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1996 Green Bay Packers season
Head Coach Mike Holmgren
Home Field Lambeau Field
Results
Record 13–3
Place 1st NFC Central
Playoff Finish Won Divisional Playoffs (49ers) 35–14
Won NFC Championship (Panthers) 30–13
Won Super Bowl XXXI (Patriots) 35–21
Timeline
Previous season Next season
1995 1997

The 1996 Green Bay Packers season was their 78th season overall and their 76th in the National Football League, which culminated with the franchise winning its third Super Bowl and league-record 12th NFL Championship. The Packers posted a league-best 13–3 regular season won-loss record, going 8–0 at home and 5–3 on the road. It was the first time since 1962 that the club went undefeated at home.[1] Additionally, the Packers had the NFL's highest-scoring offense (456) and allowed the fewest points on defense (210). Green Bay was the first team to accomplish both feats in the same season since the undefeated 1972 Miami Dolphins. They finished the season with the number one ranked offense, defense, and special teams. They also set a then NFL record for the fewest touchdowns allowed in a 16-game season, with 19. The Packers also allowed the fewest yards in the NFL and set a record for punt return yardage. Brett Favre won his second straight MVP award while also throwing for a career-high and league leading 39 touchdown passes.

In the postseason, the Packers defeated the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round and the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game. Green Bay beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXI to win their third Super Bowl and twelfth NFL Championship.[2]

In 2007, the 1996 Packers were ranked as the 16th greatest Super Bowl champions on the NFL Network's documentary series America's Game: The Super Bowl Champions. The 1996 Packers were ranked 6th-greatest Super Bowl team of all-time by a similar panel done by ESPN and released in 2007. As of 2019, the Packers are the only team since the implementation of the salary cap to score the most points and allow the fewest in the regular season.

Offseason[]

Additions Subtractions
WR Don Beebe (Panthers) QB Ty Detmer (Eagles)
WR Desmond Howard (Jaguars) WR Mark Ingram Sr. (Eagles)
FS Eugene Robinson (Seahawks) LB Joe Kelly (Eagles)
DT Santana Dotson (Buccaneers) LB Fred Strickland (Cowboys)
FS George Teague (Cowboys)

NFL Draft[]

1996 Green Bay Packers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 27 John Michels  Offensive tackle USC
2 56 Derrick Mayes  Wide receiver Notre Dame
3 90 Mike Flanagan *  Center UCLA
3 93 Tyrone Williams  Cornerback Nebraska
4 123 Chris Darkins  Running back Minnesota
6 208 Marco Rivera *  Guard Penn State
7 240 Kyle Wachholtz  Quarterback USC
7 252 Keith McKenzie  Defensive end Ball State
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[3]

Staff[]

1996 Green Bay Packers staff
Front office
  • President/Chief Executive Officer – Bob Harlan
  • Executive Vice President/General Manager – Ron Wolf
  • Director of Pro Personnel – Ted Thompson
  • Director of College Scouting – John Math
  • Pro Personnel Assistant – Reggie McKenzie

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Kent Johnston
  • Assistant Strength and Conditioning – Barry Rubin

[4]

Roster[]

1996 Green Bay Packers roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad



Rookies in italics
Active, Inactive, Practice squad

Preseason[]

Week Date Opponent Result Game site TV Time Record Attendance

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week Date Opponent Result Game site TV TV Announcers Time Record Attendance
1 September 1, 1996 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 34–3 Houlihan's Stadium FOX Mike Breen & Bill Maas 3:00pm 1–0
54,102
2 September 9, 1996 Philadelphia Eagles W 39–13 Lambeau Field ABC Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf 8:00pm 2–0
60,666
3 September 15, 1996 San Diego Chargers W 42–10 Lambeau Field NBC Charlie Jones & Randy Cross 12:00pm 3–0
60,584
4 September 22, 1996 at Minnesota Vikings L 21–30 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome FOX Sam Rosen & Ron Pitts 12:00pm 3–1
64,168
5 September 29, 1996 at Seattle Seahawks W 31–10 Kingdome FOX Kevin Harlan & Jerry Glanville 3:00pm 4–1
59,973
6 October 6, 1996 at Chicago Bears W 37–6 Soldier Field FOX Pat Summerall & John Madden 12:00pm 5–1
65,480
7 October 14, 1996 San Francisco 49ers W 23–20 (OT) Lambeau Field ABC Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf 8:00pm 6–1
60,716
8 Bye Week
9 October 27, 1996 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 13–7 Lambeau Field FOX Thom Brennaman & Ron Pitts 12:00pm 7–1
60,627
10 November 3, 1996 Detroit Lions W 28–18 Lambeau Field FOX Thom Brennaman & Ron Pitts 12:00pm 8–1
60,695
11 November 10, 1996 at Kansas City Chiefs L 20–27 Arrowhead Stadium FOX Dick Stockton & Matt Millen 12:00pm 8–2
79,281
12 November 18, 1996 at Dallas Cowboys L 6–21 Texas Stadium ABC Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf 8:00pm 8-3
65,032
13 November 24, 1996 at St. Louis Rams W 24–9 Trans World Dome ESPN Mike Patrick & Joe Theismann 7:00pm 9–3
61,499
14 December 1, 1996 Chicago Bears W 28–17 Lambeau Field FOX Dick Stockton & Matt Millen 12:00pm 10–3
59,682
15 December 8, 1996 Denver Broncos W 41–6 Lambeau Field NBC Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms 12:00pm 11–3
60,712
16 December 15, 1996 at Detroit Lions W 31–3 Pontiac Silverdome FOX Thom Brannaman & Ron Pitts 12:00pm 12–3
73,214
17 December 22, 1996 Minnesota Vikings W 38–10 Lambeau Field FOX Dick Stockton & Matt Millen 12:00pm 13–3
59,306

