The 1996 Seattle Seahawks season was the franchise's 21st season in the National Football League (NFL), the 21st playing their home games at the Kingdome and the second under head coach Dennis Erickson . They were unable to improve on their 8–8 record, finished the season 7–9, and missing the playoffs for the eighth consecutive season.
Owner Ken Behring unsuccessfully attempted to move the team to southern California .[ 1] [ 2] The team was sold to Paul Allen in June 1997 .[ 3] [ 4]
After the season, the Seahawks would never finish at the bottom of the AFC West again. It would be the final season they finished at the bottom of their division for 25 years .
Undrafted free agents
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1996 Seattle Seahawks staff
Front office
Owner – Ken Behring
President – David Behring
Executive vice president – Mickey Loomis
Vice president of football operations – Randy Mueller
Co-college scouting director – Mike Allman
Co-college scouting director – Phil Neri
Assistant player personnel director – Rick Thompson
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
Strength and conditioning – Dana LeDuc
[ 5]
Starters in bold.
(*) Denotes players that were selected for the 1997 Pro Bowl .
Source: Seahawks Media Guides[ 6] [ 7]
Divisional matchups have the AFC West playing the NFC Central.
Bold indicates division opponents.
Source: 1996 NFL season results[ 8]
Week P1: vs. Atlanta Falcons
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Preseason Week One: Seattle Seahawks vs. Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Falcons
7
3
0 7 17
Seahawks
0
10
9 0 19
at Kingdome , Seattle
Date : Game time : 7:06 pm local Game weather : indoorsGame attendance : 30,284Referee : Howard RoeTV : KING Gamebook
Week P2: at Oakland Raiders
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Week P3: at Indianapolis Colts
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Preseason Week Three: Seattle Seahawks at Indianapolis Colts – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
3
0
0 10 13
Colts
3
0
0 12 15
at RCA Dome , Indianapolis
Week P4: vs. San Francisco 49ers
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Preseason Week Four: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
49ers
3
0
0 0 3
Seahawks
3
0
10 7 20
at Kingdome , Seattle
Week 1: at San Diego Chargers
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Rick Mirer 5-yard run (Todd Peterson kick), 12:01 (Tied 7–7)
SD – John Carney 35-yard field goal, 1:26 (SD 10–7)
SD – John Carney 53-yard field goal, 0:00 (SD 13–7)
Third quarter
SD – John Carney 22-yard field goal, 2:34 (SD 16–7)
Fourth quarter
SD – John Carney 50-yard field goal, 13:34 (SD 19–7)
SD – Leonard Russell 6-yard run (John Carney kick), 11:39 (SD 26–7)
SD – John Carney 31-yard field goal, 10:28 (SD 29–7)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 251 – 106 – 357 – 4
SD – 191 – 186 – 377 – 0
Week 2: vs. Denver Broncos
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Week Two: Seattle Seahawks vs. Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Broncos
3
10
7 10 30
Seahawks
3
3
7 7 20
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Todd Peterson 40-yard field goal, 8:16 (SEA 6–3)
DEN – Aaron Craver 39-yard pass from John Elway (Jason Elam kick), 5:29 (DEN 10–6)
DEN – Jason Elam 28-yard field goal, 0:10 (DEN 13–6)
Third quarter
SEA – Joey Galloway 88-yard punt return (Todd Peterson kick), 7:10 (Tied 13–13)
DEN – Anthony Miller 7-yard pass from John Elway (Jason Elam kick), 1:06 (DEN 20–13)
Fourth quarter
DEN – Jason Elam 33-yard field goal, 10:32 (DEN 23–13)
