1976 New York Jets season
{{short description|1976 season of NFL team New York Jets}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2013}}
{{Infobox NFL team season
| team = New York Jets
| year = 1976
| record = 3–11
| division_place = 4th AFC East
| coach = Lou Holtz (resigned following Week 13, 3–10 record
Mike Holovak (interim, 0–1 record)
| owner = Leon Hess
| stadium = Shea Stadium
| playoffs = Did not qualify
| pro_bowlers = None
| shortnavlink = Jets seasons
}}
The 1976 New York Jets season was the seventeenth season for the team and the seventh in the National Football League. It began with the team trying to improve upon its 3–11 record from 1975 under new head coach Lou Holtz. The Jets again finished with a record of 3–11, which combined with the resignation of Holtz with one game left in the season to become coach at the University of Arkansas, prompted John Facenda to say about the Jets during the NFL Films highlight film for that season “Perhaps the best thing to say about the 1976 New York Jets season is that it’s over”.
The only teams that the Jets defeated in 1976 were the 2–12 Buffalo Bills (twice) and the 0–14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Jets were 0–9 vs. teams with a winning record.
The 1976 season was also the twelfth and final year with the Jets for quarterback Joe Namath.Namath would play one final season with the 1977 L.A. Rams
Offseason
= 1976 Expansion Draft =
{{main article|1976 NFL expansion draft}}
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ New York Jets selected during the Expansion Draft | ||||
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets 63thru77|border=2}}" | Round
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets 63thru77|border=2}}" | Overall !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets 63thru77|border=2}}" | Name !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets 63thru77|border=2}}" | Position !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets 63thru77|border=2}}" | Expansion Team | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
0 | 0 | Anthony Davis | Running back | Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
0 | 0 | Jerry Davis | Defensive back | Seattle Seahawks |
0 | 0 | Larry Woods | Defensive tackle | Seattle Seahawks |
= Draft =
{{main article|1976 NFL draft}}
{{NFL team draft start
| year = 1976
| teamname = New York Jets
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 1
| pick = 6
| player = Richard Todd
| position = Quarterback
| college = Alabama
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 2
| pick = 33
| player = Shafer Suggs
| position = Safety
| college = Ball State
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 3
| pick = 67
| player = Greg Buttle
| position = Linebacker
| college = Penn State
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 5
| pick = 129
| player = Steve King
| position = Offensive tackle
| college = Michigan
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 6
| pick = 163
| player = Bob Martin
| position = Linebacker
| college = Nebraska
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 7
| pick = 188
| player = Abdul Salaam
| position = Defensive end
| college = Kent State
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 7
| pick = 199
| player = James Richards
| position = Running back
| college = Florida
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 8
| pick = 211
| player = Joe Davis
| position = Guard
| college = USC
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 8
| pick = 214
| player = Louie Giammona
| position = Running back
| college = Utah State
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 9
| pick = 244
| player = Ronnie Moore
| position = Wide receiver
| college = VMI
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 11
| pick = 296
| player = Lawrence Pillers
| position = Defensive end
| college = Alcorn State
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 12
| pick = 326
| player = Don Buckey
| position = Wide receiver
| college = North Carolina State
| notes =
| maderoster = yes
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 12
| pick = 327
| player = Dave Buckey
| position = Quarterback
| college = North Carolina State
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 14
| pick = 380
| player = Al Gluchoski
| position = Center
| college = West Virginia
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 15
| pick = 410
| player = Rick Faulk
| position = Punter
| college = San Francisco State
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 16
| pick = 437
| player = James Godwin
| position = Running back
| college = Fayetteville
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft entry
| round = 17
| pick = 464
| player = Darwin Willie
| position = Tight end
| college = Tulane
| notes =
| maderoster = no
| hof =
| probowl =
}}
{{NFL team draft end}}
Personnel
= Staff =
{{NFL final staff
| year = 1976
| team = New York Jets
| front_office =
- Leon Hess – Owner
- Al Ward – General manager
- Mike Holovak – Director of player personnel
- Carroll Huntress – Scout
- Connie Nicholas – Scout
| head_coach =
- Lou Holtz – Head coach (first 13 games)
- Mike Holovak – Interim head coach (final game)
| offensive =
- Dan Henning – Wide receivers
- Joe Gardi – Tight ends/special teams
- Bob Fry – Offensive line
| defensive =
- Walt Michaels – Defensive coordinator
| strength =
}}
= Roster =
