| 1961 AFL draft | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Date(s) | November 21–22, 1960 & December 5–6, 1960 |
| Overview | |
| 240 total selections in 30 rounds | |
| League | AFL |
| First selection | Ken Rice, OT Buffalo Bills |
| Mr. Irrelevant | Mike McKeever, G San Diego Chargers |
| Hall of Famers | 6 |
The 1961 American Football League draft, was held in 1960 because another league was in competition for the class of 1961 college stars, the American Football League draft for 1961 graduates. A six-round telephone draft was held on November 21 and 22, 1960, that saw the Buffalo Bills select Auburn's Ken Rice as the overall first draft pick.[1][2] The draft was completed on December 5 and 6, 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.[3][4][5]
- ^ "1961 AFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- ^ "Keith Lincoln second pick of Chargers". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. November 22, 1960. p. 14.
- ^ "LA Charger owner Hilton likes the setup in San Diego". Lodi News-Sentinel. California. UPI. January 7, 1961. p. 9.
- ^ "Chargers move south". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. Associated Press. January 25, 1961. p. 13.
- ^ "Chargers go to San Diego". Eugene Register-Guard. Oregon. Associated Press. January 25, 1961. p. 3B.