SEA – Christian Fauria 23-yard pass from John Friesz (Todd Peterson kick), 4:14 (DEN 23–20)
DEN – John Elway 1-yard run (Jason Elam kick), 2:00 (DEN 30–20)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
DEN – 194 – 180 – 374 – 1
SEA – 172 – 39 – 211 – 3
Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
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Week Three: Seattle Seahawks vs. Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chiefs
14
7
7 7 35
Seahawks
0
10
0 7 17
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Todd Peterson 47-yard field goal, 9:05 (KC 14–3)
SEA – Lamar Smith 4-yard run (Todd Peterson kick), 1:51 (KC 14–10)
KC – Chris Penn 1-yard pass from Steve Bono (Pete Stoyanovich kick), 0:24 (KC 21–10)
Third quarter
KC – Marcus Allen 2-yard run (Pete Stoyanovich kick), 9:44 (KC 28–10)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Rick Mirer 1-yard run (Todd Peterson kick), 13:28 (KC 28–17)
KC – Marcus Allen 1-yard run (Pete Stoyanovich kick), 3:19 (KC 34–17)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
KC – 166 – 157 – 323 – 2
SEA – 141 – 97 – 238 – 1
Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
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Week Four: Seattle Seahawks at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
0
3
0 14 17
Buccaneers
3
7
0 3 13
at Houlihan's Stadium , Tampa, Florida
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
TB – Michael Husted 28-yard field goal, 9:20 (TB 13–3)
SEA – Brian Blades 5-yard pass from Rick Mirer (Todd Peterson kick), 3:00 (TB 13–10)
SEA – Lamar Smith 14-yard run (Todd Peterson kick), 0:31 (SEA 17–13)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 198 – 124 – 322 – 1
TB – 106 – 111 – 217 – 1
Week 5: vs. Green Bay Packers
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Week Five: Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Packers
10
7
7 7 31
Seahawks
0
7
3 0 10
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
GB – Keith Jackson 10-yard pass from Brett Favre (Chris Jacke kick), 8:24 (GB 24–7)
SEA – Todd Peterson 44-yard field goal, 5:35 (GB 24–10)
Fourth quarter
GB – Antonio Freeman 4-yard pass from Brett Favre (Chris Jacke kick), 9:50 (GB 31–10)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
GB – 202 – 142 – 344 – 0
SEA – 170 – 159 – 329 – 5
Week 6: at Miami Dolphins
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Week Six: Seattle Seahawks at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
7
7
0 8 22
Dolphins
3
6
6 0 15
at Pro Player Stadium , Miami
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Joey Galloway 51-yard pass from Rick Mirer (Todd Peterson kick), 12:05 (SEA 14–3)
MIA – Randal Hill 33-yard pass from Craig Erickson (PAT failed), 0:51 (SEA 14–9)
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 299 – 59 – 358 – 3
MIA – 214 – 85 – 299 – 3
Week 8: at Kansas City Chiefs
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
KC – Marcus Allen 1-yard run (Pete Stoyanovich kick), 3:47 (KC 17–0)
SEA – Todd Peterson 19-yard field goal, 0:26 (KC 17–3)
KC – Pete Stoyanovich 43-yard field goal, 0:00 (KC 20–3)
Third quarter
SEA – Chris Warren 50-yard run (Todd Peterson kick), 11:06 (KC 20–10)
KC – Marcus Allen 1-yard run (Pete Stoyanovich kick), 0:21 (KC 27–10)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 213 – 110 – 323 – 1
KC – 194 – 146 – 340 – 1
Week 9: vs. San Diego Chargers
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Week Nine: Seattle Seahawks vs. San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Chargers
3
3
0 7 13
Seahawks
3
17
3 9 32
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SD – John Carney 43-yard field goal, 13:30 (SD 6–3)