{{NFL final roster
| year = 1976
| team = New York Jets
| prefix =
| active =
| inactive =
| PS =
| quarterbacks =
{{NFLplayer|11|Steve Joachim}}
{{NFLplayer|12|Joe Namath}}
{{NFLplayer|14|Richard Todd|d=American football|rookie=y}}
| running_backs =
{{NFLplayer|35|Steve Davis|d=running back}}
{{NFLplayer|21|Clark Gaines|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|45|Louie Giammona|rookie=y}}
{{NFLplayer|38|Bob Gresham}}
| wide_receivers =
{{NFLplayer|83|Jerome Barkum}}
{{NFLplayer|84|Clint Haslerig}}
{{NFLplayer|82|David Knight|d=American football}}
{{NFLplayer|89|Lou Piccone}}
{{NFLplayer|80|Howard Satterwhite}}
|Tight Ends=
{{NFLplayer|88|Rich Caster}}
{{NFLplayer|86|Richard Osborne|d=American football|rookie=y}}
| offensive_linemen =
{{NFLplayer|67|Darrell Austin|G/C}}
{{NFLplayer|65|Joe Fields|C}}
{{NFLplayer|75|Winston Hill|T}}
{{NFLplayer|71|Al Krevis|T}}
{{NFLplayer|78|Garry Puetz|G/T}}
{{NFLplayer|66|Randy Rasmussen|d=American football, born 1945|G}}
{{NFLplayer|61|John Roman|rookie=y|T}}
{{NFLplayer|72|Robert Woods|d=offensive tackle|T}}
|Defensive Linemen=
{{NFLplayer|77|Carl Barzilauskas|DT}}
- {{player|74}} Larry Faulk DT
{{NFLplayer|85|Ed Galigher|DT}}
{{NFLplayer|81|Richard Neal|d=American football|DE}}
{{NFLplayer|76|Lawrence Pillers|DE}}
| linebackers =
{{NFLplayer|51|Greg Buttle|rookie=y|OLB}}
{{NFLplayer|55|John Ebersole|d=American football|MLB}}
{{NFLplayer|52|Mike Hennigan|d=American football|OLB}}
{{NFLplayer|59|Bob Martin|d=American football|rookie=y|OLB}}
{{NFLplayer|56|Larry Keller|OLB}}
{{NFLplayer|54|Steve Poole|rookie=y|MLB}}
| defensive_backs =
{{NFLplayer|47|Tommy Marvaso|rookie=y|SS}}
{{NFLplayer|22|Burgess Owens|FS}}
{{NFLplayer|46|Rich Sowells|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|23|Shafer Suggs|rookie=y|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|38|Ed Taylor|d=American football|CB}}
{{NFLplayer|27|Phil Wise|d=American football|SS}}
|Special Teams =
{{NFLplayer| 3|Duane Carrell|P}}
{{NFLplayer| 5|Pat Leahy|d=American football|K}}
|Reserve Lists =
{{NFLplayer|--|Don Coleman|d=linebacker|LB|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|--|Joe Davis|d=offensive lineman|rookie=y|G|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|--|Steve King|d=American football|rookie=y|T|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|--|Mark Lomas|DE|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|49|Ed Marinaro|RB|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|50|Wayne Mulligan|C|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|87|Billy Newsome|DE|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|53|Carl Russ|LB|IR}}
{{NFLplayer|--|Clarence Sanders|rookie=y|LB|PUP}}
{{NFLplayer|48|Ken Schroy|rookie=y|S|IR}}
|Practice Squad =
}}
Schedule
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets|year=1976|border=2}}"| Week
!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets|year=1976|border=2}}"| Date !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets|year=1976|border=2}}"| Opponent !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets|year=1976|border=2}}"| Result !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets|year=1976|border=2}}"| Record !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets|year=1976|border=2}}"| Venue !style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets|year=1976|border=2}}"| Attendance |
---|
style="background:#fcc"
! 1 | September 12 | at Cleveland Browns | L 17–38 | 0–1 | 67,496 |
style="background:#fcc"
! 2 | September 19 | at Denver Broncos | L 3–46 | 0–2 | 62,669 |
style="background:#fcc"
! 3 | September 29 | at Miami Dolphins | L 0–16 | 0–3 | 49,754 |
style="background:#fcc"
! 4 | October 3 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 6–17 | 0–4 | 42,961 |
style="background:#cfc"
! 5 | October 10 | W 17–14 | 1–4 | 59,110 |
style="background:#fcc"
! 6 | October 18 | at New England Patriots | L 7–41 | 1–5 | 50,883 |
style="background:#fcc"
! 7 | October 24 | L 0–20 | 1–6 | Shea Stadium | 59,576 |
style="background:#cfc"
! 8 | October 31 | at Buffalo Bills | W 19–14 | 2–6 | 41,285 |
style="background:#fcc"
! 9 | November 7 | L 7–27 | 2–7 | Shea Stadium | 53,344 |
style="background:#cfc"
! 10 | November 14 | W 34–0 | 3–7 | Shea Stadium | 46,426 |
style="background:#fcc"
! 11 | November 21 | L 24–38 | 3–8 | Shea Stadium | 49,983 |
style="background:#fcc"
! 12 | November 28 | at Baltimore Colts | L 16–33 | 3–9 | 44,023 |
style="background:#fcc"
! 13 | December 5 | L 16–37 | 3–10 | Shea Stadium | 46,638 |
style="background:#fcc"
! 14 | December 12 | L 3–42 | 3–11 | Shea Stadium | 31,067 |
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|New York Jets|year=1976|border=2}}"
|colspan="8"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
= Standings =
{{1976 AFC East standings}}
In popular culture
- The television series Barney Miller referenced the game between the Buccaneers playing in New York versus the Jets, in the third-season episode “The Recluse”, in which Yemana (Jack Soo) had tickets to the Jets/Tampa Bay game. When asked “Why?’, his response, “They were on sale”. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished 0–14 the same season.
Notes
{{reflist|group=note}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/nyj/1976.htm 1976 statistics]
{{New York Jets}}
{{New York Jets seasons}}
{{1976 NFL season by team}}
Category:New York Jets seasons
{{Americanfootball-season-stub}}