The 1996 New York Jets season began with the team trying to improve upon its league-worst 3–13 record from 1995. However, this season proved even more calamitous as they finished 1–15, which is the worst record in franchise history. This led to the resignation of head coach Rich Kotite after the season ended.
Offseason [edit]
The Jets cut quarterback Boomer Esiason after he failed to replicate the success he enjoyed with the Cincinnati Bengals. They signed Neil O'Donnell, who had just led the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl. 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.
Season [edit]
O'Donnell was the starter for the first six games of the season, but they went 0–6 under him. After he suffered an injury during pregame warmups Kotite benched O'Donnell in favor of longtime Buffalo Bills backup quarterback Frank Reich, 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 the game for Arizona), in Sun Devil Stadium for what would be their only win of the season, in their first game against the Cardinals since 1978.[1] They finished the year with the worst record in the NFL at 1–15.
Schedule [edit]
| Week |
Date |
Opponent |
Result |
Game site |
Attendance |
| 1 |
September 1, 1996 |
at Denver Broncos |
L 6–31 |
Mile High Stadium |
70,595
|
| 2 |
September 8, 1996 |
Indianapolis Colts |
L 7–21 |
The Meadowlands |
63,534
|
| 3 |
September 15, 1996 |
at Miami Dolphins |
L 27–36 |
Pro Player Stadium |
68,137
|
| 4 |
September 22, 1996 |
New York Giants |
L 6–13 |
The Meadowlands |
58,339
|
| 5 |
September 29, 1996 |
at Washington Redskins |
L 16–31 |
Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium |
52,068
|
| 6 |
October 6, 1996 |
Oakland Raiders |
L 13–34 |
The Meadowlands |
63,611
|
| 7 |
October 13, 1996 |
at Jacksonville Jaguars |
L 17–21 |
Alltel Stadium |
65,699
|
| 8 |
October 20, 1996 |
Buffalo Bills |
L 22–25 |
The Meadowlands |
49,775
|
| 9 |
October 27, 1996 |
at Arizona Cardinals |
W 31–21 |
Sun Devil Stadium |
28,088
|
| 10 |
Bye |
| 11 |
November 10, 1996 |
New England Patriots |
L 27–31 |
The Meadowlands |
61,843
|
| 12 |
November 17, 1996 |
at Indianapolis Colts |
L 29–34 |
RCA Dome |
48,322
|
| 13 |
November 24, 1996 |
at Buffalo Bills |
L 10–35 |
Rich Stadium |
60,854
|
| 14 |
December 1, 1996 |
Houston Oilers |
L 10–35 |
The Meadowlands |
21,731
|
| 15 |
December 8, 1996 |
at New England Patriots |
L 10–34 |
Foxboro Stadium |
54,621
|
| 16 |
December 14, 1996 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
L 20–21 |
The Meadowlands |
29,176
|
| 17 |
December 22, 1996 |
Miami Dolphins |
L 28–31 |
The Meadowlands |
49,933
|
Standings [edit]
External links [edit]
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