1996 New York Jets season

The 1996 New York Jets season was the franchise's 27th season in the National Football League 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. This led to the firing of head coach Rich Kotite before the season ended with a record of 1–15.

1996 New York Jets season
Head coachRich Kotite (resigned)
OwnerLeon Hess
Home fieldThe Meadowlands
Results
Record1–15
Division place5th AFC East
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersNone

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.

AdditionsSubtractions
QB 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
Main article: 1996 NFL Draft
Round Pick Player Position School/Club Team
1 1 Keyshawn Johnson Wide Receiver USC
2 31 Alex Van Dyke Wide Receiver Nevada-Reno
3 62 Ray Mickens Defensive Back Texas A&M
5 133 Marcus Coleman Defensive Back Texas Tech
6 168 Hugh Hunter Defensive End Hampton
7 210 Chris Hayes Defensive Back Washington State

Personnel

Staff/Coaches
1996 New York Jets staff
Front Office   Coaching Staff
  • Head Coach - Rich Kotite

Offensive coaches

   Defensive coaches

Scouting Department

Roster
1996 New York Jets final 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

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.[1] Kotite announced his resignation on December 20.

Schedule
WeekDateOpponentResultGame siteNetworkKickoff (ET)AttendanceRecord
1September 1, 1996at Denver BroncosL 6–31Mile High StadiumNBC4:00pm
70,595
0-1
2September 8, 1996Indianapolis ColtsL 7–21Giants StadiumNBC1:00pm
63,534
0-2
3September 15, 1996at Miami DolphinsL 27–36Pro Player StadiumNBC1:00pm
68,137
0-3
4September 22, 1996New York GiantsL 6–13Giants StadiumFOX4:00pm
58,339
0-4
5September 29, 1996at Washington RedskinsL 16–31Robert F. Kennedy Memorial StadiumTNT8:00pm
52,068
0-5
6October 6, 1996Oakland RaidersL 13–34Giants StadiumNBC1:00pm
63,611
0-6
7October 13, 1996at Jacksonville JaguarsL 17–21Alltel StadiumNBC1:00pm
65,699
0-7
8October 20, 1996Buffalo BillsL 22–25Giants StadiumNBC4:00pm
49,775
0-8
9October 27, 1996at Arizona CardinalsW 31–21Sun Devil StadiumNBC4:00pm
28,088
1-8
10Bye
11November 10, 1996New England PatriotsL 27–31Giants StadiumNBC1:00pm
61,843
1-9
12November 17, 1996at Indianapolis ColtsL 29–34RCA DomeNBC1:00pm
48,322
1-10
13November 24, 1996at Buffalo BillsL 10–35Rich StadiumNBC1:00pm
60,854
1-11
14December 1, 1996Houston OilersL 10–35Giants StadiumNBC1:00pm
21,731
1-12
15December 8, 1996at New England PatriotsL 10–34Foxboro StadiumNBC1:00pm
54,621
1-13
16December 14, 1996Philadelphia EaglesL 20–21Giants StadiumFOX12:30pm
29,176
1-14
17December 22, 1996Miami DolphinsL 28–31Giants StadiumNBC1:00pm
49,933
1-15

Standings
AFC East
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) New England Patriots 11 5 0 .688 418 313 W1
(4) Buffalo Bills 10 6 0 .625 319 266 W1
(6) Indianapolis Colts 9 7 0 .563 317 334 L1
Miami Dolphins 8 8 0 .500 339 325 W2
New York Jets 1 15 0 .063 279 454 L7
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  1. Arizona Cardinals v New York Jets
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