The 1996 New York Jets season was the franchise's 27th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the 37th overall. They failed to improve upon its league-worst 3–13 record from 1995 as they finished 1–15, which is the worst record in franchise history. As a result, head coach Rich Kotite stepped down before the season ended.
The Jets tied an NFL record that the New Orleans Saints set in 1980 and became the fifth team and first since the 1991 Indianapolis Colts to finish a season with fifteen losses. The record would be equaled by the 2000 San Diego Chargers, 2001 Carolina Panthers, and the 2007 Miami Dolphins before the 2008 Detroit Lions eclipsed it by becoming the first team to go through a sixteen-game season without a single victory.
Offseason After three seasons with quarterback Boomer Esiason as the starter, the Jets decided to go in a different direction and released Esiason in the offseason. They signed Neil O'Donnell, who had just led the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl, to replace him in the hopes he would duplicate his success with the Steelers. The Jets received the first pick in the NFL draft in April and drafted wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson out of the University of Southern California. The Jets also signed offensive tackles Jumbo Elliott and David Williams and receivers Jeff Graham and Webster Slaughter. The Jets spent $70 million in the offseason on free-agent and rookie contracts.
Additions SubtractionsQB Neil O'Donnell (Steelers) QB Boomer Esiason (Cardinals)QB Frank Reich (Panthers) T James Brown (Dolphins)RB Reggie Cobb (Jaguars) TE Johnny Mitchell (Dolphins)T Jumbo Elliott (Giants) FS Anthony Prior (Vikings)G Harry Galbreath (Packers) WR Jeff Graham (Bears) WR Webster Slaughter (Chiefs)
NFL draft
Personnel
Staff/coaches Front office Owner – Leon Hess Team president & CEO - Steve Gutman General manager - Rich Kotite Coaching staff Head coach - Rich Kotite
Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator - Ron Erhardt Wide receivers Coach - Richard Mann Offensive line Coach - Bill Muir Running backs - Dick Wood Tight ends - Pat Hodgson Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator - Jim Vechiarella Defensive line Coach - Ray Hamilton Defensive backs - Peter Giunta Quality control /defensive Assistant Coach - Tom Gamble
Scouting department Assistant scout - Todd Haley
Roster
Season O'Donnell was the starter for the first six games of the season, but they went 0–6 under him. He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during pregame warmups before the seventh game. Longtime Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Frank Reich replaced him, but he didn't fare much better. They lost to Jacksonville and Buffalo, before the now lowly 0–8 Jets beat former Jets QB Boomer Esiason and his new team, the Arizona Cardinals (although Esiason didn't play for Arizona in that game), at Sun Devil Stadium for what would become their only win of the season in their first game against the Cardinals since 1978.Arizona Cardinals v New York Jets Kotite announced his resignation on December 20.
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 1 at Denver BroncosL 6–31 0–1 Mile High Stadium 70,595 2 September 8 Indianapolis Colts L 7–21 0–2 Giants Stadium 63,534 3 September 15 at Miami Dolphins L 27–36 0–3 Pro Player Stadium 68,137 4 September 22 New York Giants L 6–13 0–4 Giants Stadium 58,339 5 September 29 at Washington Redskins L 16–31 0–5 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium 52,068 6 October 6 Oakland Raiders L 13–34 0–6 Giants Stadium 63,611 7 October 13 at Jacksonville JaguarsL 17–21 0–7 Alltel Stadium 65,699 8 October 20 Buffalo Bills L 22–25 0–8 Giants Stadium 49,775 9 October 27 at Arizona Cardinals W 31–21 1–8 Sun Devil Stadium 28,088 10 Bye 11 November 10 New England Patriots L 27–31 1–9 Giants Stadium 61,843 12 November 17 at Indianapolis Colts L 29–34 1–10 RCA Dome 48,322 13 November 24 at Buffalo Bills L 10–35 1–11 Rich Stadium 60,854 14 December 1 Houston Oilers L 10–35 1–12 Giants Stadium 21,731 15 December 8 at New England Patriots L 10–34 1–13 Foxboro Stadium 54,621 16 Philadelphia Eagles L 20–21 1–14 Giants Stadium 29,176 17 December 22 Miami Dolphins L 28–31 1–15 Giants Stadium 49,933 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 6: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 9: at Arizona Cardinals
The 0-8 Jets were desperately looking for their first win of the season as they faced the Cardinals in Arizona. In the first quarter, Nick Lowery opened the score for the Jets with a 37-yard field goal. By the second quarter, the Jets powered through with two touchdowns from Keyshawn Johnson and Richie Anderson. However, by the third quarter, the Cardinals scored two touchdowns of their own, cutting the Jets' lead to three. Fortunately, in the fourth quarter, the Jets scored two more touchdowns, en route to their first victory of the season as they defeated the Cardinals 31–21.
Standings
External links 1996 statistics