The 2016-17 campaign delivered a tense, disappointing fight for survival for Kaiserslautern, with Die Roten Teufel ultimately clinging to their 2. Bundesliga status with a crucial 13th-place finish, secured only on the final day. The season was turbulent, marked by a mid-season managerial change from Tayfun Korkut to Norbert Meier, as the team struggled for goals and faced financial constraints. Despite the turmoil, their survival was built on a rock-solid defense at the Fritz-Walter-Stadion, which maintained an eight-game streak without conceding. The inconsistent attack was led by Osayamen Osawe and Jacques Zoua, who jointly topped the scoring charts with a modest six goals apiece, in a hard-fought year that ended with the relief of a narrowly-won battle against the drop.