All times are CENTRAL time

Game summaries[]

Week 1: at. Tampa Bay Buccaneers[]

by Quarter 1 2 3 4 Total
• Packers 10 14 10 0 34
Buccaneers 0 3 0 0 3
  • Date: September 1
  • Location: Houlihan's Stadium
  • Game start: 4:00 p.m. EST
  • Game attendance: 54,102
  • Game weather: 81°F; wind 6

[5]

Standings[]

NFC Central
view · talk · edit W L T PCT PF PA
Green Bay Packers 13 3 0 .813 456 210
Minnesota Vikings 9 7 0 .563 298 315
Chicago Bears 7 9 0 .438 283 305
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6 10 0 .375 221 293
Detroit Lions 5 11 0 .313 302 368

Season statistical leaders[]

Brett Favre broke the Packers single-season record for touchdown passes by throwing 39.[6]

Playoffs[]

Schedule

Round Date Opponent Result Game site TV TV Announcers Time Record Attendance
NFC Divisional Playoff January 4, 1997 San Francisco 49ers W 35–14 Lambeau Field FOX Dick Stockton & Matt Millen 11:30am 14–3
60,787
NFC Championship Game January 12, 1997 Carolina Panthers W 30–13 Lambeau Field FOX Pat Summerall & John Madden 11:30am 15–3
60,216
Super Bowl XXXI January 26, 1997 New England Patriots W 35–21 Louisiana Superdome FOX Pat Summerall & John Madden 5:00pm 16–3
72,031

NFC Divisional Playoff vs. San Francisco 49ers[]

NFC Divisional Playoff: San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
49ers 0 7 7 0

14

Packers 14 7 7 7

35

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: January 4, 1997
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m

Green Bay was able to win going away on a cold damp day at Lambeau Field. With the weather turning the field into a muddy mess both offenses struggled. San Francisco was able to keep pace offensively and defensively for most of the game, with the score 21–14 in favor of Green Bay in the third quarter, but special teams were decisively dominated by the Packers. Penalties also played a factor as San Francisco had 6 for 42 yards, while Green Bay only had 1 for 5.

A muffed kickoff by Green Bay set up a 49ers touchdown, but Green Bay's Desmond Howard returned two kicks for large gains, including one touchdown. The final score was Green Bay 35–14.

NFC Championship Game vs. Carolina Panthers[]

NFC Championship Game: Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Panthers 7 3 3 0

13

Packers 0 17 10 3

30

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: January 12, 1997
  • Game time: 11:30 a.m

Super Bowl XXXI vs. New England Patriots[]

Super Bowl XXXI: New England Patriots vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1 2 3 4 Total
Patriots 14 0 7 0

21

Packers 10 17 8 0

35

at Louisiana Superdome

  • Date: January 26, 1997
  • Game time: 5:30 p.m.

The Packers win their first championship since 1967. Desmond Howard is named the Super Bowl MVP, as he accumulated 244 total yards worth of returns (kick and punt) including a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the 3rd quarter. Patriots Quarterback Drew Bledsoe threw 4 interceptions while Brett Favre threw for 246 yards and 2 touchdowns and ran another one in.

Awards and records[]

  • Brett Favre, Club Record, Most Touchdown Passes in One Season, 39
  • Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Touchdown Passes (39)
  • Brett Favre, NFC Leader, Passing Yardage (3,899)
  • Brett Favre, NFL MVP
  • Brett Favre, Bert Bell Award[7]
  • Brett Favre, Offense, UPI NFC Player of the Year
  • Brett Favre, NFC Pro Bowl Selection
  • Brett Favre, All-Pro Selection
  • Brett Favre, Best NFL Player ESPY Award
  • Desmond Howard, Super Bowl XXXI MVP
  • Reggie White, NFC Pro Bowl Selection

References[]

AFC East Central West East Central West NFC
Buffalo Baltimore Denver Arizona Chicago Atlanta
Indianapolis Cincinnati Kansas City Dallas Detroit Carolina
Miami Houston Oakland NY Giants Green Bay New Orleans
New England Jacksonville San Diego Philadelphia Minnesota St. Louis
NY Jets Pittsburgh Seattle Washington Tampa Bay San Francisco
1996 NFL DraftNFL PlayoffsPro BowlSuper Bowl XXXI
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