1996 Tampa Bay Buccaneers season
Encyclopedia
The 1996
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
season began with the team trying to improve on an 7-9 season. It was the first season for Tony Dungy
as the team's head coach who had no previous experience as a head coach. Prior to the season the Buccaneers were still unsure if the team would remain in Tampa Bay
or if it would be moved by new ownership family led by Malcom Glazer and sons. Eventually during the season it was determined by local referendum which approved funding for a new stadium for the 1998 season
. Also prior to the season the team drafted Mike Alstott
, who became one of the most popular players in the teams history, and Donnie Abraham
. Although Alstott would become one of the Buccaneers most popular players of all time, the organization did not target him in the draft, instead wanted badly Leeland McElroy
, who would be taken before the Bucs drafted. They settled on Alstott instead, ironically.
The offense struggled all season and was not helped by an ill-advised holdout from running back Errict Rhett
, who next year would barely carry the ball with new running backs added.
The 1996 Buccaneers would be remembered as the team that turned it all around for the franchise. While a lot of fans feel it wasn't until the 1997 team with its new pewter based uniforms, most knowledgeable fans credit the changes that took place in 1996 for setting the stage for the Buccaneers rise to power.
It did not happen all at once. Despite being a 7-7 team at one point at the end of 1995, the 1996 team went 0-5 before getting their first win over Tony Dungy's former team the Minnesota Vikings
. The 24-13 win over Minnesota started another streak few noted at the time, and some credit as the first sign of the turn-around, which is four games in a row that the Bucs Defense held opponents to 13 points or less. Despite this, game 10 had the Oakland Raiders
coming into Tampa facing a Bucs team that is 1-8. A larger number of turn-around theorists mark this game, a 20-17 overtime win as the sign of change for things to come. Others will point out that Raider kicker Ford missed a short 27 yard field goal with regulation about to expire that would have ended the game but instead forced overtime.
Week 11 had the Buccaneers on the west coast, where they rarely have won. Playing an interconference game at San Diego, Tampa Bay spotted the Chargers a 14-0 lead. In the pregame, ESPN's Chris Berman now-famously referred to the team as the "Yuccaneers." Instead of folding, the Dungy-led Buccaneers fought back to win a rare west coast game, by the score of 25-17. The game is often looked back as a significant turning point. They would win two of the next three, and five of the last seven games including an emotional win over the Chicago Bears
34-19 in which the Bucs did everything right, including returning a punt for a touchdown. It was the first time since the end of the 1979 season that team and its fans were anxiously anticipating the next year.
Rule changes earlier in the decade brought about a salary cap, and a minimum spending cap forced Bucs to spend more on players. With the new ownership, tax disclosures showed the old Culverhouse regime was running a 'for-profit' business in which players who were getting good were released before their contracts could get big, all the while claiming poor and trying to get some home games played in Orlando, Florida.
Many fans took encouragement from the team winning five of the last seven games and the emergence of Warren Sapp
who had nine sacks on the season, Derrick Brooks
, and Mike Alstott
, who along with John Lynch
and Hardy Nickerson
were forming the core of one of the best defenses of the decade.
This also marked the final year the Buccaneers wore the orange and white uniforms.
1996 NFL season
The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end...
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
season began with the team trying to improve on an 7-9 season. It was the first season for Tony Dungy
Tony Dungy
Anthony Kevin "Tony" Dungy [DUN-jee] is a former professional American football player and coach in the National Football League. Dungy was head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 1996 to 2001, and head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 2002 to 2008...
as the team's head coach who had no previous experience as a head coach. Prior to the season the Buccaneers were still unsure if the team would remain in Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
or if it would be moved by new ownership family led by Malcom Glazer and sons. Eventually during the season it was determined by local referendum which approved funding for a new stadium for the 1998 season
1998 NFL season
The 1998 NFL season was the 79th regular season of the National Football League.The Tennessee Oilers moved their home games from Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium in Memphis to Vanderbilt Stadium in Nashville, still awaiting construction on a new stadium in Nashville.This was the first season that CBS...
