# 1996 Chicago Bears season

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.

## Offseason

| 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) | |

### NFL draft

1996 Chicago Bears draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 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 ||||||

### Undrafted free agents

1996 Undrafted free agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Chris Martin | Cornerback | Northwestern |
| Bobby Neely | Tight end | Virginia |

## Regular season
### Schedule

| 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 | Bye | Bye | Bye | 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 |

### Standings

NFC Central :
| viewtalkedit | 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 |