1996 Minnesota Vikings season

The 1996 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 36th in the National Football League (NFL). Under head coach Dennis Green, they finished with a 9–7 record and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1994, starting a run of five consecutive playoff appearances.

1996 Minnesota Vikings season
Head coach	Dennis Green
Home field	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record	9–7
Division place	2nd NFC Central
Playoff finish	Lost Wild Card Playoffs (at Cowboys) 15–40
Pro Bowlers	WR Cris Carter G Randall McDaniel DT John Randle
AP All-Pros	G Randall McDaniel (1st team) DT John Randle (1st team)
Uniform

They started the season with five wins in their first six games, before losing their next four. Starting quarterback Warren Moon suffered a broken collarbone during the season and missed the final six games, allowing fifth-year backup Brad Johnson to take his place. With Johnson under center, the Vikings won four of their remaining five games, including divisional victories on the road against the Detroit Lions and at home to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Those wins proved pivotal in the Vikings qualification for the playoffs, as their superior intra-conference record (8–4) over the Washington Redskins rendered Minnesota's week 17 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers irrelevant, despite the Redskins defeating the defending Super Bowl champion Dallas Cowboys. The Vikings entered the playoffs as the number 6 seed in the NFC, pitting them against the Cowboys in the wildcard round. The Cowboys put up 30 unanswered points in the first half and ultimately won the game 40–15, making it the fourth time in five seasons that the Vikings' season ended in the wildcard round.

For the season, the Vikings sported new uniforms, adding the team's logo to both sleeves of the jersey as well as adding yellow number and yellow name outlines. These uniforms would remain in use with the Minnesota Vikings until 2005.

Offseason

Additions	Subtractions
T Scott Dill (Buccaneers)	DE Roy Barker (49ers)
DE Robert Goff (Saints)	T Rick Cunningham (Raiders)
LB Dixon Edwards (Cowboys)	TE Adrian Cooper (49ers)
TE David Frisch (Patriots)	LB Jack Del Rio (Dolphins)
DB Anthony Prior (Jets)	S Charles Mincy (Buccaneers)
T Ariel Solomon (Steelers)
LB Darryl Talley (Falcons)

1996 draft

Main article: 1996 NFL draft

1996 Minnesota Vikings Draft
Draft order		Player name	Position	College	Notes
Round	Selection
1	16	Duane Clemons	Linebacker	California
2	45	James Manley	Defensive tackle	Vanderbilt
3	75	Moe Williams	Running back	Kentucky
4	97	Hunter Goodwin	Tight end	Texas A&M	From Cardinals
	112	Traded to the Arizona Cardinals
5	137	Traded to the Arizona Cardinals			From Giants
	148	Sean Boyd	Defensive back	North Carolina
6	182	Traded to the New York Giants
7	223	Jon Merrill	Offensive tackle	Duke

Notes:

Staff

1996 Minnesota Vikings staff

Front office Chairman of the Board – John Skoglund President/Chief Executive Officer – Roger Headrick Head coaches Head coach – Dennis Green Offensive coaches Offensive coordinator – Brian Billick Quarterbacks – Ray Sherman Running backs – Carl Hargrave Receivers – Chip Myers Tight ends – Mike Tice Offensive line – Keith Rowen

Defensive coaches Defensive coordinator – Foge Fazio Defensive line – John Levra Inside linebackers – Tom Olivadotti Outside linebackers – Trent Walters Defensive backs – Richard Solomon Special teams coaches Special teams – Gary Zauner Strength and conditioning Strength and conditioning – Steve Wetzel Assistant strength and conditioning – Jeff Friday

Roster

1996 Minnesota Vikings roster

Quarterbacks (QB) 14 Brad Johnson  1 Warren Moon  6 Jay Walker Running backs (RB) 29 Chuck Evans FB 31 Scottie Graham 44 Leroy Hoard 32 Amp Lee PR 33 Harold Morrow FB 21 Moe Williams RB Wide receivers (WR) 84 Tony Bland 80 Cris Carter 82 Qadry Ismail KR 22 David Palmer 86 Jake Reed 81 Chris Walsh Tight ends (TE) 85 Greg DeLong 83 David Frisch 87 Hunter Goodwin 89 Andrew Jordan

