On January 14, Chicago Bears End Willard Dewveall played out his option and joined the Houston Oilers of the American Football League. He became the first player to move deliberately from one league to another.[ 1]
The Bears were notable for taking part in an exhibition game in their first ever game outside of the United States , taking on the CFL's Montreal Alouettes (the original team), winning 34–16.[ 2]
1961 Chicago Bears offensive line in action. "Bears Workout at Soldier Field for Armed Forces game Friday."
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Attendance
1
September 17
at Minnesota Vikings
L 13–37
0–1
32,236
2
September 23
at Los Angeles Rams
W 21–17
1–1
53,315
3
October 1
at Green Bay Packers
L 0–24
1–2
38,669
4
October 8
at Detroit Lions
W 31–17
2–2
53,854
5
October 15
Baltimore Colts
W 24–10
3–2
48,719
6
October 22
San Francisco 49ers
W 31–0
4–2
49,070
7
October 29
at Baltimore Colts
W 21–20
5–2
57,641
8
November 5
at Philadelphia Eagles
L 14–16
5–3
60,671
9
November 12
Green Bay Packers
L 28–31
5–4
49,711
10
November 19
at San Francisco 49ers
L 31–41
5–5
52,972
11
November 26
Los Angeles Rams
W 28–24
6–5
45,965
12
December 3
Detroit Lions
L 15–16
6–6
51,017
13
December 10
Cleveland Browns
W 17–14
7–6
38,717
14
December 17
Minnesota Vikings
W 52–35
8–6
34,539
1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
0
6 0 7
13
• Vikings
3
7 14 13
37
Date: September 17Location: Metropolitan Stadium Game attendance: 32,236Game weather: 61 °F (16 °C); wind 13 mph
[ 3]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Bears
7
0 7 7
21
Rams
3
7 0 7
17
[ 4]
1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
0
0 0 0
0
• Packers
7
3 7 7
24
Date: October 1Location: City Stadium Game attendance: 38,669Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C); wind 19 mph
[ 5]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Bears
0
7 3 21
31
Lions
10
0 7 0
17
Date: October 8Location: Tiger Stadium Game attendance: 53,854Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C); wind 7 mph
[ 6]
1
2 3 4 Total
Colts
0
7 0 3
10
• Bears
3
7 0 14
24
[ 7]
1
2 3 4 Total
49ers
0
0 0 0
0
• Bears
0
14 7 10
31
Date: October 22Location: Wrigley Field Game attendance: 49,070Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C); wind 8 mph
[ 8]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Bears
0
7 7 7
21
Colts
7
7 6 0
20
[ 9]
1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
7
7 0 0
14
• Eagles
3
7 6 0
16
Date: November 5Location: Franklin Field Game attendance: 60,671Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C); wind 9 mph
[ 10]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Packers
7
21 3 0
31
Bears
7
0 7 14
28
Date: November 12Location: Wrigley Field Game attendance: 49,711Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C); wind 13 mph
[ 11]
1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
7
3 7 14
31
• 49ers
17
3 21 0
41
Date: November 19Location: Kezar Stadium Game attendance: 52,972Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C); wind 7 mph
[ 12]
1
2 3 4 Total
Rams
7
0 3 14
24
• Bears
7
14 0 7
28
Date: November 26Location: Wrigley Field Game attendance: 45,965Game weather: 49 °F (9 °C); wind 12 mph
[ 13]
1
2 3 4 Total
• Lions
0
9 0 7
16
Bears
3
3 6 3
15
Date: December 3Location: Wrigley Field Game attendance: 51,017Game weather: 44 °F (7 °C); wind 10 mph
[ 14]
1
2 3 4 Total
Browns
14
0 0 0
14
• Bears
0
0 0 17
17
Date: December 10Location: Wrigley Field Game attendance: 38,717Game weather: 30 °F (−1 °C); wind 15 mph
[ 15]
1
2 3 4 Total
Vikings
14
7 7 7
35
• Bears
7
14 24 7
52
Scoring summary 1 MIN Hugh McElhenny 81 yard punt return (Mike Mercer kick)MIN 7–0 1 MIN Jerry Reichow 30 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick)MIN 14–0 1 CHI Angelo Coia 62 yard pass from Bill Wade (Roger LeClerc kick)MIN 14–7 2 CHI Willie Galimore 8 yard run (Roger LeClerc kick)Tie 14–14 2 CHI Mike Ditka 2 yard pass from Bill Wade (Roger LeClerc kick)CHI 21–14 2 MIN Jerry Reichow 11 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick) Tie 21–21 3 CHI Angelo Coia 16 yard pass from Bill Wade (Roger LeClerc kick) CHI 28–21 3 CHI Roger LeClerc 17 yard field goal CHI 31–21 3 CHI Mike Ditka 30 yard pass from Bill Wade (Roger LeClerc kick) CHI 38–21 3 MIN Gordie Smith 10 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick)CHI 38–28 3 CHI Charlie Bivins 30 yard run (Roger LeClerc kick)CHI 45–28 4 MIN Jerry Reichow 24 yard pass from Fran Tarkenton (Mike Mercer kick) CHI 45–35 4 CHI Willie Galimore 60 yard run (Roger LeClerc kick) CHI 52–35
[ 16]
Note: Tie games were not officially counted in the standings until 1972. 
