1996 Atlanta Falcons season

NFL team season

The 1996 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise’s 31st season in the National Football League (NFL). The Falcons were unable to match their previous season’s output of 9–7 and failed to reach the playoffs. Atlanta started the season 0–8, going winless until November.[1] Two of the team’s three wins were over the equally inept New Orleans Saints, who also finished 3–13.

The Falcons allowed 461 points in 1996, the most in team history.[2] Football Outsiders calculates that the 1996 Falcons had the third-worst pass defense they had ever tracked.[3]

The season was notable when Jeff George was engaged in a shouting match with June Jones in a nationally televised game against Philadelphia. The next day, George was suspended for his act and was eventually released by the team. As for coach Jones, he was fired at the conclusion of the season.

Offseason

NFL draft

1996 Atlanta Falcons draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
3 84 Shannon Brown  Defensive tackle Alabama
4 117 Richard Huntley  Running back Winston-Salem State
4 127 Juran Bolden  Cornerback Mississippi Delta
5 164 Gary Bandy  Defensive end Baylor
6 188 Craig Sauer  Linebacker Minnesota
7 229 Ethan Brooks  Offensive tackle Williams
      Made roster  

[4]

Personnel

Staff

1996 Atlanta Falcons staff

Front office

  • Chairman of the Board – Rankin M. Smith Sr.
  • President – Taylor Smith
  • Vice President of Player Personnel – Ken Herock
  • Director of Pro Personnel – Chuck Connor

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

  • Assistant Head Coach/Wide Receivers – Milt Jackson
  • Quarterbacks – Mouse Davis
  • Running Backs – Ollie Wilson
  • Offensive Line – Bob Palcic
Defensive coaches
  • Assistant Head Coach/Defense – Rod Rust
  • Defensive Line – Bill Kollar
  • Linebackers – Joe Haering
  • Secondary – Keith Armstrong
  • Defensive Assistant – Will Lewis

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and Conditioning – Tim Jorgensen

Roster

1996 Atlanta Falcons roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists
  • 89 J. J. Birden WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 43 Juran Bolden CB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 75 Shannon Brown DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 22 Tim McKyer CB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 40 James Williams LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad

  • 30 Robert Baldwin RB
  • -- Clay Williams T

53 active, 5 inactive, 2 practice squad


Rookies in italics

[5]

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 1 at Carolina Panthers L 6–29 0–1 Ericsson Stadium Recap
2 September 8 Minnesota Vikings L 17–23 0–2 Georgia Dome Recap
3 Bye
4 September 22 Philadelphia Eagles L 18–33 0–3 Georgia Dome Recap
5 September 29 at San Francisco 49ers L 17–39 0–4 3Com Park Recap
6 October 6 at Detroit Lions L 24–28 0–5 Pontiac Silverdome Recap
7 October 13 Houston Oilers L 13–23 0–6 Georgia Dome Recap
8 October 20 at Dallas Cowboys L 28–32 0–7 Texas Stadium Recap
9 October 27 Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–20 0–8 Georgia Dome Recap
10 November 3 Carolina Panthers W 20–17 1–8 Georgia Dome Recap
11 November 10 at St. Louis Rams L 16–59 1–9 Trans World Dome Recap
12 November 17 New Orleans Saints W 17–15 2–9 Georgia Dome Recap
13 November 24 at Cincinnati Bengals L 31–41 2–10 Cinergy Field Recap
14 December 2 San Francisco 49ers L 10–34 2–11 Georgia Dome Recap
15 December 8 at New Orleans Saints W 31–15 3–11 Louisiana Superdome Recap
16 December 15 St. Louis Rams L 27–34 3–12 Georgia Dome Recap
17 December 22 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 17–19 3–13 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC West
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W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) Carolina Panthers 12 4 0 .750 367 218 W7
(4) San Francisco 49ers 12 4 0 .750 398 257 W2
St. Louis Rams 6 10 0 .375 303 409 W2
Atlanta Falcons 3 13 0 .188 309 461 L2
New Orleans Saints 3 13 0 .188 229 339 L1

References

  1. ^ "1996 Atlanta Falcons statistics and players". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  2. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2012, playing for the Atlanta Falcons, in the regular season, sorted by descending Points Allowed.
  3. ^ Football Outsiders – DVOA 7.0: Worst Teams Ever, from 1991–2011
  4. ^ "1996 Atlanta Falcons draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 14, 2013.
  5. ^ "1996 Atlanta Falcons starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 6, 2014.

External links

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Atlanta Falcons
  • Founded in 1966
  • Based in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Headquartered in Flowery Branch, Georgia
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Wild card / First round berths (8)
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