1996 NFL season

1996 NFL season
Regular season
Duration	September 1 – December 23, 1996
Playoffs
Start date	December 28, 1996
AFC Champions	New England Patriots
NFC Champions	Green Bay Packers
Super Bowl XXXI
Date	January 26, 1997
Site	Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
Champions	Green Bay Packers
Pro Bowl
Date	February 2, 1997
Site	Aloha Stadium
	← 1995; NFL seasons; 1997 →;

Colts

Patriots

Bills

Dolphins

Jets

Bengals

Ravens

Oilers

Steelers

Jaguars

Broncos

Chiefs

Raiders

Chargers

Seahawks

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AFC teams: West, Central, East

Cowboys

Giants

Eagles

Cardinals

Redskins

Bears

Lions

Packers

Vikings

Buccaneers

Falcons

Rams

Saints

49ers

Panthers

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NFC teams: West, Central, East

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 (with the Browns officially deactivated), while its players and personnel transferred to Baltimore, technically to a new league franchise that was named the Baltimore Ravens.^[1]

The season ended with Super Bowl XXXI when the Green Bay Packers defeated the New England Patriots 35–21 at the Louisiana Superdome.

^ "Agreement between the NFL, Cleveland". NFL. February 8, 1996. Archived from the original on November 12, 1996.

[CLE_agreement-1] "Agreement between the NFL, Cleveland". NFL. February 8, 1996. Archived from the original on November 12, 1996.

[1]