1961 Minnesota Vikings Statistics

National Football League (NFL)
Team Record: 3-11
Finishing 7th in the NFL's West Division
Coach: Norm Van Brocklin (3-11)
Location: Bloomington, Minnesota

1961 Minnesota Vikings Roster
1961 Minnesota Vikings Results

The Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League ended the 1961 season with a record of 3 wins and 11 losses, finishing seventh in the NFL's West Division.

The Vikings chalked up 285 points, but the wobbly defensive unit conceded 407, most in the circuit. Hugh McElhenny carried the ball for a team-best 570 yards for Minnesota.

Fran Tarkenton threw for 1,997 yards. Jerry Reichow snagged 50 passes for 859 yards.

The opportunistic defense pounced on 45 turnovers. Rip Hawkins picked off 5 opponent throws.

Norm Van Brocklin coached the team.

Click on column headings to sort.

Passing:

Player	Att	Comp	Comp %	Yds	Yds/Att	TDs	TD %	Ints	Int %	Long	Rating
Fran Tarkenton	280	157	56.1	1997	7.1	18	6.4	17	6.1	71	74.7
George Shaw	91	46	50.5	530	5.8	4	4.4	4	4.4	42	64.8
Jamie Caleb	1	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	39.6
Hugh McElhenny	1	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	39.6
Tommy Mason	1	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	9	39.6
Jerry Reichow	3	0	0.0	0	0.0	0	0.0	1	33.3	0	0.0
Totals	377	203	53.8	2527	6.7	22	5.8	22	5.8	71

Rushing:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long	TDs
Hugh McElhenny	120	570	4.8	41	3
Mel Triplett	80	407	5.1	37	1
Ray Hayes	73	319	4.4	22	2
Fran Tarkenton	56	308	5.5	52	5
Tommy Mason	60	226	3.8	21	3
Doug Mayberry	13	40	3.1	13	0
George Shaw	10	39	3.9	19	0
Jamie Caleb	3	11	3.7	4	0
Jerry Reichow	3	9	3.0	21	0
Mike Mercer	1	-32	-32.0	-32	0
Totals	419	1897	4.5	52	14

Receiving:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long	TDs
Jerry Reichow	50	859	17.2	51	11
Hugh McElhenny	37	283	7.6	26	3
Dave Middleton	30	444	14.8	57	2
Tommy Mason	20	122	6.1	18	0
Ray Hayes	16	121	7.6	22	0
A.D. Williams	13	174	13.4	49	1
Gordie Smith	12	320	26.7	71	4
Mel Triplett	10	41	4.1	15	0
Bob Schnelker	6	70	11.7	20	1
Dick Haley	3	43	14.3	22	0
Will Sherman	2	40	20.0	32	0
Doug Mayberry	2	18	9.0	13	0
Jamie Caleb	2	-8	-4.0	5	0
Totals	203	2527	12.4	71	22

Kicking:

Player	X/CA	X/CM	X/CP %	FGA	FGM	FG %	Pts.
Mike Mercer	37	36	97.3	21	9	42.9	63
Totals	37	36	97.3	21	9	42.9	63

Punting:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long
Mike Mercer	63	2458	39.0	59
Totals	63	2458	39.0	59

Punt Returns:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long	TDs
Hugh McElhenny	8	155	19.4	81	1
Tommy Mason	14	146	10.4	23	0
Jamie Caleb	1	8	8.0	8	0
Totals	23	309	13.4	81	1

Kick Returns:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long
Tommy Mason	25	603	24.1	42
Jamie Caleb	22	504	22.9	38
Justin Rowland	8	175	21.9	30
Dick Pesonen	6	136	22.7	60
Hugh McElhenny	2	59	29.5	35
Billy Gault	2	41	20.5	21
Mel Triplett	3	41	13.7	18
Jim Leo	3	9	3.0	9
Ray Hayes	1	0	0.0	0
Totals	72	1568	21.8	60

Interceptions:

Player	No.	Yds	Avg.	Long
Rip Hawkins	5	70	14.0	34
Clancy Osborne	4	35	8.8	10
Dean Derby	3	73	24.3	30
Jack Morris	2	90	45.0	65
Rich Mostardo	2	22	11.0	21
Charlie Sumner	2	6	3.0	6
Dick Pesonen	1	28	28.0	28
Dick Grecni	1	16	16.0	16
Karl Rubke	1	12	12.0	12
Justin Rowland	1	4	4.0	4
Totals	22	356	16.2	65

Defense and Fumbles:

Player	Tackle	Brup	Fum	FRec	FYds	FTD
Fran Tarkenton			8	5	0
Jim Marshall			0	4	0	0
Grady Alderman			0	3	15	0
Rich Mostardo		0	0	3	18	0
Charlie Sumner		0	0	3	2	0
Jack Morris		0	0	2	0	0
Clancy Osborne		0	0	2	0	0
Ed Culpepper			0	2	0	0
Dean Derby		0	0	2	0	0
Tommy Mason			7	2	0
Hugh McElhenny			8	2	2
Fred Murphy			0	2	0	0
Dave Middleton			0	1	0
Ken Petersen			0	1	0	0
Dick Haley			1	1	0	0
Jerry Huth			0	1	0	0
Bob Schnelker			0	1	0
Jim Prestel			0	1	0	0
George Shaw			1	0	0	0
Gordie Smith			1	0	0
Dick Pesonen		0	1	0	0	0
Mel Triplett			4	0	0
Ray Hayes			5	0	0
Totals	0	0	36	38	37	0

Total Scoring:

	Touchdowns								Other					Total
Player	Rush	Rec	Punt	Kick	MFG	Int	Fum	Other	FG	X/C	Single	2Pt	Saf	Points
Jerry Reichow	0	11							0	0	0			66
Mike Mercer	0								9	36	0			63
Hugh McElhenny	3	3	1	0					0	0	0			42
Fran Tarkenton	5								0	0	0			30
Gordie Smith		4							0	0	0			24
Tommy Mason	3	0	0	0					0	0	0			18
Dave Middleton		2							0	0	0			12
Ray Hayes	2	0		0					0	0	0			12
Bob Schnelker		1							0	0	0			6
A.D. Williams		1							0	0	0			6
Mel Triplett	1	0		0					0	0	0			6
Totals	14	22	1	0	0	0	0	0	9	36	0	0	0	285