. Also prior to the season the team drafted Mike Alstott
Mike Alstott
Michael Joseph Alstott , nicknamed "A-Train", is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Purdue...
, who became one of the most popular players in the teams history, and Donnie Abraham
Donnie Abraham
Nathaniel Donnell "Donnie" Abraham , is a former American football cornerback. In his career, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets . After considering retirement since the 2004 season ended, he finally decided to do so on July 15, 2005. He is now the head coach for Gibbs...
. Although Alstott would become one of the Buccaneers most popular players of all time, the organization did not target him in the draft, instead wanted badly Leeland McElroy
Leeland McElroy
Leeland McElroy is a former professional American football player who played running back for two seasons for the Arizona Cardinals.-High School and College:...
, who would be taken before the Bucs drafted. They settled on Alstott instead, ironically.
The offense struggled all season and was not helped by an ill-advised holdout from running back Errict Rhett
Errict Rhett
Errict Undra Rhett is a former American college and professional football player who was a running back in the National Football League for seven seasons in the 1990s and early 2000s...
, who next year would barely carry the ball with new running backs added.
The 1996 Buccaneers would be remembered as the team that turned it all around for the franchise. While a lot of fans feel it wasn't until the 1997 team with its new pewter based uniforms, most knowledgeable fans credit the changes that took place in 1996 for setting the stage for the Buccaneers rise to power.
It did not happen all at once. Despite being a 7-7 team at one point at the end of 1995, the 1996 team went 0-5 before getting their first win over Tony Dungy's former team the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. The 24-13 win over Minnesota started another streak few noted at the time, and some credit as the first sign of the turn-around, which is four games in a row that the Bucs Defense held opponents to 13 points or less. Despite this, game 10 had the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
coming into Tampa facing a Bucs team that is 1-8. A larger number of turn-around theorists mark this game, a 20-17 overtime win as the sign of change for things to come. Others will point out that Raider kicker Ford missed a short 27 yard field goal with regulation about to expire that would have ended the game but instead forced overtime.
Week 11 had the Buccaneers on the west coast, where they rarely have won. Playing an interconference game at San Diego, Tampa Bay spotted the Chargers a 14-0 lead. In the pregame, ESPN's Chris Berman now-famously referred to the team as the "Yuccaneers." Instead of folding, the Dungy-led Buccaneers fought back to win a rare west coast game, by the score of 25-17. The game is often looked back as a significant turning point. They would win two of the next three, and five of the last seven games including an emotional win over the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
34-19 in which the Bucs did everything right, including returning a punt for a touchdown. It was the first time since the end of the 1979 season that team and its fans were anxiously anticipating the next year.
Rule changes earlier in the decade brought about a salary cap, and a minimum spending cap forced Bucs to spend more on players. With the new ownership, tax disclosures showed the old Culverhouse regime was running a 'for-profit' business in which players who were getting good were released before their contracts could get big, all the while claiming poor and trying to get some home games played in Orlando, Florida.
Many fans took encouragement from the team winning five of the last seven games and the emergence of Warren Sapp
Warren Sapp
Warren Carlos Sapp is a retired American football player who played defensive tackle in the National Football League. He played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders during his 13 year professional career, and college football for the University of Miami Hurricanes. He was then...
who had nine sacks on the season, Derrick Brooks
Derrick Brooks
Derrick Dewan Brooks is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Buccaneers 28th overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida State....
, and Mike Alstott
Mike Alstott
Michael Joseph Alstott , nicknamed "A-Train", is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Purdue...
, who along with John Lynch
John Lynch (American football)
John Terrence Lynch, Jr. is a former National Football League strong safety and current NFL on Fox color commentator. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Stanford.A nine-time Pro Bowl selection, Lynch earned a Super...
and Hardy Nickerson
Hardy Nickerson
Hardy Otto Nickerson is a former American football linebacker who played 16 seasons for four teams from 1987 to 2002 in the National Football League and is currently the head football coach at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland, Calif. He attended Verbum Dei High School, a Catholic school...
were forming the core of one of the best defenses of the decade.