SEA – Todd Peterson 44-yard field goal, 11:00 (Tied 6–6)
SEA – Lamar Smith 10-yard run (Todd Peterson kick), 6:42 (SEA 13–6)
SEA – Darryl Williams 79-yard interception return (Todd Peterson kick), 2:39 (SEA 20–6)
Third quarter
SEA – Todd Peterson 47-yard field goal, 4:17 (SEA 23–6)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SD – 253 – 69 – 322 – 5
SEA – 196 – 208 – 404 – 1
Week 10: vs. Houston Oilers
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Week Ten: Seattle Seahawks vs. Houston Oilers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Oilers
3
0
3 10 16
Seahawks
3
3
3 14 23
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Todd Peterson 35-yard field goal, 6:01 (SEA 6–3)
Third quarter
HOU – Al Del Greco 36-yard field goal, 5:03 (Tied 6–6)
SEA – Todd Peterson 44-yard field goal, 2:31 (SEA 9–6)
Fourth quarter
HOU – Al Del Greco 45-yard field goal, 14:55 (Tied 9–9)
HOU – Chris Sanders 65-yard pass from Steve McNair (Al Del Greco kick), 8:12 (HOU 16–9)
SEA – Joey Galloway 14-yard pass from Rick Mirer (John Friesz kick), 3:30 (Tied 16–16)
SEA – Robert Blackmon 61-yard blocked field goal return (Todd Peterson kick), 0:04 (SEA 23–16)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
HOU – 225 – 128 – 353 – 1
SEA – 310 – 32 – 342 – 1
Week 11: vs. Minnesota Vikings
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Week Eleven: Seattle Seahawks vs. Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Vikings
0
7
0 16 23
Seahawks
10
18
7 7 42
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
SEA – Todd Peterson 54-yard field goal, 10:36 (SEA 3–0)
SEA – Lamar Smith 1-yard run (Todd Peterson kick), 4:47 (SEA 10–0)
Second quarter
Third quarter
SEA – Chris Warren 216-yard run (Todd Peterson kick), 9:38 (SEA 35–7)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Ricky Proehl 22-yard pass from John Friesz (Todd Peterson kick), 12:45 (SEA 42–7)
MIN – Brad Johnson 1-yard run (2-pt PAT: Andrew Jordan pass from Brad Johnson), 2:40 (SEA 42–15)
MIN – Jake Reed 14-yard pass from Brad Johnson (2-pt PAT: Chris Walsh pass from Brad Johnson), 1:34 (SEA 42–23)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
MIN – 300 – 15 – 315 – 4
SEA – 253 – 199 – 452 – 1
Week 12: at Detroit Lions
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Week Twelve: Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
7
3
3 3 16
Lions
0
7
7 3 17
at Silverdome , Pontiac, Michigan
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SEA – Todd Peterson 25-yard field goal, 12:38 (SEA 13–7)
DET – Herman Moore 6-yard pass from Don Majkowski (Jason Hanson kick), 1:52 (DET 14–13)
Fourth quarter
SEA – Todd Peterson 21-yard field goal, 9:05 (SEA 16–14)
DET – Jason Hanson 43-yard field goal, 4:32 (DET 17–14)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 194 – 184 – 378 – 1
DET – 141 – 144 – 285 – 1
Week 13: vs. Oakland Raiders
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Week Thirteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Raiders
0
14
3 10 27
Seahawks
3
7
3 8 21
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
OAK – Cole Ford 47-yard field goal, 10:23 (OAK 17–10)
SEA – Todd Peterson 32-yard field goal, 4:55 (OAK 17–13)
Fourth quarter
OAK – Derrick Fenner 1-yard run (Cole Ford kick), 13:33 (OAK 24–13)
SEA – Chris Warren 2-yard run (2-pt PAT : Chris Warren run), 11:10 (OAK 24–21)
OAK – Cole Ford 26-yard field goal, 1:56 (OAK 27–21)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
OAK – 149 – 200 – 349 – 1
SEA – 166 – 130 – 296 – 1
Week 14 at Denver Broncos
