:1996 Chicago Bears season

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Chicago Bears

| year = 1996

| record = 7–9

| division_place = 3rd NFC Central

| coach = Dave Wannstedt

| stadium = Soldier Field

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| shortnavlink = Bears seasons

}}

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
class="wikitable"
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 =

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1996

| teamname = Chicago Bears

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 1

| pick = 13

| player = Walt Harris

| position = Cornerback

| college = Mississippi State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

| probowl = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 52

| player = Bobby Engram

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Penn State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 116

| player = Paul Grasmanis

| position = Defensive tackle

| college = Notre Dame

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 152

| player = Chris Villarrial

| position = Guard

| college = Indiana (PA)

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 187

| player = Jon Clark

| position = Offensive tackle

| college = Temple

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 233

| player = Marcus Keyes

| position = Defensive tackle

| college = North Alabama

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 253

| player = Michael Hicks

| position = Running back

| college = South Carolina State

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft end

| hof = no

}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi/1996_draft.htm |title=1996 Chicago Bears draftees |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=November 24, 2014 }}

=Undrafted free agents=

class="wikitable"

|+ 1996 Undrafted free agents of note

!Player

!Position

!College

|Cornerback

|Tight end

Staff

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1996

| team = Chicago Bears

| front_office =

Chairman of the board – Ed McCaskey
President and chief executive officer – Michael McCaskey
Vice-president of operations – Ted Phillips
Director of player personnel – Rod Graves
Director of research and quality control – Craig Ver Steeg

| head_coach =

Head coach – Dave Wannstedt
Assistant head coach – Tony Wise

| offensive =

Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks – Ron Turner
Running backs – Willie Peete
Wide receivers – Ivan Fears
Tight ends – Ted Plumb
Offensive line – Tony Wise

| defensive =

Defensive coordinator/linebackers – Bob Slowik
Defensive line – Clarence Brooks
Defensive backs – Carlos Mainord
Defensive assistant – Greg Schiano

| special_teams =

Special teams – Danny Abramowicz

| strength =

Strength coordinator – Clyde Emrich
Physical development coordinator – Russ Riederer
Assistant physical development coordinator – Steve Little

}}

{{cite book |title=Chicago Bears 1996 Media Guide |page=2 |chapter=Club directory }}

Roster

{{NFL season roster

| year = 1996

| team = Chicago Bears

| quarterbacks =

| running_backs =

{{player|38}} Mike Faulkerson FB

| wide_receivers =

| tight_ends =

| offensive_linemen =

| defensive_linemen =

| linebackers =

| defensive_back =

| special_teams =

| reserve_lists =

| practice_squad =

53 active, 11 inactive, 4 practice squad

}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi/1996_roster.htm |title=1996 Chicago Bears starters and roster |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |access-date=November 26, 2014 }}

Regular season

= Schedule =

class="wikitable"
Week ! Date ! Opponent ! Result ! TV Time ! TV Announcers ! Attendance
style="background: #ddffdd;" \| 1 \| September 2, 1996 \| Dallas Cowboys \| W 22–6 \| ABC 8:00pm \| Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf \| {{center\|66,944}}
style="background: #ffdddd;" \| 2 \| September 8, 1996 \| at Washington Redskins \| L 10–3 \| FOX 12:00pm \| Dick Stockton & Matt Millen \| {{center\|52,711}}
style="background: #ffdddd;" \| 3 \| September 15, 1996 \| Minnesota Vikings \| L 20–14 \| FOX 12:00pm \| Mike Breen & Bill Maas \| {{center\|61,301}}
style="background: #ffdddd;" \| 4 \| September 22, 1996 \| at Detroit Lions \| L 35–16 \| FOX 3:00pm \| Kevin Harlan & Jerry Glanville \| {{center\|70,022}}
style="background: #ddffdd;" \| 5 \| September 29, 1996 \| Oakland Raiders \| W 19–17 \| NBC 12:00pm \| Dick Enberg, Paul Maguire & Phil Simms \| {{center\|57,062}}
style="background: #ffdddd;" \| 6 \| October 6, 1996 \| Green Bay Packers \| L 37–6 \| FOX 12:00pm \| Pat Summerall & John Madden \| {{center\|65,480}}
style="background: #ffdddd;" \| 7 \| October 13, 1996 \| at New Orleans Saints \| L 27–24 \| FOX 12:00pm \| Mike Breen & Bill Maas \| {{center\|43,512}}
8 \| colspan=5 align="center" \| Bye
style="background: #ddffdd;" \| 9 \| October 28, 1996 \| at Minnesota Vikings \| W 15–13 \| ABC 8:00pm \| Al Michaels, Frank Gifford & Dan Dierdorf \| {{center\|58,143}}
style="background: #ddffdd;" \| 10 \| November 3, 1996 \| Tampa Bay Buccaneers \| W 13–10 \| FOX 12:00pm \| Kenny Albert & Tim Green \| {{center\|58,727}}
style="background: #ffdddd;" \| 11 \| November 10, 1996 \| at Denver Broncos \| L 17–12 \| FOX 3:00pm \| Kevin Harlan & Jerry Glanville \| {{center\|75,555}}
style="background: #ffdddd;" \| 12 \| November 17, 1996 \| at Kansas City Chiefs \| L 14–10 \| FOX 12:00pm \| Dick Stockton & Matt Millen \| {{center\|76,752}}
style="background: #ddffdd;" \| 13 \| November 24, 1996 \| Detroit Lions \| W 31–14 \| FOX 12:00pm \| Kenny Albert & Tim Green \| {{center\|55,864}}
style="background: #ffdddd;" \| 14 \| December 1, 1996 \| at Green Bay Packers \| L 28–17 \| FOX 12:00pm \| Dick Stockton & Matt Millen \| {{center\|59,682}}
style="background: #ddffdd;" \| 15 \| December 8, 1996 \| St. Louis Rams \| W 35–9 \| FOX 12:00pm \| Thom Brennaman & Ron Pitts \| {{center\|45,075}}
style="background: #ddffdd;" \| 16 \| December 14, 1996 \| San Diego Chargers \| W 27–14 \| NBC 3:00pm \| Charlie Jones & Randy Cross \| {{center\|49,763}}
style="background: #ffdddd;" \| 17 \| December 22, 1996 \| at Tampa Bay Buccaneers \| L 34–19 \| FOX 12:00pm \| Thom Brennaman & Ron Pitts \| {{center\|51,572}}

class="wikitable"

Week

! Date

! Opponent

! Result

! TV Time

! TV Announcers

! Attendance

style="background: #ddffdd;"

| 1

| September 2, 1996

| Dallas Cowboys