This also marked the final year the Buccaneers wore the orange and white uniforms.
NFL Draft
| Pick | Round | Player | Position | School |
| 12 | 1 | Regan Upshaw Regan Upshaw Regan Charles Upshaw is a retired American football lineman who played in the National Football League between 1996 and 2004... |
Defensive End | California California Golden Bears football The California Golden Bears football team is the college football team of the University of California. The team plays its home games at California Memorial Stadium, however the team played at San Francisco's AT&T Park in 2011 while Memorial Stadium was being renovated, the team will return to... |
| 22 | 1 | Marcus Jones | Defensive End | North Carolina |
| 35 | 2 | Mike Alstott Mike Alstott Michael Joseph Alstott , nicknamed "A-Train", is a former American football fullback in the National Football League. He spent his entire 12-year career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He played college football at Purdue... |
Fullback | Purdue Purdue Boilermakers football The Purdue Boilermakers football team is the intercollegiate football program of the Purdue University Boilermakers. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big Ten Conference. The Boilermakers have an all-time record of... |
| 71 | 3 | Donnie Abraham Donnie Abraham Nathaniel Donnell "Donnie" Abraham , is a former American football cornerback. In his career, he played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the New York Jets . After considering retirement since the 2004 season ended, he finally decided to do so on July 15, 2005. He is now the head coach for Gibbs... |
Defensive Back | ETSU East Tennessee State University East Tennessee State University is an accredited American university located in Johnson City, Tennessee. It is part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system of colleges and universities, the nation's sixth largest system of public education, and is the fourth largest university in the state... |
| 96 | 4 | Jason Odom Jason Odom Jason Brian Odom is a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League for four seasons during the 1990s... |
Offensive Tackle | Florida Florida Gators football The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference... |
| 104 | 4 | Eric Austin | Defensive Back | Jackson State |
| 140 | 5 | Jason Maniecki Jason Maniecki Jason Maniecki is a former defensive tackle in the National Football League. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 1996 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and played three seasons with the team.-References:... |
Defensive Tackle | Wisconsin Wisconsin Badgers football The Wisconsin Badgers are a college football program that represents the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision and the Big Ten Conference. They play their home games at Camp Randall Stadium, the fourth-oldest stadium in college football... |
| 180 | 6 | Nilo Silvan | Wide Receiver | Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers football The Tennessee Volunteers football team are an American college football team at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville . The NCAA Division I team is also a member of the Southeastern Conference .... |
| 221 | 7 | Reggie Rusk Reggie Rusk Reginald Leon "Reggie" Rusk is a former professional American football cornerback in the National Football League. He played six seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , the Seattle Seahawks , and the San Diego Chargers .... |
Defensive Back | Kentucky Kentucky Wildcats football The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era... |
Staff
| 1996 Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Front Office
Head Coaches
Offensive Coaches
|
Defensive Coaches
Special Teams Coaches
Strength and Conditioning
|
|||||
Schedule
| Regular season | ||||||||
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Kickoff | Game site | TV | Attendance | Record |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 1, 1996 | Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
L 34-3 | 4:00 | Houlihan's Stadium | FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
54,102* | 0-1 |
| 2 | September 8, 1996 | at Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 21-6 | 1:00 | Pontiac Silverdome Silverdome The Silverdome is an indoor sporting and entertainment venue located in Launceston, Tasmania built in 1984. The Silverdome was built at an estimated cost of A$4 million, as the Tasmanian Government "proposed a world class facility" to replace the run down velodrome in the Launceston suburb of St... |
FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
54,229 | 0-2 |
