tigers, and won 254 games throughout his career... |
Defensive back | Oregon | Pittsburgh Steelers | ||
| Rich Mostardi | Defensive back | Kent State | Cleveland Browns Cleveland Browns The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
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| Fred Murphy | End | Georgia Tech | Cleveland Browns | ||
| Clancy Osborne | Linebacker | Arizona State | San Francisco 49ers | ||
| Dick Pesonen Dick Pesonen Dick Pesonen is a former defensive back in the National Football League. Pesonen first played with the Green Bay Packers during the 1960 NFL season. He was later selected in the 1961 NFL Expansion Draft by the Minnesota Vikings and played that season with the team. From there he played three... |
Defensive back | Minnesota-Duluth | Green Bay Packers | ||
| Mike Rabold Mike Rabold Michael Rabold was an American football offensive guard who played eight years in the National Football League.... |
Guard | Indiana | St. Louis Cardinals | ||
| Perry Richards | SE | Detroit | St. Louis Cardinals | ||
| Bill Roehnelt Bill Roehnelt William Edward Roehnelt was an American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Chicago Bears and the Washington Redskins; and in the American Football League for the Denver Broncos. He played college football at Bradley University.-See also:*Other American Football League... |
Linebacker | Bradley | Washington Redskins | ||
| Karl Rubke Karl Rubke Karl John Rubke was a professional American football center and linebacker in the National Football League and the American Football League .-College career:... |
Linebacker | USC | San Francisco 49ers | ||
| Gene Selawski | Tackle | Purdue | Cleveland Browns | ||
| Glenn Shaw | Fullback | Kentucky | Chicago Bears | ||
| Lebron Shields | Defensive tackle | Tennessee | Baltimore Colts | ||
| Zeke Smith Zeke Smith Roger Duane "Zeke" Smith is a former American football player in the National Football League for the Baltimore Colts and the New York Giants. He played college football at Auburn University where he was awarded the Outland Trophy in 1958... |
Linebacker | Auburn | Baltimore Colts | ||
| Jerry Stalcup Jerry Stalcup Jerry Stalcup is a former linebacker in the National Football League. Stalcup was drafted in the sixth round of the 1960 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Rams and played that season with the team... |
Linebacker | Wisconsin | Los Angeles Rams | ||
| Louis "Red" Stephens | Guard | San Francisco | Washington Redskins | ||
| Charlie Sumner Charlie Sumner Charles "Charlie" Sumner is a former American football player who was selected by the Chicago Bears in the twenty second round of the 1954 NFL Draft. A 6'1", 194 lbs. safety from the College of William & Mary, Sumner played in 8 NFL seasons from 1955-1962... |
Defensive back | William & Mary | Chicago Bears | ||
| Dave Whitsell Dave Whitsell David A. Whitsell was an American football cornerback in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions, the Chicago Bears, and the New Orleans Saints. He was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1967 season. Whitsell played college football at Indiana University.... |
Defensive back | Indiana | Detroit Lions | ||
| Paul Winslow Paul Winslow (American football) Paul Winslow is a former defensive back in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the thirteenth round of the 1960 NFL Draft and played that season with the team.-References:... |
Halfback | North Carolina Central | Green Bay Packers | ||
| Frank Youso Frank Youso Frank Michael Youso is a former American college and professional football offensive tackle.-Pro Football Career:... |
Tackle | Minnesota | New York Giants | ||
See also
- Pro Football Hall of Fame - 1961 Draft
- Dbasefootball - 1961 Draft
- 1961 American Football League Draft1961 American Football League DraftBecause another league was in competition for the class of 1961 college stars, the American Football League draft for 1961 graduates was actually held in 1960, with a six-round telephone draft on November 23, that saw the Denver Broncos select New Mexico State's Bob Gaiters as the overall first...