1996 Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XXXI Champions!
1996 Record: 13-3 (Regular Season), 3-0 (Playoffs)
Head Coach: Mike Holmgren
Points Scored: 456 (1st out of 30 NFL teams)
Points Allowed: 210 (1st out of 30 NFL teams)
Home Stadium: Lambeau Field in Green Bay, WI
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Bringing The Title Back To Titletown
In 1996, the Packers posted an NFC-best 13-3 regular season record after winning 8 of their first 9 games to start the season. After losing two straight games in November to Kansas City and Dallas on the road, they finished off the regular season winning their remaining five games, including dominating wins over Denver (41-6) and Minnesota (38-10).
Quarterback Brett Favre won the NFL MVP Award for the second straight season after throwing for 3,899 yards and an NFC record 39 touchdown passes during the 1996 regular season againstonly 13 interceptions. Favre was also a good runner, ranking third on the team with 136 rushing yards and scoring 2 touchdowns. Wide receiver Antonio Freeman was his top target with 933 receiving yards and 9 TDs. Pro Bowl tight end Keith Jackson caught 40 balls for 504 yards and wide receiver Don Beebe caught 39 balls for 606 yards. Tight end Mark Chmura caught 28 passes for 370 yards. Edgar Bennett led the Packers with 899 rushing yards and Dorsey Levens chipped in with 566 rushing yards and 10 TDs from scrimmage. Center Frank Winters was the lone Packer Pro Bowl offensive lineman, but the line was a very good unit. The Packers led the NFL in scoring with 456 points on the season.
The Packers defense allowed the fewest points and yards in the NFL. Reggie White was the unquestioned leader of the Packers' defense with a team leading 8.5 sacks along with 3 fumble recoveries and 29 tackles. Defensive tackle Santana Dotson recorded 5.5 sacks and recovered a fumble. Defensive end Sean Jones recorded 5 sacks and defensive tackle Gilbert Brown was a huge run stuffer in the middle of the defense. Safety Eugene Robinson led the Packers with 6 interceptions and registered 55 tackles, while strong safety LeRoy Butler recorded 65 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, and 5 interceptions for 149 return yards and a touchdown. Cornerback Doug Evans also intercepted 5 passes and recorded 3 sacks. White, Butler, Robinson, and Sean Jones all earned trips to the Pro Bowl.
Kickoff and punt returner Desmond Howard made the Pro Bowl after leading the NFL with a 15.1 yard average with 3 of those punt returns going for touchdowns returning punts, while his 875 return yards set an NFL record. Craig Hentrich's 42.4 yard punting average was good for 20th in the NFL and Chris Jacke made 21 of his 27 field goal attempt and 51 of his 53 extra points.
The Packers had home field advantage throughout the NFC Playoffs and played host to the 49ers in the Divisional Playoff round. For the second straight year, the Packers ended the 49ers season even though Brett Favre only threw for 79 yards in the game. The defense forced 5 turnovers which led to the 35-14 victory.
The Packers faced the upstart Carolina Panthers on a cold sunny day on the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field and the Packers took a 17-10 halftime lead on the strength of two Favre TD passes and a Chris Jacke field goal. Dorsey Levens helped the Packers dominate Carolina in the second half with 88 yards on the ground and 5 receptions for 117 yards and a score. Edgar Bennett chipped in with 99 yards rushing as the Packers advanced to their first Super Bowl in 29 years with the 30-13 victory.
The Packers battled the New England Patriots with the Vince Lombardi Trophy at stake and the Packers scored on their second offensive play as Brett Favre found a streaking Andre Rison for a 54-yard touchdown to put the Packers on top. Cornerback Doug Evans intercepted Drew Bledsoe two plays later to set up a Jacke field goal to put the Packers up 10-0 just over 6 minutes into the contest. The Patriots took a 14-10 lead after the first quarter ended. Just 56 seconds into the second quarter, Favre found wide receiver Antonio Freeman for a Super Bowl record long 81 yard touchdown pass to put Green Bay back in front. Chris Jacke booted his second field goal of the game on his next possession and the Packers went on a 74 yard drive late in the half culminated by a Favre dive into the end zone to put the Packers up by a score of 27-14 at halftime. With 3:27 remaining in the third quarter, halfback Curtis Martin of New England ran the pigskin into the end zone from 18 yards out to put the Patriots back in the game, 27-21. The Patriots optimism was dashed on the ensuing kickoff as Desmond Howard returned it 99 yards for the touchdown that broke the Patriots' backs. For good measure, tight end Mark Chmura caught the 2 point conversion attempt to give the Packers a 35-21 lead and that would be the final score giving he Packers their first Super Bowl Championship since 1967.