| 3 | September 15, 1996 | at Denver Broncos Denver Broncos The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 27-23 | 8:00 | Mile High Stadium Mile High Stadium Mile High Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, that stood in Denver, Colorado, from 1948 until 2001.It hosted the Denver Broncos, of the AFL and the NFL, from 1960-2000, the Colorado Rockies, of the National League, of the MLB, from 1993-1994, the Colorado Rapids, of MLS, from 1996-2001, the... |
TNT | 71,535 | 0-3 |
| 4 | September 22, 1996 | Seattle Seahawks Seattle Seahawks The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team... |
L 17-13 | 4:15 | Houlihan's Stadium | NBC NFL on NBC NFL on NBC is the brand given to NBC Sports coverage of National Football League games until 1998, when NBC lost the NFL American Football Conference rights to CBS... |
30,212* | 0-4 |
| 5 | September 29, 1996 | Detroit Lions Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and... |
L 27-0 | 1:00 | Houlihan's Stadium | FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
34,961* | 0-5 |
| 6 | October 6, 1996 | Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
W 24-13 | 1:00 | Houlihan's Stadium | FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
32,175* | 1-5 |
| 7 | October 13, 1996 | at Arizona Cardinals Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 13-9 | 4:05 | Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium Sun Devil Stadium is an outdoor football stadium, located on the campus of Arizona State University, in Tempe, Arizona, United States. The stadium's current seating capacity is 71,706 and the playing surface is natural grass... |
FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
27,738 | 1-6 |
| 8 | Bye | |||||||
| 9 | October 27, 1996 | at Green Bay Packers Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions... |
L 13-7 | 1:00 | Lambeau Field Lambeau Field Lambeau Field is an outdoor football stadium in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the home of the NFL's Green Bay Packers. Opened in 1957 as City Stadium, it replaced the original City Stadium as the Packers' home field... |
FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
60,627 | 1-7 |
| 10 | November 3, 1996 | at Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
L 13-10 | 1:00 | Soldier Field Soldier Field Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears... |
FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
58,727 | 1-8 |
| 11 | November 10, 1996 | Oakland Raiders Oakland Raiders The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 20-17 | 1:00 | Houlihan's Stadium | NBC NFL on NBC NFL on NBC is the brand given to NBC Sports coverage of National Football League games until 1998, when NBC lost the NFL American Football Conference rights to CBS... |
45,392* | 2-8 |
| 12 | November 17, 1996 | at San Diego Chargers San Diego Chargers The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 25-17 | 4:15 | Jack Murphy Stadium Qualcomm Stadium Qualcomm Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in San Diego, California, in the Mission Valley area.... |
FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
57,526 | 3-8 |
| 13 | November 24, 1996 | New Orleans Saints New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... |
W 13-7 | 1:00 | Houlihan's Stadium | FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
40,203* | 4-8 |
| 14 | December 1, 1996 | at Carolina Panthers Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
L 24-0 | 1:00 | Ericsson Stadium Bank of America Stadium Bank of America Stadium is a 73,778-seat football stadium located on of land in uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. It is the home facility of the Carolina Panthers NFL franchise. It also hosts the annual Belk Bowl which features teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference and the Big East... |
FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
57,623 | 4-9 |
| 15 | December 8, 1996 | Washington Redskins Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,... |
W 24-10 | 1:00 | Houlihan's Stadium | FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
44,723* | 5-9 |
| 16 | December 15, 1996 | at Minnesota Vikings Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960... |
L 21-10 | 1:00 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome The Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, commonly called the Metrodome, is a domed sports stadium in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. Opened in 1982, it replaced Metropolitan Stadium, which was on the current site of the Mall of America in Bloomington and Memorial Stadium on the University... |
FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
49,302 | 5-10 |
| 17 | December 22, 1996 | Chicago Bears Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
W 34-19 | 1:00 | Houlihan's Stadium | FOX NFL on FOX NFL on Fox is the brand name of the Fox Broadcasting Company's coverage of the National Football League's National Football Conference games, produced by Fox Sports... |
51,572* | 6-10 |
- = blacked out locally