The 1996 season was the Green Bay Packers' 76th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 78th overall and their fifth under head coach Mike Holmgren. The franchise won its third Super Bowl and league-record 12th NFL Championship. The Packers posted a league-best 13–3 regular season win-loss record, going 8–0 at home and 5–3 on the road. It was the first time since 1962 that the team went undefeated at home.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p. 266 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 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.
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, with team commentary from Brett Favre, Mike Holmgren, and Desmond Howard, and narrated by Kevin Bacon. The 1996 Packers were ranked 6th-greatest Super Bowl team of all time by a similar panel done by ESPN and released in 2007. Later, they ranked #20 on the 100 greatest teams of all time presented by the NFL on its 100th anniversary. As of 2023, 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 SubtractionsWR 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) DT John Jurkovic (Jaguars)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents + 1996 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeBrad KeeneyDefensive tackleThe CitadelEric MatthewsWide receiverIndianaTroy StarkOffensive tackleGeorgia
Staff
Roster
1996 Green Bay Packers season
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Gamerecap 1New England Patriots W 24–7 1–0Lambeau FieldRecap 2Pittsburgh Steelers W 24–17 2–0Lambeau FieldRecap 3at Baltimore RavensW 17–15 3–0Memorial StadiumRecap 4at Indianapolis Colts L 6–20 3–1RCA DomeRecap
Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site Recap 1 September 1 at Tampa Bay BuccaneersW 34–3 1–0 Houlihan's StadiumRecap 2 Philadelphia EaglesW 39–13 2–0 Lambeau FieldRecap 3 September 15 San Diego ChargersW 42–10 3–0 Lambeau FieldRecap 4 September 22 at Minnesota VikingsL 21–30 3–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 5 September 29 at Seattle Seahawks W 31–10 4–1 KingdomeRecap 6 October 6 at Chicago BearsW 37–6 5–1 Soldier FieldRecap 7 San Francisco 49ersW 23–20 6–1 Lambeau FieldRecap 8 Bye 9 October 27 Tampa Bay BuccaneersW 13–7 7–1 Lambeau FieldRecap 10 November 3 Detroit LionsW 28–18 8–1 Lambeau FieldRecap 11 November 10 at Kansas City ChiefsL 20–27 8–2 Arrowhead StadiumRecap 12 at Dallas CowboysL 6–21 8–3 Texas StadiumRecap 13 November 24 at St. Louis RamsW 24–9 9–3 Trans World DomeRecap 14 December 1 Chicago BearsW 28–17 10–3 Lambeau FieldRecap 15 December 8 Denver BroncosW 41–6 11–3 Lambeau FieldRecap 16 December 15 at Detroit LionsW 31–3 12–3 Pontiac SilverdomeRecap 17 December 22 Minnesota VikingsW 38–10 13–3 Lambeau FieldRecap
Postseason
Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Record Venue Recap Wild Card First-round bye Divisional January 4, 1997 San Francisco 49ers (4)W 35–14 1–0 Lambeau FieldRecap NFC Championship January 12, 1997 Carolina Panthers (2)W 30–13 2–0 Lambeau FieldRecap Super Bowl XXXI January 26, 1997 New England Patriots (A2)W 35–21 3–0 Louisiana SuperdomeRecap
Game summaries
Week 1: at. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2014-Jun-20.
Week 3: vs San Diego Chargers
Week 5: at. Seattle Seahawks
Standings
Season statistical leaders Brett Favre broke the Packers single-season record for touchdown passes by throwing 39. Passing yards: Brett Favre 3,899 yards Passing touchdowns: Brett Favre 39 TD Rushing yards: Edgar Bennett, 899 yards Rushing touchdowns: Dorsey Levens, 5 TD Receiving yards: Antonio Freeman, 933 yards Receiving touchdowns: Keith Jackson, 10 TD Points: Chris Jacke, 114 points Kickoff return yards: Desmond Howard, 460 yards Punt return yards: Desmond Howard, 875 yards Tackles: George Koonce, 97 tackles Sacks: Reggie White, 8.5 sacks Interceptions: Eugene Robinson, 6 interceptions
Playoffs
NFC Divisional Playoff vs. San Francisco 49ers
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
Super Bowl XXXI vs. New England Patriots
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 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 Keith Jackson, NFC Pro Bowl selection
References