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1996 Results
Regular Season
Date Opponent Result
9/ 1/96 at Tampa Bay W 34- 3
9/ 9/96 Philadelphia W 39-13
9/15/96 San Diego W 42-10
9/22/96 at Minnesota L 21-30
9/29/96 at Seattle W 31-10
10/ 6/96 at Chicago W 37- 6
10/14/96 San Francisco W 23-20 (OT)
10/20/96 Bye Week
10/27/96 Tampa Bay W 13- 7
11/ 3/96 Detroit W 28-18
11/10/96 at Kansas City L 20-27
11/18/96 at Dallas L 6-21
11/24/96 at St. Louis W 24- 9
12/ 1/96 Chicago W 28-17
12/ 8/96 Denver W 41- 6
12/15/96 at Detroit W 31- 3
12/22/96 Minnesota W 38-10
Playoffs
Round Opponent Result
NFC Div. Playoff San Francisco W 35-14
NFC Championship Carolina W 30-13
Super Bowl XXXI vs. New England W 35-21
Note: Super Bowl XXXI played at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA.
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Quarterback Brett Favre led the NFL in TD passes with 39, led the NFC in passing yards with 3,899 and finished second in the NFL in passer rating with 95.8 in 1996. His most impressive accomplishment, however, was leading the Packers to their first Vince Lombardi Trophy since the Lombardi era.
Defensive End Reggie White continued to play at a very high level as he registered 8.5 QB sacks during the regular season and abused Patriots Offensive Tackle Max Lane in the Super Bowl by registering 3 sacks - a new Super Bowl record.
1996 Green Bay Packers Depth Chart / Roster:
# Player Ht Wt Age Exp College Face Shape Hair Equipment
Quarterbacks
1. 4 Brett Favre 6-2 225 27 5 Southern Miss. 27 3 l. brn crop 3 bar, wt wristbands, tc sleeves, turf tape (turf)
2. 9 Jim McMahon 6-1 195 37 14 BYU 61 5 l. brn crop 3 bar qb, dk visor, wt elbowbands, tc sleeves
3. 18 Doug Pederson 6-3 215 28 3 N'western St. 38 4 brn crop 3 bar, left qb wristband, right wt wristband, tc sleeves
Halfbacks
1. 34 Edgar Bennett 6-0 217 27 4 Florida State 182 4 blk fade 3 bar rb, eye paint, wt nasal strip, wt wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves
2. 25 Dorsey Levens 6-1 235 26 2 Georgia Tech med skin 3 5 blk fade style 3 helmet, rb robots, tc mouthpiece, rubber pads, wt wristbands, bk gloves, tc sleeves, , wt gloves (turf)
3. n/a (switch position to WR)
Fullbacks
1. 30 William Henderson 6-2 248 25 1 N. Carolina 85 9 blk fade style 3 helmet, 3 bar rb, wt nasal strip, wt mouthpiece, wt wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves
2. 32 Travis Jervey 5-11 225 24 1 Citadel 27 10 brn crop 3 bar rb, wt wristbands, wt gloves
Wide Receivers
1. 86 Antonio Freeman 6-1 190 24 1 Virginia Tech med skin 37 16 blk fade 3 bar, eye paint, bk nasal strip, wt gloves, tc sleeves, left wt wrist double (turf), bk gloves (turf)
2. 87 Robert Brooks 6-0 180 26 5 S. Carolina 71 4 blk fade 2 bar, bk mouthpiece, bk gloves, tc sleeves
3. 82 Don Beebe 5-11 183 32 7 N/A 28 3 l. brn crop 2 bar, eye paint, wt wristbands, bk gloves, tc sleeves, wt gloves (turf)
