The Detroit Lions played their 67th season in the National Football League (NFL) in 1996. The team declined severely from their previous season's output of 10–6. Following a 4–2 start, the Lions lost nine of their final ten games to finish 5–11, missing the playoffs for the first time in four seasons.1996 Detroit Lions
Following the season, longtime head coach Wayne Fontes was fired and Bobby Ross was hired to be the team's head coach the following season.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsRB Glyn Milburn (Broncos) T Lomas Brown (Cardinals)TE Pete Metzelaars (Panthers) LB Chris Spielman (Bills)T Ray Roberts (Seahawks) LB Tracy Hayworth (Falcons) S Willie Clay (Patriots) G Doug Widell (Colts) DE Dan Owens (Falcons)
NFL draft
Notes
Detroit received San Diego's first-round selection (21st) in exchange for Detroit's second-round selection in 1995. Detroit traded up from the pick it received from San Diego (21st) with Seattle to the 17th pick, giving up a third-round selection (91st) in return. The 91st pick was received from Kansas City in exchange for S William White. Detroit traded its second- and seventh-round selections (55th and 236th) to Denver in exchange for RB Glyn Milburn. Detroit traded up from its third-round selection (86th) with New England to the Patriots' third-round selection (76th), giving up its fourth- and sixth-round selections (119th and 195th).
Personnel Staff
Roster
Regular season Schedule 1996 was the first time since 1984 that the Lions played the San Diego Chargers,Detroit Lions v San Diego Chargers and the first time they had met the Philadelphia Eagles in the regular season since 1986.Detroit Lions v Philadelphia Eagles The reason for this is that before the admission of the Texans in 2002, NFL scheduling formulas for games outside a team’s division were much more influenced by table position during the previous season.History of the NFL’s Structure and Formats Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance 1 September 1 at Minnesota Vikings L 17–130–1 52,972 2 September 8 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 21–61–1 54,229 3 September 15 at Philadelphia Eagles L 24–171–2 66,007 4 September 22 Chicago Bears W 35–162–2 70,022 5 September 29 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–03–2 34,961 6 October 6 Atlanta Falcons W 28–244–2 58,666 7 October 13 at Oakland Raiders L 37–214–3 50,037 8 Bye 9 October 27 New York Giants L 35–74–4 63,501 10 November 3 at Green Bay Packers L 28–184–5 60,695 11 at San Diego Chargers L 27–214–6 60,425 12 November 17 Seattle Seahawks W 17–165–6 51,194 13 November 24 at Chicago Bears L 31–145–7 55,864 14 Kansas City Chiefs L 28–245–8 75,079 15 December 8 Minnesota Vikings L 24–225–9 46,043 16 December 15 Green Bay Packers L 31–35–10 73,214 17 at San Francisco 49ers L 24–145–11 61,921Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
References
External links 1996 Detroit Lions at Pro-Football-Reference.com