1976 Philadelphia Eagles season

NFL team season December 2013 March 2026 Philadelphia Eagles 1976 4–10 4th NFC East Dick Vermeil Jim Murray Leonard Tose Veterans Stadium Did not qualify LB Bill Bergey Eagles seasons The 1976 Philadelphia Eagles season was the franchise's 44th in the National Football League (NFL). The Eagles were led by first-year head coach Dick Vermeil. The Eagles matched their 4–10 record from the previous season and failed to reach the playoffs for the 16th consecutive season. It was also the 10th straight season for Philadelphia in which they did not end the season with an above .500 record. Invincible Invincible (2006 film) Vince Papale The season was featured in the 2006 film Invincible. The film was about wide receiver and special teamer Vince Papale, portrayed by Mark Wahlberg, who was signed after receiving an invite to training camp after his success with the fledgling World Football League (WFL) team, the Philadelphia Bell. The film also featured the hiring of Dick Vermeil, portrayed by Greg Kinnear, and his first training camp with the team. The movie also showed multiple preseason games, as well as the Eagles' road game against the Dallas Cowboys and their first victory of the season over the New York Giants. In 1976, the gung-ho new coach of football's hapless Philadelphia Eagles, Dick Vermeil, held open tryouts. Papale's fumble recovery for a touchdown against the Giants did actually happen, however the touchdown was nullified as it was ruled a muffed punt, which can't be advanced. As is typical with movies based on a true story however, several other events depicted in the movie, never happened. Offseason After coaching 12th ranked UCLA to a win over the number 1 overall ranked Ohio State in the 1976 Rose Bowl 23–10, Vermeil was offered Eagles head coaching job. Due to trades, he did not get a first-round selection in his first draft. NFL draft 1976 NFL draft The Philadelphia Eagles would pick 9th in the 17 rounds. The Eagles didn't have a selection in rounds 1, 2, 3, and 12 due to trades. 1976 Philadelphia Eagles Draft Round Selection Player Position College Notes 4 111 Mike Smith DE Florida 5 135 Greg Johnson DT Florida State 6 165 Kirk Johnson T Howard Payne 7 191 Carl Hairston DE Maryland-Eastern Shore 8 216 Richard LaFargue C Arkansas 9 247 Mike Hogan RB Tennessee-Chattanooga Pick Acquired from Chicago Bears 248 Richard Osborne TE Texas A&M 10 273 Herb Lusk RB Long Beach State 11 300 Mike Gilbert DT San Diego State 13 353 Terry Tautolo LB UCLA Pick Acquired from New York Jets 358 Steve Ebbecke DB Villanova 14 385 Melvin Shy DB Tennessee State 15 412 Brett White Punter UCLA 16 439 Steve Campassi RB Kentucky 17 470 Anthony Terry DB California-Davis Personnel Staff / Coaches 1976 Philadelphia Eagles Owner – Leonard Tose General manager – Jim Murray Head coach – Dick Vermeil Offensive Coordinator - John Idzik Running Backs – Johnny Roland Wide Receivers – Dick Coury Tight Ends – Carl Petersen Offensive Line – Duane Putnam Offensive Line – Ken Iman Defensive Coordinator – John Mazur Defensive Line – Chuck Clausen Linebackers – Rod Rust Linebackers - Bill Davis, Sr. Defensive Backs / Secondary – John Mazur Special Teams – Ken Iman Roster 1976 Philadelphia Eagles 10 Mike Boryla 18 Roman Gabriel 11 John Walton American football 34 Dave Hampton 35 Mike Hogan American football y 32 Herb Lusk y 43 James McAlister 38 Bill Olds 25 Tom Sullivan American football 17 Harold Carmichael 83 Vince Papale 85 Charlie Smith wide receiver 84 Keith Krepfle 86 Charle Young 67 Jeff Bleamer G 53 Dennis Franks C 64 Ed George T 72 Wade Key G 50 Guy Morriss C 77 Dennis Nelson American football T 76 Jerry Sisemore G 75 Stan Walters T 61 Bill Dunstan DT 68 Blenda Gay DE 78 Carl Hairston y DT/DE 73 Pete Lazetich DE 79 Manny Sistrunk DT 71 Will Wynn American football DE 66 Bill Bergey MLB 95 John Bunting American football OLB 59 Tom Ehlers OLB 55 Frank LeMaster OLB 54 Drew Mahalic OLB 58 Terry Tautolo y MLB 28 Bill Bradley American football FS 29 Mark Burke American football y SS 37 Tommy Campbell American football CB 21 Al Clark American football CB 41 Randy Logan SS 20 John Outlaw CB 24 Artimus Parker FS  6 Spike Jones American football P 16 Horst Mühlmann K -- Cliff Frazier y DT IR 56 Dean Halverson LB IR 63 Tom Luken American football G IR 26 Art Malone American football RB IR 22 Larry Marshall American football CB IR 74 John Niland American football G IR Regular season Schedule A game against the St. Louis Cardinals on October 10 was originally scheduled to be played at Veterans Stadium, but was relocated to St. Louis due to a Philadelphia Phillies game for the MLB National League Championship that ended up being played at Veterans Stadium on the same day. The game on November 7 that was originally scheduled to be played in St. Louis was moved to Philadelphia. Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 12 at Dallas Cowboys L 7–27 0–1 Texas Stadium 54,052 2 September 19 New York Giants W 20–7 1–1 Veterans Stadium 66,005 3 September 27 Washington Redskins L 17–20 (OT) 1–2 Veterans Stadium 66,005 4 October 3 at Atlanta Falcons W 14–13 2–2 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 45,535 5 October 10 at St. Louis Cardinals L 14–33 2–3 Busch Memorial Stadium 44,933 6 October 17 at Green Bay Packers L 13–28 2–4 Lambeau Field 55,398 7 October 24 Minnesota Vikings L 12–31 2–5 Veterans Stadium 56,233 8 October 31 at New York Giants W 10–0 3–5 Giants Stadium 68,690 9 November 7 St. Louis Cardinals L 14–17 3–6 Veterans Stadium 65,505 10 November 14 at Cleveland Browns L 3–24 3–7 Cleveland Municipal Stadium 62,120 11 November 21 Oakland Raiders L 7–26 3–8 Veterans Stadium 65,990 12 November 28 at Washington Redskins L 0–24 3–9 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium 54,292 13 December 5 Dallas Cowboys L 7–26 3–10 Veterans Stadium 55,072 14 December 12 Seattle Seahawks W 27–10 4–10 Veterans Stadium 37,949 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/phi/1976.htm 1976 Philadelphia Eagles Statistics & Players Pro-Football-Reference.com Standings References Category:Philadelphia Eagles seasons Philadelphia Eagles Philadel Category:1976 in Philadelphia