4. 84 Andre Rison 6-0 195 29 7 Michigan St. 45 2 blk fade right patch3 tattoo, 2 bar, eye paint, bk gloves, tc sleeves
5. 81 Desmond Howard 5-10 180 26 4 Michigan 207 1 blk buzz style 3 helmet, 3 bar, tc mouthpiece, wt wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves, bk gloves (turf)
6. 85 Terry Mickens 6-1 198 25 2 Florida A&M 135 2 blk fade 3 bar, wt wristbands, wt gloves, wt tc elbowpads (turf), bk gloves (turf)
# 80 Derrick Mayes 6-1 200 22 R Notre Dame dk skin 145 9 blk buzz 2 bar, bk gloves, tc sleeves
Tight Ends
1. 89 Mark Chmura 6-5 253 27 4 Boston Coll. 61 5 blk crop full cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves
2. 88 Keith Jackson 6-2 258 31 8 Oklahoma 124 10 blk fade 3 bar, wt wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves, wt elbowpads (turf), bk gloves (turf)
3. 83 Jeff Thomason 6-5 250 26 4 Oregon 39 10 blo crop style 3 helmet, 3 bar rb, wt wristbands, wt gloves, (grass), wt rb gloves (turf)
Left Tackles
1. 68 Gary Brown 6-4 295 25 2 Georgia Tech dk skin 15 9 blk fade full cage, rubber pads, wt wristbands, wt ankles taped, wt gloves (grass)
2. 77 John Michels 6-7 290 23 R USC lt skin 49 3 brn crop full cage, neck roll, wt wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves, wt elbowpads (turf)
Left Guards
1. 73 Aaron Taylor 6-4 305 24 2 Notre Dame med skin 3 19 blk bald full cage, right wt elbowband, wt wristbands, wt gloves, wt elbowpads (turf), wt wrist double (turf)
2. 65 Lindsay Knapp 6-6 300 26 2 Notre Dame 24 19 blo crop half cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves (grass)
Centers
1. 52 Frank Winters 6-3 295 32 9 W. Illinois 73 17 brn crop half cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves
2. 67 Jeff Dellenbach 6-6 300 33 11 Wisconsin 33 17 blo crop full cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves
Right Guards
1. 63 Adam Timmerman 6-4 295 25 1 S. Dakota St. 39 12 blo flat top half cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves
2.n/a (switch position to LE)
Right Tackles
1. 72 Earl Dotson 6-4 315 26 3 N/A 157 15 blk fade patch2 tattoos, full cage, wt nasal strip, wt mouthpiece, neck roll, wt wristbands, tc sleeves, wt gloves (turf)
2. 64 Bruce Wilkerson 6-5 305 32 9 Tennessee dk skin 42 8 blk crop half cage, wt nasal strip, neck roll, rubber pads, wt wristbands, wt rb glovesLeft Defensive Ends
1. 92 Reggie White 6-5 300 35 11 Tennessee 92 18 blk fade half cage, tc sleeves, wt wristbands (turf)
2. 98 Gabe Wilkins 6-5 305 25 2 N/A 135 19 blk fade full cage, wt wristbands, bk gloves, rubber pads (turf), wt gloves (turf)
# 91 Shannon Clavelle 6-2 287 23 1 Colorado dk skin 57 19 blk fade full cage, wt wristbands, tc sleeves
Right Defensive Ends
1. 96 Sean Jones 6-7 283 33 12 Northeastern 130 14 blk fade full cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves
