1996 Baltimore Ravens season

Last updated

1996 Baltimore Ravens season
Owner Art Modell
Head coach Ted Marchibroda
Defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis
Home field Memorial Stadium
Results
Record4–12
Division place5th AFC Central
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers QB Vinny Testaverde
FS Eric Turner

The 1996 season was the Baltimore Ravens' inaugural season in the National Football League. They played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, Maryland. The Ravens were officially a new franchise, but they retained a large portion of the roster of the 1995 Cleveland Browns team, as well as front office staff and some members of the coaching staff. Due to technically, but not officially, being the previous season's Browns team under a new name, they did not receive the number 1 overall draft selection or have an expansion draft as a true expansion franchise would.

Contents

Baltimore had remained without an NFL football franchise for 12 years after the Baltimore Colts relocated to Indianapolis, Indiana. [1] In 1996, however, the NFL approved Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell's proposal to relocate the existing Browns organization to Baltimore, although the records and name of the Browns would remain in Cleveland, Ohio and the Baltimore franchise would officially be an expansion franchise. [2] After Modell established the franchise in Baltimore, the team was named the "Baltimore Ravens" via a poll conducted by The Baltimore Sun. Because the Browns were temporarily deactivated under the terms of the settlement (they resumed play in 1999), the Ravens assumed the Browns' place in the American Football Conference (AFC) Central Division. [3] More than 50,000 season tickets were sold.

Modell decided not to retain 1995 Browns coach Bill Belichick, who was fired. He instead hired former Baltimore Colts coach Ted Marchibroda. Marchibroda had previously been in his second stint coaching the Colts, guiding them to the 1995 AFC Championship Game, but could not come to terms on a contract extension in Indianapolis. Modell came to terms with Marchibroda only six days after he left the Colts organization to bring him back to Baltimore.

As an organization, the Ravens failed to improve on the 1995 Browns' 5–11 record. They finished their first season with a 4–12 record under Marchibroda, who would finish with a 41–33 regular season record in Baltimore. [4] At the Ravens’ first-ever regular season game, a then-record attendance of 64,124 was present in their win against the Oakland Raiders, 19–14, on September 1 at home. [5] Their second victory came in Week 5, against the New Orleans Saints at home, in which they became 2–2. In Week 7, the Ravens traveled to Indianapolis to play Baltimore's (and Marchibroda's) previous team. They, however, lost 26–21 and fell to 2–4. Their only other two victories were recorded at home in Week 9 against the St. Louis Rams and Week 14 against the Steelers.

Although not a winning season, quarterback Vinny Testaverde and safety Eric Turner were voted into the Pro Bowl, and wide receivers Michael Jackson and Derrick Alexander became the fourth receiving duo to surpass the 1,000-yard receiving mark. [5] The Ravens held second-half leads in ten of their final eleven games; they ultimately went 3–7 in games decided by one possession.

Michael Jackson's 1,201 receiving yards is 2nd in franchise history after Mark Andrews in 2021, and his 14 touchdown receptions still stands as a franchise single-season record. [6]

Offseason

Prior to the season, the Ravens hired several coaches, including head coach Ted Marchibroda and defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis. Offensive guard Jeff Blackshear was acquired for a future 4th round draft pick. The Ravens traded 3rd, 4th, and 7th round draft picks for the Broncos’ second round selection (#55 overall).

NFL draft

1996 Baltimore Ravens draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
14 Jonathan Ogden  *   Offensive tackle UCLA
126 Ray Lewis  *   Linebacker Miami (FL)
255 DeRon Jenkins   Cornerback Tennessee
5153 Jermaine Lewis  *  Wide receiver Maryland
6172 Dexter Daniels  Linebacker Florida
6186 James Roe  Wide receiver Norfolk State
7238Jon Stark  Quarterback Trinity International
      Made roster        Pro Football Hall of Fame     *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[7]

Personnel

Staff

1996 Baltimore Ravens staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

Roster

1996 Baltimore Ravens roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad

53 active, 1 inactive, 4 practice squad


Rookies in italics

[8]

Preseason

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenue
1August 3 Philadelphia Eagles W 17–91–0 Memorial Stadium
2August 10at New York Giants W 37–272–0 Giants Stadium
3August 17 Green Bay Packers L 15–172–1Memorial Stadium
4August 23at Buffalo Bills W 37–143–1 Rich Stadium
[9]