Offensive linemen (OL) 62 Jeff Christy C 76 Scott Dill T 71 David Dixon G 66 John Gerak G 64 Randall McDaniel G 68 Mike Morris 69 Ariel Solomon 73 Todd Steussie T 77 Korey Stringer T Defensive linemen (DL) 90 Derrick Alexander DE 92 Duane Clemons DE 72 Jason Fisk DT 94 Robert Goff DT 91 Martin Harrison DE 75 James Manley DT 93 John Randle DT 95 Fernando Smith DE 98 Esera Tuaolo DT

Linebackers (LB) 56 Pete Bercich OLB 50 Jeff Brady MLB 52 Richard Brown MLB 59 Dixon Edwards OLB 54 Dave Garnett OLB 55 Darryl Talley OLB Defensive backs (DB) 42 Harlon Barnett SS 27 Corey Fuller CB 24 Robert Griffith SS 25 Alfred Jackson CB 35 Chris Johnson FS 40 Anthony Prior CB 43 Orlando Thomas FS 20 Dewayne Washington CB Special teams 17 Mitch Berger P  9 Scott Sisson K

Practice squad 74 Orlando Bobo G 23 Kwame Ellis CB 19 Lee Gissendaner WR 60 Kenneth McDaniel G Reserve 51 Ben Hanks LB (IR) 61 Everett Lindsay G (IR) 48 Markco Maddox CB (IR) 58 Ed McDaniel LB (IR) 26 Robert Smith RB (IR) 28 James Stewart RB (IR) 37 Sean Vanhorse CB (IR) Rookies in italics 53 active, 7 reserve, 4 practice squad

Preseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	August 3	San Diego Chargers	W 23–20 (OT)	1–0	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	34,367
2	August 8	Buffalo Bills	L 12–35	1–1	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome	36,297
3	August 19	at Miami Dolphins	L 17–24	1–2	Joe Robbie Stadium	55,598
4	August 23	at New Orleans Saints	L 13–16	1–3	Louisiana Superdome	35,728

Regular season

Schedule

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Record	Venue	Attendance
1	September 1	Detroit Lions	W 17–13	1–0	Metrodome	52,972
2	September 8	at Atlanta Falcons	W 23–17	2–0	Georgia Dome	42,688
3	September 15	at Chicago Bears	W 20–14	3–0	Soldier Field	61,301
4	September 22	Green Bay Packers	W 30–21	4–0	Metrodome	64,168
5	September 29	at New York Giants	L 15–10	4–1	Giants Stadium	70,970
6	October 6	Carolina Panthers	W 14–12	5–1	Metrodome	60,894
7	October 13	at Tampa Bay Buccaneers	L 24–13	5–2	Houlihan's Stadium	32,175
8	Bye
9	October 28	Chicago Bears	L 15–13	5–3	Metrodome	58,143
10	November 3	Kansas City Chiefs	L 21–6	5–4	Metrodome	59,552
11	November 10	at Seattle Seahawks	L 42–23	5–5	Kingdome	50,794
12	November 17	at Oakland Raiders	W 16–13 (OT)	6–5	Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum	41,183
13	November 24	Denver Broncos	L 21–17	6–6	Metrodome	59,142
14	December 1	Arizona Cardinals	W 41–17	7–6	Metrodome	45,767
15	December 8	at Detroit Lions	W 24–22	8–6	Silverdome	46,043
16	December 15	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	W 21–10	9–6	Metrodome	49,202
17	December 22	at Green Bay Packers	L 38–10	9–7	Lambeau Field	59,306

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

NFC Central
	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

Postseason

Week	Date	Opponent	Result	Venue	Attendance
Wildcard	December 28	at Dallas Cowboys	L 40–15	Texas Stadium	64,682

Statistics

Team leaders

Category	Player(s)	Value
Passing yards	Brad Johnson	2,258
Passing touchdowns	Brad Johnson	17
Rushing yards	Robert Smith	692
Rushing touchdowns	Leroy Hoard Robert Smith	3
Receiving yards	Jake Reed	1,320
Receiving touchdowns	Cris Carter	10
Points	Scott Sisson	96
Kickoff return yards	Qadry Ismail	527
Punt return yards	David Palmer	216
Tackles	Jeff Brady	101
Sacks	John Randle	11.5
Interceptions	Orlando Thomas	5
Forced fumbles	John Randle	4

League rankings

Category	Total yards	Yards per game	NFL rank (out of 30)
Passing offense	3,658	228.6	8th
Rushing offense	1,546	96.6	24th
Total offense	5,204	325.2	12th
Passing defense	3,121	195.1	9th
Rushing defense	1,966	122.9	24th
Total defense	5,087	317.9	16th