2. 95 Keith McKenzie 6-3 242 23 R Ball State 63 16 blk bald full cage, wt nasal strip, wt elbowpads, wt wristbands, bk gloves, tc sleeves
Defensive Tackles
1. 71 Santana Dotson 6-5 285 26 4 Baylor 59 4 blk fade full cage, wt wristbands, tc sleeves
2. 93 Gilbert Brown 6-2 325 25 3 Kansas 138 20 blk fade full cage, dk visor, rubber pads, wt gloves, wt ankles taped, wt tc elbowpads (turf)
3. 90 Darius Holland 6-5 310 23 1 Colorado dk skin 99 19 blk crop full cage, wt nasal strip, bk mouthpiece, wt wristbands, bk gloves, wt ankles taped, wt gloves (turf)
4. 94 Bob Kuberski 6-5 295 24 1 Navy lt skin 13 12 brn crop style 3 helmet, full cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves (turf)
Left Outside Linebackers
1. 59 Wayne Simmons 6-3 248 26 3 Clemson 43 8 blk bald full cage, neck roll, wt wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves
2. 55 Bernardo Harris 6-2 243 25 2 N. Carolina 117 7 blk fade full cage, wt nasal strip, neck roll, wt wristbands, wt gloves, rubber pads (grass)
Middle Linebackers
1. 53 George Koonce 6-1 243 28 4 E. Carolina 72 14 blk fade half cage, neck roll, wt wristbands, wt gloves
2. 54 Ron Cox 6-2 235 28 6 Florida State 227 9 blk fade half cage, wt wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves
Right Outside Linebackers
1. 51 Brian Williams 6-2 235 23 1 USC 167 15 blk buzz full cage, eye paint, wt nasal strip, wt wristbands, bk gloves, tc sleeves
2. 56 Lamont Hollinquest 6-3 241 28 5 USC 13 13 blk bald half cage, bk wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves, rubber pads (turf), bk gloves (turf)
Cornerbacks
1. 33 Doug Evans 6-1 190 26 3 LA. Tech 151 4 blk fade 3 bar rb, tc mouthpiece, bk gloves, tc sleeves, right wt ankle taped, wt gloves (turf)
2. 21 Craig Newsome 6-0 190 25 1 Arizona St. 135 4 blk fade right patch6 tattoo, 3 bar, wt wristbands, bk gloves, tc sleeves, wt gloves (turf)
3. 37 Tyrone Williams 5-11 195 23 R Nebraska 90 7 blk fade 2 bar rb, wt wristbands, bk gloves, wt half sleeves (turf)
4. 28 Roderick Mullen 6-1 192 24 1 Grambling St. 125 8 blk fade 3 bar rb, eye paint, wt nasal strip, wt wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves, bk gloves (turf)
Free Safeties
1. 41 Eugene Robinson 6-0 195 33 11 Colgate 198 2 blk fade 3 bar rb, qb wristbands, bk gloves, tc sleeves, wt ankles taped
2. 40 Chris Hayes 6-0 200 24 R Wash. St. 67 7 blk fade 3 bar rb, wt wristbands, wt gloves
Strong Safeties
1. 36 LeRoy Butler 6-0 200 28 6 Florida State 205 7 blk fade (2) 3 bar, wt wristbands, wt gloves, tc sleeves, bk gloves (turf), wt half sleeves (turf)
2. 39 Mike Prior 6-0 208 33 10 Ilinois St. 33 11 brn crop 3 bar, tc mouthpiece, wt wristbands, wt gloves
Kicker
1. 13 Chris Jacke 6-0 205 30 7 UTEP 71 3 brn long 3 bar, tc sleeves
Punter
1. 17 Craig Hentrich 6-3 200 25 2 Notre Dame 103 4 blo crop 2 bar (thin), tc sleeves