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendance
1September 1 Oakland Raiders W 19–141–0 Memorial Stadium 64,124
2September 8at Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–311–1 Three Rivers Stadium 57,241
3September 15at Houston Oilers L 13–291–2 Astrodome 20,082
4 Bye
5September 29 New Orleans Saints W 17–102–2Memorial Stadium61,063
6October 6 New England Patriots L 38–462–3Memorial Stadium63,569
7October 13at Indianapolis Colts L 21–262–4 RCA Dome 56,978
8October 20at Denver Broncos L 34–452–5 Mile High Stadium 70,453
9October 27 St. Louis Rams W 37–31 (OT)3–5Memorial Stadium60,256
10November 3 Cincinnati Bengals L 21–243–6Memorial Stadium60,743
11November 10at Jacksonville Jaguars L 27–303–7 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium 64,628
12November 17at San Francisco 49ers L 20–383–8 3Com Park 51,596
13November 24 Jacksonville Jaguars L 25–28 (OT)3–9Memorial Stadium57,384
14December 1 Pittsburgh Steelers W 31–174–9Memorial Stadium51,822
15December 8at Cincinnati Bengals L 14–214–10 Riverfront Stadium 43,022
16December 15at Carolina Panthers L 16–274–11 Ericcson Stadium 70,075
17December 22 Houston Oilers L 21–244–12Memorial Stadium52,704

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Standings

AFC Central
WLTPCTPFPASTK
(3) Pittsburgh Steelers 1060.625344257L2
(5) Jacksonville Jaguars 970.563325335W5
Cincinnati Bengals 880.500372369W3
Houston Oilers 880.500345319W1
Baltimore Ravens 4120.250371441L3

[10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore Ravens</span> National Football League franchise in Baltimore, Maryland

The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) North division. The team plays its home games at M&T Bank Stadium and is headquartered in Owings Mills, Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indianapolis Colts</span> National Football League franchise in Indiana

The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's American Football Conference (AFC) South division. Since the 2008 season, the Colts have played their games in Lucas Oil Stadium. Previously, the team had played for over two decades (1984–2007) at the RCA Dome. Since 1987, the Colts have served as the host team for the NFL Scouting Combine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Art Modell</span> American businessman (1925–2012)

Arthur Bertram Modell was an American businessman, entrepreneur and National Football League (NFL) team owner. He owned the Cleveland Browns franchise for 35 years and established the Baltimore Ravens franchise, which he owned for eight years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vinny Testaverde</span> American football player (born 1963)

Vincent Frank Testaverde Sr. is an American former football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 21 seasons. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, earning consensus All-American and winning the Heisman Trophy in 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ozzie Newsome</span> American football player and executive (born 1956)

Ozzie Newsome Jr. is an American professional football executive and former player who is the executive vice president of player personnel of the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). Newsome was a tight end for the NFL's Cleveland Browns, and was general manager of the Ravens from 1996 to 2018. Newsome has been inducted into both the College Football Hall of Fame (1994) and the Pro Football Hall of Fame (1999), and is widely regarded as one of the greatest tight ends of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Stover</span> American football player (born 1968)

John Matthew Stover is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker for 20 seasons in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Baltimore Ravens. After five seasons for the Cleveland Browns, he was among the Browns players transferred to the newly-created Ravens franchise in 1996, with whom he played 13 seasons. Additionally, Stover was a member of the New York Giants during his first season and Indianapolis Colts during his last. His most successful season was in 2000 when he earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors en route to the Ravens winning their first Super Bowl title in Super Bowl XXXV. He was also part of the Giants team that won Super Bowl XXV. For his accomplishments with the Ravens, Stover was named to the Baltimore Ravens Ring of Honor in 2011.

The 1996 NFL season was the 77th regular season of the National Football League (NFL) and the season was marked by notable controversies from beginning to end. Most significantly, the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy resulted in a then-unique legal settlement where the Cleveland Browns franchise, history, records, and intellectual property remained in Cleveland, while its players and personnel transferred to Baltimore, technically to a new league franchise that was named the Baltimore Ravens.

Robert Irsay was an American professional football team owner. He owned the National Football League (NFL)'s Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts franchise from 1972 until his death in 1997. He was the father of current Colts owner Jim Irsay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Marchibroda</span> American football player and coach (1931–2016)

Theodore Joseph Marchibroda was an American professional football player and head coach in the National Football League (NFL). He played four years in the NFL as a quarterback with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Cardinals (1957). He was later head coach of the Colts in two different cities and decades, first in Baltimore during the 1970s and then Indianapolis during the 1990s. Upon joining the Baltimore Ravens in a similar capacity in 1996, he became the only individual to serve as head coach with both of Baltimore's NFL teams and gained the unusual distinction of having three stints as an NFL head coach for two franchises in two cities, but with no two of those tenures being for the same franchise in the same city. His career coaching record was 87–98–1 (.470) and 2–4 in the playoffs.

