1996 New Orleans Saints season

1996 New Orleans Saints season
1996 New Orleans Saints season
Head coach	Jim Mora; Rick Venturi (interim)
Home field	Louisiana Superdome
Results
Record	3–13
Division place	5th NFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	T Willie Roaf
	← 1995; Saints seasons; 1997 →;

The 1996 New Orleans Saints season was the team’s 30th as a member of the National Football League. They were unable to match their previous season's output of 7–9 and finished with the second-worst sixteen-game record in franchise history at 3–13.^[1] The team failed to qualify for the playoffs for the fourth straight year. It would be Jim Mora's final season as the team's head coach. His exit from the team was highlighted by his infamous “didly poo” rant following an embarrassing Week 8 loss to the Carolina Panthers.^[2]

Offseason[]

NFL Draft[]

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College
1996 New Orleans Saints draft
1	11	Alex Molden	Cornerback	Oregon
2	40	Je'Rod Cherry	Defensive back	California
3	70	Brady Smith	Defensive end	Colorado State
4	103	Ricky Whittle	Running back	Oregon
5	136	Mercury Hayes	Wide receiver	Michigan
5	145	Tom Ackerman	Guard	Eastern Washington
5	165	Terry Guess	Wide receiver	Gardner–Webb
6	179	Keno Hills	Guard	Louisiana–Lafayette
6	204	Toderick Malone	Wide receiver	Alabama
7	246	Henry Lusk	Tight end	Utah
Made roster

^[3]

Personnel[]

Staff[]

**1996 New Orleans Saints staff**

	Front office Owner – Tom Benson Executive Vice President/General Manager – Bill Kuharich Director of Pro Personnel – Chet Franklin Director of College Scouting – Bruce Lemmerman Head coaches Head Coach – Jim E. Mora (resigned October 21) Offensive coaches Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks – Carl Smith Running Backs – Dave Atkins Wide Receivers – Steve Walters Tight Ends – Bruce Arians Offensive Line – John Matsko Offensive Assistant – Jeff Davidson			Defensive coaches Defensive Coordinator – Jim Haslett Defensive Line – Wayne Nunnely Linebackers – Rick Venturi (elevated to interim head coach October 21) Defensive Backs – Jim L. Mora Defensive Assistant – John Pagano Special teams coaches Special Teams – Bobby April Strength and conditioning Strength and Conditioning – Russell Paternostro Strength and Conditioning Assistant – Glenn Mayeaux

^[4]

Roster[]

**1996 New Orleans Saints roster**

	Quarterbacks 17 Jim Everett 14 Tommy Hodson 13 Doug Nussmeier Running backs 24 Mario Bates 21 Derek Brown 22 Lorenzo Neal 23 Ricky Whittle 34 Ray Zellars FB Wide receivers —- Brett Bech 87 Lee DeRamus 18 89 Mercury Hayes 81 Michael Haynes 80 Haywood Jeffires 83 Torrance Small Tight ends 85 Paul Green 88 Henry Lusk 82 Irv Smith Sr.		Offensive linemen 69 Tom Ackerman C 72 Jim Dombrowski G 74 Clarence Jones T 61 Ed King G 67 Andy McCollum C 60 Craig Novitsky G 77 Willie Roaf T 66 Mike Verstegen G Defensive linemen 99 Willie Broughton DT 94 Joe Johnson DE 93 Wayne Martin DE 92 Darren Mickell DE 75 DT 91 Brady Smith DE 97 Renaldo Turnbull DE		Linebackers 53 Don Davis 56 Ernest Dixon 55 Mark Fields 52 Richard Harvey 58 Brian Jones 59 Rufus Porter 54 Winfred Tubbs Defensive backs 21 Eric Allen CB 37 Je'Rod Cherry FS 46 Sean Lumpkin 44 J. J. McCleskey 29 Mark McMillian CB 25 Alex Molden CB 30 Anthony Newman SS Special teams 10 Doug Brien K 4 Klaus Wilmsmeyer P		Reserve lists 84 WR (IR) Practice squad Rookies in italics

Regular season[]

Schedule[]