Players Not Included
# 50 Mike Arthur C 6-3 280 26 4 Texas A&M lt skin
# 60 Rob Davis C 6-3 271 28 R N/A dk skin 110 18 blk bald full cage, wt wristbands
# 42 Corey Dowden CB 5-11 190 28 R Tulane dk skin 3 bar,
# 27 Calvin Jones HB 5-11 212 26 2 Nebraska dk skin 3 bar, wt wristbands, wt gloves, wt tc elbowpads (turf)
# 76 Gene McGuire G 6-2 284 26 4 Notre Dame lt skin 59 17 brn crop
# 46 Michael Robinson CB 6-1 192 23 R Hampton dk skin wt wristbands, wt gloves
# 75 Ken Ruettgers RT 6-6 292 34 11 USC lt skin 95 7 blk crop half cage, left wt elbowpad (grass), wt wristbands, tc rb gloves, wt gloves (turf)
# 38 Brian Satterfield HB 6-0 225 26 1 N. Alabama lt skin 3 bar rb, wt wristbands,
# 49 Kevin Smith TE 6-4 255 27 3 UCLA dk skin blk fade
# 7 Kyle Wachholtz QB 6-4 235 25 R USC lt skin 3 bar, tc sleeves
Player Ratings spd-str-awr-agi-acc-jmp-cth-car-btk-tkl-tpw-tac-pbk-rbk-kpw-kac-ret-stm-inj-tgh
Favre 53-65-94-54-53-25-49-49-48-17-99-95-31-27-22-34-0-97-99-95
J. McMahon 49-52-92-55-50-44-53-57-42-20-87-86-26-29-48-44-0-77-64-84
D. Pederson 58-53-64-59-57-27-38-42-43-21-77-79-18-30-33-22-0-80-79-63
E. Bennett 89-74-86-84-88-83-90-79-78-22-42-37-45-42-24-21-61-85-71-75
Levens 84-72-82-85-89-83-82-76-89-23-34-28-42-38-18-21-55-84-73-93
W. Henderson 67-71-71-67-62-66-71-60-69-32-26-20-57-69-23-16-10-86-80-74
Jervey 88-55-53-75-83-68-60-67-53-25-37-25-49-52-19-34-70-78-82-62
A. Freeman 93-57-78-92-96-90-60-87-68-22-17-22-26-41-22-24-73-86-82-85
R. Brooks 90-49-89-91-88-96-93-83-72-17-24-21-24-32-29-21-60-86-69-62
Rison 93-60-92-95-92-92-77-86-74-25-39-25-27-32-31-23-55-85-87-64
Beebe 95-52-83-96-93-84-79-77-56-19-27-23-37-35-25-19-78-80-73-65
T. Mickens 85-61-75-85-86-88-77-74-59-21-28-26-30-34-28-22-10-78-70-72
D. Mayes 89-51-59-89-90-82-76-82-62-15-23-22-21-39-23-18-69-83-66-60
Chmura 20 73-75-93-70-74-79-97-85-79-26-28-20-62-66-33-22-8-86-73-82
Kei. Jackson 279 76-70-93-74-73-86-67-58-70-24-41-26-62-59-33-25-8-83-73-75
Thomason 80 58-69-70-64-76-81-77-59-67-24-19-28-65-64-22-22-8-88-73-70
G. Brown 17 49-90-68-47-68-18-18-37-26-25-32-18-77-85-28-20-0-60-69-77
J. Michels 75 51-86-58-48-55-27-16-19-38-32-24-17-81-73-28-17-0-59-69-70
A. Taylor 28 61-90-78-60-65-19-18-38-26-25-33-18-84-91-31-16-0-66-71-77
Knapp 66-85-63-65-60-23-22-47-24-23-29-20-79-76-24-22-0-62-72-65
F. Winters 82 45-92-93-49-51-19-15-30-29-26-28-27-90-90-26-32-0-57-73-92
Dellenbach 21 43-86-82-43-48-18-23-22-28-34-26-19-79-86-28-17-0-46-85-73
Timmerman 44 50-91-75-47-82-19-19-25-17-28-27-22-88-92-18-27-0-77-73-91
E. Dotson 54-91-84-49-68-25-23-26-38-33-28-21-93-90-38-21-0-67-76-93
B. Wilkerson 44-86-89-45-73-22-19-41-28-24-33-18-79-74-28-21-0-58-78-81
R. White 68-96-99-70-78-41-25-66-34-96-32-17-25-44-30-18-0-80-92-96
G. Wilkins 67-85-66-65-71-31-25-59-27-83-29-18-28-44-36-17-0-79-72-78
