The 1976 BC Lions finished in fourth place in the Western Conference with a 5–9–2 record and failed to make the playoffs.

The Lions platooned quarterbacks in 1976 in order to find the replacement for Don Moorhead who had 3 knee surgeries in two years and retired in July. These quarterbacks included journeymen Eric Guthrie, Rick Cassata, and UCLA star John Sciarra. However, the result was the Lions had by far the league's worst passing attack with only 2476 yards in passing offence and 46% completion percentage.

After only one win in the final 10 games, head coach Cal Murphy was fired in December after 18 months as head coach and a 10–14–2 record.

Defensive End Bill Baker won the Schenley award for Most Outstanding Defensive Player and rookie John Sciarra (who was converted from quarterback to slotback early in the season and was the Lions top receiver) won the Schenley Rookie award with 563 yards receiving.

Centre Al Wilson and Baker made the CFL All-star team for the second consecutive season.

Uniform changes included new orange-coloured facemask (the Lions were the first CFL team to introduce a coloured facemask, two years after the Kansas City Chiefs and then-San Diego Chargers did the same in the NFL), a double orange helmet stripe and new trimmed numbers to complete the look that most fans remember from the 1970s

Harry Spring is elected to the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in the Builder category.

Offseason CFL draft RoundPickPlayerPositionSchool

Preseason Game Date Opponent Results Venue Attendance Score Record

Regular season Season standings + Western Football Conference Team GP W L T PF PA PtsSaskatchewan Roughriders 16 11 5 0 427 238 22 Winnipeg Blue Bombers 16 10 6 0 384 316 20 Edmonton Eskimos 16 9 6 1 311 367 19 BC Lions 16 5 9 2 308 336 12 Calgary Stampeders 16 2 12 2 316 422 6

Season schedule Week Game Date Opponent Results Score Record 1 1 July 22 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders L 8–35 0–1 2 2 July 29 vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats W 39–14 1–1 3 3 Aug 4 at Edmonton Eskimos L 12–19 1–2 4 4 Aug 11 at Calgary Stampeders W 13–9 2–2 5 5 Aug 17 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers W 22–14 3–2 6 6 Aug 24 vs. Ottawa Rough Riders W 23–11 4–2 7 7 Aug 30 at Montreal Alouettes L 9–30 4–3 8 8 Sept 6 at Saskatchewan Roughriders L 14–17 4–4 9 9 Sept 12 vs. Calgary Stampeders W 30–15 5–4 10 10 Sept 19 at Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 20–22 5–5 11 Bye 12 11 Oct 2 vs. Edmonton Eskimos T 27–27 5–5–1 13 12 Oct 11 at Edmonton Eskimos L 12–16 5–6–1 14 13 Oct 17 vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders L 15–28 5–7–1 15 14 Oct 24 at Calgary Stampeders T 31–31 5–7–2 16 15 Oct 30 at Toronto Argonauts L 16–25 5–8–2 17 16 Nov 6 vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers L 17–23 5–9–2 Roster 1976 BC Lions final roster Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

QB

Tight ends Offensive linemen G T T G/T G C

Defensive linemen DE DT DE/DT DE DT Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams K/P

Injured list DB

Italics indicate International player Offensive leaders Player Passing ydsRushing ydsReceiving ydsTD Eric Guthrie 1399 5901 Rick Cassata 984 000 Mike Strickland 111935811 Lou Harris 7841667 John Sciarra 105 925631 Merced Solis 03291 Jim Young 03272

Awards and records CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player Award – Bill Baker (DE) 1976 CFL All-Stars C – Al Wilson, CFL All-Star DE – Bill Baker, CFL All-Star

References