This article details the history of the Baltimore Ravens, a professional American football team which plays in the National Football League. The Ravens were formed to fill in the void left by Baltimore's previous team, the Colts, who had controversially moved to Indianapolis. Ironically, the Ravens' formation necessitated the relocation of the Cleveland Browns' players and personnel, leaving Cleveland without a team until the Browns resumed operations as an expansion team three years later. Since then the Ravens have usually featured a strong defense and have won two Super Bowl championships.

The 1995 Cleveland Browns season was the team's 50th season overall and 46th in the National Football League. It ultimately became their final NFL season until 1999, their final season at Cleveland Stadium, and Bill Belichick's final year as Browns head coach. The team finished 5–11, fourth in the AFC Central, though most of the season was overshadowed by the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy. The team was documented in NFL Network's A Football Life.

The 1996 Indianapolis Colts season was the 44th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL) and 13th in Indianapolis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore's Marching Ravens</span> Official marching band of the Baltimore Ravens

Baltimore's Marching Ravens are the official marching band of the Baltimore Ravens American football team.

The Cleveland Browns relocation controversy—colloquially called "The Move" by fans—was a controversy during the 1995 NFL season in which the then-Browns owner Art Modell announced that he intended to move the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL) from its longtime home of Cleveland to Baltimore.

The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They play in the South Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The organization began play in 1953 as the Baltimore Colts with the team located in Baltimore, Maryland; it relocated to Indianapolis following the 1983 season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baltimore Colts</span> Professional American football team in Baltimore, Maryland, from 1953 to 1983

The Baltimore Colts were a professional American football team who played in Baltimore, starting in 1953, to 1983, when owner Robert Irsay moved the franchise to Indianapolis, Indiana. The team was named for Baltimore's history of horse breeding and racing. It was the second incarnation of the Baltimore Colts, the first having played for three years in the All-America Football Conference and one in the National Football League (NFL). This Baltimore Colts team played its home games at Memorial Stadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Browns–Ravens rivalry</span> National Football League rivalry

The Browns–Ravens rivalry is a National Football League (NFL) rivalry between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens. The rivalry began in 1999, with the resumption of the Browns' franchise, which was created as a result of the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy. The rivalry between the Browns and Ravens was more directed at former Browns owner Art Modell than the team itself, and has, by most Ravens fans, been simply considered a divisional game.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Andrews (American football)</span> American football player (born 1995)

Mark Andrews is an American football tight end for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Oklahoma and was selected by the Ravens in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Andrews has been elected to the Pro Bowl three times and was named to the 2021 All-Pro Team after setting the Ravens' single-season record for receptions and receiving yards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marquise Brown</span> American football player (born 1997)

Marquise "Hollywood" Brown is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at College of the Canyons and Oklahoma and was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft.

References

  1. "Baltimore Ravens History (1946–1984)". Baltimoreravens.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  2. "Art Modell Baltimoreravens.com Profile". Baltimoreravens.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010. Modell purchased the Cleveland Browns for what was an unprecedented price of $4 million in 1961, and three decades later, in February 1996, he brought an NFL franchise back to Baltimore. For Art and his club, the move was not an easy one to make – and it was not easy for the team's fans to see their team go. Knowing this, Modell did not hesitate to leave the fans of Cleveland a legacy. He announced that he would give the name "Browns" to Cleveland for a future team. He also left the team's colors (orange and brown) and the rich and storied" 49-year history (1946–1995).
  3. "1996 NFL Standings". Pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  4. "Ted Marchibroda Profile". Pro-football-reference.com. Sports Reference, LLC. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  5. 1 2 "Baltimore Ravens History (1996)". Baltimoreravens.com. Archived from the original on February 11, 2010. Retrieved February 10, 2010.
  6. Baltimore Ravens Single-Season Receiving Leaders
  7. "1996 Baltimore Ravens Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved February 1, 2014.
  8. "1996 Baltimore Ravens starters and roster". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  9. 1996 Baltimore Ravens schedule and results
  10. NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York,NY, ISBN   0-7611-2480-2, p. 291