Clavelle 60-88-58-57-69-19-17-58-28-78-28-19-27-40-27-20-0-73-68-70
S. Jones 72-92-92-75-75-23-22-58-28-81-28-22-24-27-28-25-0-77-76-82
K. McKenzie 61-78-57-63-73-28-30-55-28-74-29-20-19-21-31-23-0-77-82-89
S. Dotson 65-88-85-67-70-19-23-57-27-85-34-15-27-23-30-27-0-79-79-87
Gi. Brown 43-94-86-58-64-21-18-46-34-94-29-17-34-56-20-25-0-72-75-92
D. Holland 61-86-61-58-63-25-28-39-28-84-22-20-16-23-20-25-0-76-73-72
Kuberski 59-89-57-62-64-29-20-61-28-80-27-19-27-47-24-18-0-79-82-78
W. Simmons 77-69-82-76-75-44-39-64-28-87-26-22-26-44-28-23-0-82-91-81
B. Harris 76-78-63-74-75-41-39-55-33-88-33-34-25-40-23-20-0-83-81-84
Koonce 79-72-83-78-79-49-39-64-29-87-28-28-25-41-32-18-0-74-71-79
R. Cox 76-73-78-75-75-36-38-57-28-82-31-24-27-45-29-22-0-78-82-79
B. Williams 83-74-75-82-76-54-44-75-31-89-15-15-21-41-21-17-0-81-83-75
Hollinquest 72-74-64-72-74-47-40-64-36-81-29-17-26-44-27-17-0-77-79-68
D. Evans 90-54-84-89-87-62-49-86-28-83-25-23-19-26-28-22-10-88-82-77
C. Newsome 94-47-75-93-91-67-54-87-21-73-21-20-16-23-21-17-15-84-75-69
T. Williams 93-50-59-93-96-57-45-86-29-64-25-32-22-32-34-29-15-84-88-77
R. Mullen 89-56-58-88-88-55-42-78-28-66-23-27-20-25-22-21-10-79-83-67
E. Robinson 78-62-94-78-77-66-59-66-24-89-25-18-24-24-25-19-10-80-92-83
C. Hayes 85-56-54-84-83-57-45-74-27-77-24-22-21-25-26-22-10-82-80-69
L. Butler 94-60-94-95-92-79-53-69-28-86-25-21-17-27-25-19-10-91-95-82
M. Prior 77-63-94-80-74-58-44-73-28-73-24-20-16-29-27-18-16-67-79-69
Jacke 47-39-84-48-42-38-44-56-18-16-24-28-13-17-91-85-0-47-64-38
Hentrich 50-34-79-48-48-30-28-44-18-12-29-24-26-18-95-89-0-85-78-37
Free Safety Eugene Robinson celebrates after one of his team leading 6 interceptions in 1996. He also registered 81 tackles, 57 of them solo during the '96 campaign.
Defensive Tackle "Big" Gilbert Brown celebrates after registering one of his 51 tackles in 1996, seven of those going for losses.
1996 Green Bay Packers Individual Leaders
Passing: Brett Favre, 3899 yds., 59.9 comp. pct, 39 TDs, 95.8 rating
Rushing: Dorsey Levens, 1120 yds., 6 TDs, 3.7 yds./carry
Receiving: Antonio Freeman, 56 rec., 933 yds., 9 TDs
Touchdowns: Keith Jackson & Dorsey Levens, 10
QB Sacks: Reggie White, 8.5
Interceptions: Eugene Robinson, 6 int., 107 yds., 0 TDs
Scoring: Chris Jacke, 114 pts. (21 FG’s, 51 PAT’s)
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1996 NFC CENTRAL DIVISION STANDINGS
1st Place – Green Bay (13-3)
2nd Place – Minnesota (9-7)
3rd Place – Chicago (7-9)
4th Place – Tampa Bay (6-10)
5th Place – Detroit (5-11)
Former Heisman Trophy winner Desmond Howard had a career year returning punts for the Packers in 1996 as he led the NFL in punt returns (58), punt return yards (875), and punt return touchdowns (3). His 15.1 yard average returning punts was good for 2nd in the NFL. He was the NFC's return man in the Pro Bowl.
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