The 2000 season was the Kansas City Chiefs' 31st in the National Football League (NFL), their 41st overall and their second and final season under head coach Gunther Cunningham. They failed to improve on their 9–7 record from 1999 and finished the season 7–9, marked by a series of on and off-field struggles and incidents.
In the offseason, 9-time Pro Bowl linebacker, team captain, and fan favorite Derrick Thomas died of a pulmonary embolism that occurred due to becoming paralyzed following a January car accident. He was the first of three active NFL players to die in the 2000 offseason, along with Raiders safety Eric Turner (cancer) and Panthers running back Fred Lane (homicide).
In the Week 10 game against the Oakland Raiders, Chiefs quarterback Elvis Grbac set a franchise record for passing yards in a single game with 504.
The Chiefs gave the San Diego Chargers their only victory of the season, losing to them in Week 13.
After the season, Warren Moon, who had been in the NFL since 1984, retired.
Offseason Additions SubtractionsP Todd Sauerbrun (Bears) C Jeff Smith (Jaguars)TE Troy Drayton (Dolphins) LB Derrick Thomas (Car Crash)DT Steve Martin (Eagles) WR Joe Horn (Saints)LB Lewis Bush (Chargers) CB Cris Dishman (Vikings)TE Jason Dunn (Eagles) WR Andre Rison (Raiders)DE Duane Clemons (Vikings) DT Tom Barndt (Bengals) T Glenn Parker (Giants) DE Leslie O'Neal (retirement)
Draft
Undrafted free agents + 2000 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeArland BruceWide receiverMinnesotaBrian HintonCornerbackSoutheast Missouri StateJonathan JacksonLinebackerOregon StatePercy KingSafetyOhio StateNorris McClearyDefensive tackleEast CarolinaBrock McGrewWide receiverNorth TexasKirk McMullenTight endPittsburghAndre O'NealLinebackerMarshallJoe PerezWide receiverMurray StateJosh RawlingsTackleMinnesota
Personnel
Staff / Coaches
Roster
Preseason Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Tennessee Titans L 10–14 0–1 Adelphia Coliseum Recap 2 August 13 San Francisco 49ers L 10–33 0–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 3 Jacksonville Jaguars L 22–26 0–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 4 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 14–37 0–4 Raymond James Stadium Recap
Game summaries Week 1: at Tennessee Titans
Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Week 3: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 4: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 3 Indianapolis Colts L 14–27 0–1 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 2 September 10 at Tennessee Titans L 14–17 0–2 Adelphia Coliseum Recap 3 September 17 San Diego Chargers W 42–10 1–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 4 September 24 at Denver Broncos W 23–22 2–2 Mile High Stadium Recap 5 Seattle Seahawks W 24–17 3–2 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 6Bye 7 October 15 Oakland Raiders L 17–20 3–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 8 October 22 St. Louis Rams W 54–34 4–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 9 October 29 at Seattle Seahawks W 24–19 5–3 Husky Stadium Recap 10 November 5 at Oakland Raiders L 31–49 5–4 Network Associates Coliseum Recap 11 November 12 at San Francisco 49ers L 7–21 5–5 3Com Park Recap 12 November 19 Buffalo Bills L 17–21 5–6 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 13 November 26 at San Diego Chargers L 16–17 5–7 Qualcomm Stadium Recap 14 at New England Patriots L 24–30 5–8 Foxboro Stadium Recap 15 December 10 Carolina Panthers W 15–14 6–8 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 16 December 17 Denver Broncos W 20–7 7–8 Arrowhead Stadium Recap 17 December 24 at Atlanta Falcons L 13–29 7–9 Georgia Dome Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 2: at Tennessee Titans
Week 3: vs. San Diego Chargers
Week 4: at Denver Broncos
Week 5: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 7: vs. Oakland Raiders
Week 8: vs. St. Louis Rams
Week 9: at Seattle Seahawks
Week 10: at Oakland Raiders
Quarterback Elvis Grbac threw for 504 yards, setting the franchise record for most passing yards in a game.
Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 12: vs. Buffalo Bills
Week 13: at San Diego Chargers
The loss dropped the Chiefs to 5–7. Additionally, this would be the only game the Chargers would win all season. The Chiefs failed to score an offensive touchdown, with the team's only touchdown coming on a Marvcus Patton pick six in the third quarter.
Week 14: at New England Patriots
Week 15: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week 16: vs. Denver Broncos
Week 17: at Atlanta Falcons
Standings
References