1996 Carolina Panthers season

1996 Carolina Panthers season
OwnerJerry Richardson
General managerBill Polian
Head coachDom Capers
Home fieldEricsson Stadium
Results
Record12–4
Division place1st NFC West
Playoff finishWon Divisional Playoffs
(vs. Cowboys) 26–17
Lost NFC Championship
(at Packers) 13–30
Pro BowlersTE Wesley Walls
QB Kerry Collins
WR Michael Bates
LB Sam Mills
LB Kevin Greene
LB Lamar Lathon
CB Eric Davis
K John Kasay
AP All-ProsMLB Sam Mills 1st team
OLB Kevin Greene 1st team
OLB Lamar Lathon 1st & 2nd team
KR Michael Bates 1st team
TE Wesley Walls 2nd team
K John Kasay 2nd team

The 1996 Carolina Panthers season was the franchise's second season in the National Football League, the second under head coach Dom Capers, and the first at Ericsson Stadium. They improved upon their 7–9 record in 1995, and made it to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history.

The Panthers would prove a huge surprise in winning their last seven games of the season[1] to finish with a 12–4 record. The result was that the Panthers won the NFC West, and had a first round bye in the 1996 NFL Playoffs. The Panthers would then beat the Dallas Cowboys 26–17 before falling 30–13 to the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship.

The Panthers did not return to the playoffs until 2003, when they would make their first Super Bowl but lost to the New England Patriots.

  1. ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book. New York, NY: Workman Publishing Co. p. 92. ISBN 0-7611-2480-2.