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	TV Time (CT)	TV Announcers	Attendance
1	September 1, 1996	at San Francisco 49ers	L 27–11	FOX 3:00PM	Kevin Harlan & Jerry Glanville	63,970
2	September 8, 1996	Carolina Panthers	L 22–20	FOX 12:00PM	Mike Breen & Bill Maas	43,288
3	September 15, 1996	at Cincinnati Bengals	L 30–15	FOX 12:00PM	Kenny Albert & Tim Green	45,412
4	September 22, 1996	Arizona Cardinals	L 28–14	FOX 12:00PM	Eric Clemons & Jim Burt	34,316
5	September 29, 1996	at Baltimore Ravens	L 17–10	FOX 12:00PM	Mike Breen & Bill Maas	61,063
6	October 6, 1996	Jacksonville Jaguars	W 17–13	NBC 3:00PM	Jim Lampley & Bob Golic	34,231
7	October 13, 1996	Chicago Bears	W 27–24	FOX 12:00PM	Mike Breen & Bill Maas	43,512
8	October 20, 1996	at Carolina Panthers	L 19–7	FOX 12:00PM	Thom Brennaman & Ron Pitts	70,888
9	Bye
10	November 3, 1996	San Francisco 49ers	L 24–17	ESPN 7:00PM	Mike Patrick & Joe Theismann	53,297
11	November 10, 1996	Houston Oilers	L 31–14	NBC 12:00PM	Dan Hicks & Bart Oates	34,121
12	November 17, 1996	at Atlanta Falcons	L 17–15	FOX 12:00PM	Kenny Albert & Tim Green	43,119
13	November 24, 1996	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 13–7	FOX 12:00PM	Eric Clemons & Scott Case	40,203
14	December 1, 1996	St. Louis Rams	L 26–10	FOX 3:00PM	Pat Summerall & John Madden	26,310
15	December 8, 1996	Atlanta Falcons	L 31–15	FOX 12:00PM	Kenny Albert & Tim Green	32,923
16	December 15, 1996	at New York Giants	W 17–3	FOX 12:00PM	Dick Stockton & Matt Millen	52,530
17	December 21, 1996	at St. Louis Rams	L 14–13	FOX 3:00PM	Kevin Harlan & Jerry Glanville	57,681

Standings[]

NFC West
view talk	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[]

^ "1996 New Orleans Saints Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
^ Todd Williams (22 March 2008). "Saints v Panthers hightlights Mora's rant (full version)" – via YouTube.
^ "1996 New Orleans Saints Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
^ "All-Time Roster". NewOrleansSaints.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-18. Retrieved February 28, 2011.

[1] "1996 New Orleans Saints Statistics & Players". Pro-Football-Reference.com.

[2] Todd Williams (22 March 2008). "Saints v Panthers hightlights Mora's rant (full version)" – via YouTube.

[3] "1996 New Orleans Saints Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 3, 2014.

[4] "All-Time Roster". NewOrleansSaints.com. Archived from the original on 2012-06-18. Retrieved February 28, 2011.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

v t New Orleans Saints
Founded in 1967 Based in New Orleans, Louisiana Headquartered in Metairie, Louisiana
Franchise	Franchise Seasons History Players Coaches Expansion draft First-round draft picks Starting quarterbacks Broadcasters
Stadiums	Tulane Stadium Caesars Superdome Temporary home venues in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina: Alamodome Giants Stadium Tiger Stadium
Culture	Gumbo Sir Saint Saintsations Who Dat? Tom Benson Effect of Hurricane Katrina Buddy D "When the Saints Go Marching In" Home Team Number One A Saintly Switch
Lore	"Aints" (1–15) Dempsey's 63-yard field goal Dome Patrol Ricky Williams trade River City Relay Beast Quake Bountygate Minneapolis Miracle NOLA No-Call
Rivalries	Atlanta Falcons Minnesota Vikings Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wild card berths (5)	1987 1990 1992 2010 2013
Division championships (9)	1991 2000 2006 2009 2011 2017 2018 2019 2020
Conference championships (1)	2009
League championships (1)	2009 (XLIV)
Retired numbers	31 81
Ring of Honor	Andersen Benson Jackson Manning Mills Roaf Smith
Current league affiliations	League: National Football League Conference: National Football Conference Division: South Division

1996 New Orleans Saints season
Head coach	Jim Mora Rick Venturi (interim)
Home field	Louisiana Superdome
Results
Record	3–13
Division place	5th NFC West
Playoff finish	Did not qualify
Pro Bowlers	T Willie Roaf
← 1995 Saints seasons 1997 →

v t New Orleans Saints seasons
1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Bold indicates Super Bowl victory