The 1996 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season was the team's 21st in the National Football League (NFL). The Buccaneers failed to improve on their 7–9 season in 1995, finishing 6–10. It was the first season under head coach Tony Dungy. The 1996 season marked the final year that the Buccaneers wore their trademark orange, red, and white "creamsicle" uniforms. Until 2010, it was the last time that the Buccaneers failed to sell out any of its home games. Despite Tampa finishing with a losing record, Dungy had restored the competitive spirit in the organization. Five of the ten losses were by a touchdown or less, and the team finished the season winning five of their final seven games.
The Buccaneers would not have another losing season until 2003.
Offseason Prior to the season the Buccaneers were still unsure if the franchise would remain in the Tampa Bay area long-term. The new ownership family led by Malcolm Glazer and sons, which had purchased the team in January 1995, wanted a new stadium, new team logos/uniforms, and were open to relocation. Talks regarding funding for a new stadium to replace aging Tampa Stadium had stalled in the spring of 1996. Candidate cities for relocation included Cleveland,“Pro Football: Vote Is Delayed on Browns’ Relocation”; in The New York Times; January 18, 1996 Los Angeles, or the nearby city of Orlando. On September 3, 1996, a ballot measure passed, which approved funding for a new stadium. The team was guaranteed to stay in Tampa, and the stadium would open in .
Rule changes earlier in the decade brought about a salary cap, and a minimum spending cap forced Buccaneers to spend more on players. With the new ownership, tax disclosures showed the old Culverhouse regime was running a "for-profit" business in which players who were getting good were released before their contracts could get big, all the while claiming poor and trying to get some home games played in Orlando.
NFL draft
Prior to the 1996 season the team drafted fullback Mike Alstott, who became one of the most popular players in the team's history, as well as cornerback Donnie Abraham. Although Alstott would become one of the Buccaneers’ most popular players of all time, the organization did not target him in the draft: the team had originally wanted tailback Leeland McElroy, who would be taken before the Bucs drafted.
= Pro Bowler
Pick Round Player Position School121Regan UpshawDefensive EndCalifornia221Marcus JonesDefensive EndNorth Carolina352Mike AlstottFullbackPurdue713Donnie AbrahamCornerbackEast Tennessee State University964Jason OdomOffensive TackleFlorida1044Eric AustinStrong SafetyJackson State1405Jason ManieckiDefensive TackleWisconsin1806Nilo SilvanWide ReceiverTennessee2217Reggie RuskCornerbackKentucky
Undrafted free agents
+ 1996 Undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeScott MilanovichQuarterbackMaryland
Season summary Despite having been 7–7 toward the end of 1995, the 1996 team went 0–5 before getting their first win over Tony Dungy's former team, the Minnesota Vikings. The 24–13 win over Minnesota started another streak few noted at the time, in which the team held opponents to 13 points or less in four consecutive games. Despite this, the Oakland Raiders came to Tampa Bay in Week Eleven facing a 1–8 Buccaneers team. Tampa Bay defeated Oakland 20–17 in overtime, which was the first of five wins over the next seven games.
The following week, Tampa Bay traveled to the west coast, where they historically had trouble winning. Playing an interconference game at San Diego, Tampa Bay quickly found themselves down 14–0. The morning of the game, Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks were in their hotel room watching ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown. Chris Berman referred to the game as the "Superchargers" versus the "Yucs""Relentless: the Road to Canton – Warren Sapp": NFL Network – a derogatory nickname that had stemmed from the Bucs' many years of futility. Sapp and Brooks finally took exception to the ridicule they were being subjected to. Tampa Bay would rally in the game with a 25–3 run and won by the score of 25–17. Tampa Bay would win two of the next three, including an emotional win over Chicago 34–19 in which the Bucs returned a punt for a touchdown.
Many fans took encouragement from the team going 5–2 in the final seven games, as well as the emergence of defensive tackle Warren Sapp who had nine sacks on the season, linebacker Derrick Brooks, and fullback Mike Alstott, who along with safety John Lynch and linebacker Hardy Nickerson, were forming the core of what would prove to be a dominant defense.
The offense struggled all season, and was not helped by an ill-advised holdout by running back Errict Rhett, who would have far fewer carries the following year.
Personnel 1996 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staffFront office Owner/president – Malcolm Glazer General manager – Rich McKay Director of player personnel – Jerry Angelo Director of college scouting – Tim Ruskell
Head coaches Head coach – Tony Dungy Assistant head coach/defensive backs – Herman Edwards
Offensive coaches
Offensive coordinator – Mike Shula Running backs – Tony Nathan Wide receivers – Charlie Williams Tight ends – Clyde Christensen Offensive line – Chris Foerster Offensive assistant – Ricky Porter Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Monte Kiffin Defensive line – Rod Marinelli Linebackers – Lovie Smith Defensive assistant – Kevin O'Dea
Special teams coaches Special teams – Joe Marciano
Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Mark Asanovich Strength and conditioning assistant – Aaron Komarek
Roster
Regular season
Schedule Regular season Week Date Opponent Result Game site Attendance Record 1 September 1 Green Bay Packers L 3–34 Houlihan's Stadium 54,102 0–1 2 September 8 at Detroit Lions L 6–21 Pontiac Silverdome 54,229 0–2 3 September 15 at Denver Broncos L 23–27 Mile High Stadium 71,535 0–3 4 September 22 Seattle Seahawks L 13–17 Houlihan's Stadium 30,212 0–4 5 September 29 Detroit Lions L 0–27 Houlihan's Stadium 34,961 0–5 6 Bye 7 October 13 Minnesota Vikings W 24–13 Houlihan's Stadium 32,175 1–5 8 October 20 at Arizona Cardinals L 9–13 Sun Devil Stadium 27,738 1–6 9 October 27 at Green Bay Packers L 7–13 Lambeau Field 60,627 1–7 10 November 3 at Chicago Bears L 10–13 Soldier Field 58,727 1–8 11 November 10 Oakland Raiders W 20–17(OT) Houlihan's Stadium 45,392 2–8 12 November 17 at San Diego Chargers W 25–17 Jack Murphy Stadium 57,526 3–8 13 November 24 New Orleans Saints W 13–7 Houlihan's Stadium40,203 4–8 14 December 1 at Carolina Panthers L 0–24 Ericsson Stadium 57,623 4–9 15 December 8 Washington Redskins W 24–10 Houlihan's Stadium44,723 5–9 16 December 15 at Minnesota Vikings L 10–21 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 49,302 5–10 17 December 22 Chicago Bears W 34–19 Houlihan's Stadium 51,572 6–10Notes: Division opponents in bold text
Standings
Notes
References