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Week Fourteen: Seattle Seahawks at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Seahawks
7
0
0 0 7
Broncos
14
13
7 0 34
at Mile High Stadium , Denver , Colorado
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
DEN – Jason Elam 44-yard field goal, 9:16 (DEN 17–7)
DEN – Jason Elam 18-yard field goal, 1:47 (DEN 20–7)
DEN – Ed McCaffrey 4-yard pass from John Elway (Jason Elam kick), 0:30 (DEN 27–7)
Third quarter
DEN – Terrell Davis 5-yard run (Jason Elam kick), 6:53 (DEN 34–7)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 172 – 105 – 277 – 3
DEN – 236 – 205 – 441 – 0
Week 15: vs. Buffalo Bills
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Week Fifteen: Seattle Seahawks vs. Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bills
0
8
0 10 18
Seahawks
10
6
3 7 26
at Kingdome , Seattle
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
SEA – Todd Peterson 38-yard field goal, 13:59 (SEA 13–0)
SEA – Todd Peterson 22-yard field goal, 8:12 (SEA 16–0)
BUF – Eric Moulds 37-yard pass from Jim Kelly (2-pt PAT: Quinn Early pass from Jim Kelly), 1:05 (SEA 16–8)
Third quarter
SEA – Todd Peterson 30-yard field goal, 8:33 (SEA 19–8)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
BUF – 312 – 79 – 391 – 5
SEA – 132 – 170 – 302 – 0
Week 16: at Jacksonville Jaguars
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Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
SEA – Todd Peterson 24-yard field goal, 1:54 (SEA 13–7)
Fourth quarter
JAX – Jimmy Smith 39-yard pass from Mark Brunell (Mike Hollis kick), 14:53 (JAX 14–13)
JAX – Mike Hollis 19-yard field goal, 9:55 (JAX 17–13)
JAX – Mike Hollis 39-yard field goal, 2:48 (JAX 20–13)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 147 – 159 – 306 – 1
JAX – 218 – 133 – 351 – 0
Week 17: at Oakland Raiders
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Game information
First quarter
OAK – Cole Ford 47-yard field goal, 9:35 (OAK 3–0)
OAK – Safety , Dan Land tackled Jay Bellamy in end zone, 8:08 (OAK 5–0)
OAK – Cole Ford 23-yard field goal, 5:42 (OAK 8–0)
Second quarter
OAK – Cole Ford 28-yard field goal, 13:05 (OAK 11–0)
SEA – Todd Peterson 19-yard field goal, 10:57 (OAK 11–3)
OAK – Cole Ford 24-yard field goal, 1:12 (OAK 14–3)
SEA – Lamar Smith 27-yard run (Todd Peterson kick), 0:55 (OAK 14–10)
SEA – Todd Peterson 52-yard field goal, 0:00 (OAK 14–13)
Third quarter
SEA – Joey Galloway 32-yard pass from Gino Torretta (2-pt PAT : Lamar Smith run), 13:52 (SEA 21–14)
SEA – Lamar Smith 3-yard run (Todd Peterson kick), 7:57 (SEA 28–14)
OAK – Derrick Fenner 2-yard run (Cole Ford kick), 0:00 (SEA 28–21)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Team – – – –
SEA – 13 – 116 – 129 – 2
OAK – 238 – 118 – 356 – 7
^ Smith, Elliot Blair (February 4, 1996). "Behring vows never to play in Seattle again" . Spokesman-Review . (Spokane, Washington). (Orange County Register). p. C1.
^ Boren, Rebecca; Penhale, Ed; Bruscas, Angelo (February 6, 1996). "Behring sets up bidding war for team in transit" . Moscow-Pullman Daily News . (Idaho-Washington). (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). p. 1C.
^ Klass, Tim (July 1, 1997). "Allen seals the deal to buy Seahawks from Behring" . Eugene Register-Guard . (Oregon). Associated Press. p. 1D.
^ Boren, Rebecca (July 1, 1997). "Allen completes purchase" . Lewiston Morning Tribune . (Idaho). (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). p. 1B.
^ "Home" . pro-football-reference.com .
^ 1996 Seahawks Media Guide , accessed February 14, 2015.
^ 1997 Seahawks Media Guide , accessed February 14, 2015.
^ 1996 NFL season results , NFL.com, accessed February 14, 2015.