| 1996 Chicago Bears season | |
|---|---|
| Head coach | Dave Wannstedt |
| Home field | Soldier Field |
| Results | |
| Record | 7–9 |
| Division place | 3rd NFC Central |
| Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
The 1996 Chicago Bears season was their 77th regular season completed in the National Football League (NFL). They failed to improve on their 9–7 record from 1995 and finished with a 7–9 record under head coach Dave Wannstedt. It was the team's first losing season since 1993 when it was Wannstedt's first season.
| Additions | Subtractions |
|---|---|
| LB Bryan Cox (Dolphins) | K Kevin Butler (Cardinals) |
| QB Dave Krieg (Cardinals) | WR Jeff Graham (Jets) |
| TE Kerry Cash (Raiders) | CB Jeremy Lincoln (Rams) |
| K Jeff Jaeger (Raiders) |
|
Main article: 1996 NFL draft |
| 1996 Chicago Bears draft | |||||
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 | Walt Harris * | Cornerback | Mississippi State | |
| 2 | 52 | Bobby Engram | Wide receiver | Penn State | |
| 4 | 116 | Paul Grasmanis | Defensive tackle | Notre Dame | |
| 5 | 152 | Chris Villarrial | Guard | Indiana (PA) | |
| 6 | 187 | Jon Clark | Offensive tackle | Temple | |
| 7 | 233 | Marcus Keyes | Defensive tackle | North Alabama | |
| 7 | 253 | Michael Hicks | Running back | South Carolina State | |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career | |||||
| Player | Position | College |
|---|---|---|
| Chris Martin | Cornerback | Northwestern |
| Bobby Neely | Tight end | Virginia |
|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | TV Time | TV Announcers | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 2, 1996 | Dallas Cowboys | W 22–6 | ABC 8:00pm | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf | 66,944
|
| 2 | September 8, 1996 | at Washington Redskins | L 10–3 | FOX 12:00pm | Dick Stockton & Matt Millen | 52,711
|
| 3 | September 15, 1996 | Minnesota Vikings | L 20–14 | FOX 12:00pm | Mike Breen & Bill Maas | 61,301
|
| 4 | September 22, 1996 | at Detroit Lions | L 35–16 | FOX 3:00pm | Kevin Harlan & Jerry Glanville | 70,022
|
| 5 | September 29, 1996 | Oakland Raiders | W 19–17 | NBC 12:00pm | Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms | 57,062
|
| 6 | October 6, 1996 | Green Bay Packers | L 37–6 | FOX 12:00pm | Pat Summerall & John Madden | 65,480
|
| 7 | October 13, 1996 | at New Orleans Saints | L 27–24 | FOX 12:00pm | Mike Breen & Bill Maas | 43,512
|
| 8 | Bye | |||||
| 9 | October 28, 1996 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 15–13 | ABC 8:00pm | Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf | 58,143
|
| 10 | November 3, 1996 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 13–10 | FOX 12:00pm | Kenny Albert & Tim Green | 58,727
|
| 11 | November 10, 1996 | at Denver Broncos | L 17–12 | FOX 3:00pm | Kevin Harlan & Jerry Glanville | 75,555
|
| 12 | November 17, 1996 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 14–10 | FOX 12:00pm | Dick Stockton & Matt Millen | 76,752
|
| 13 | November 24, 1996 | Detroit Lions | W 31–14 | FOX 12:00pm | Kenny Albert & Tim Green | 55,864
|
| 14 | December 1, 1996 | at Green Bay Packers | L 28–17 | FOX 12:00pm | Dick Stockton & Matt Millen | 59,682
|
| 15 | December 8, 1996 | St. Louis Rams | W 35–9 | FOX 12:00pm | Thom Brennaman & Ron Pitts | 45,075
|
| 16 | December 14, 1996 | San Diego Chargers | W 27–14 | NBC 3:00pm | Charlie Jones & Randy Cross | 49,763
|
| 17 | December 22, 1996 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 34–19 | FOX 12:00pm | Thom Brennaman & Ron Pitts | 51,572
|
| NFC Central | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK | |
| (1) Green Bay Packers | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 456 | 210 | W5 |
| (6) Minnesota Vikings | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 298 | 315 | L1 |
| Chicago Bears | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 283 | 305 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 221 | 293 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 302 | 368 | L5 |
