The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League (NFL). The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants, 34–7, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
Week 1 of the season reverted to Labor Day weekend in 2000. It would be the last NFL season to date to start on Labor Day weekend. It would also be the last time until 2015 that CBS televised the late afternoon games in Week 1, because both Week 1 of the NFL season and CBS's coverage of the U.S. Open tennis finals would take place on the same day beginning next season.
Player movement July 24: The Carolina Panthers sign defensive end Reggie White. July 21: The Baltimore Ravens sign tight end Ben Coates. July 24: The San Diego Chargers sign linebacker Steve Tovar. July 25: The Carolina Panthers sign defensive end Eric Swann. July 26: The Seattle Seahawks sign wide receiver Sean Dawkins. July 28: The Chicago Bears sign kicker Michael Husted.
Trades July 11: The Green Bay Packers trade tight end Lawrence Hart to the New Orleans Saints for running back Marvin Powell. July 31: The Green Bay Packers trade quarterback Aaron Brooks and tight end Lamont Hall to the New Orleans Saints for linebacker K.D. Williams.
Draft The 2000 NFL draft was held from April 15 to 16, 2000, at New York City's Theater at Madison Square Garden. With the first pick, the Cleveland Browns selected defensive end Courtney Brown from Pennsylvania State University. Taken by the New England Patriots with the 199th pick in the sixth round was Michigan quarterback Tom Brady. Tom Brady went on to win 3 NFL MVP awards, a record 7 Super Bowl titles and 5 Super Bowl MVP awards.
Major rule changes In order to cut down on group celebrations, unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and fines will be assessed for celebrations by two or more players. Anyone wearing an eligible number (1 to 49 or 80 to 89) can play quarterback without having to first report to the referee before a play. This rule change resulted in the increase of trick plays teams can employ on offense. The "Bert Emanuel" rule was implemented, stating that when making a catch and falling to the ground, the ball is allowed to touch the ground and still be considered a catch if the player maintains clear control of the ball.
2000 deaths
Pro Football Hall of Fame members Tom Fears Fears played 9 seasons as an end for the Los Angeles Rams and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1970. He was a 3-time NFL champion (1951, 1962, 1965), he was named First-team All-Pro in 1950, and was a member of the 1950s All-Decade Team. He was the first Mexican born player inducted into the Hall of Fame. He died January 4, aged 77 Derrick Thomas Thomas played 11 seasons for the Kansas City Chiefs. He was a 6-time All-Pro selection (1st team 1990–1992, 2nd team 1993, 1994, 1996) and a 9-time Pro Bowl selection (1989–1997). He was named to the 1990s All-Decade Team. He owns NFL record for sacks in a game with 7, which he achieved in 1990. He was posthumously inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. He died February 8 of a pulmonary embolism, aged 33. He is the only player inducted into the Hall of Fame that died while still active in the NFL. Tom Landry Landry was the first head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. He won 2 Super Bowls VI and XII. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1990. He died February 12, aged 75.
Active personnel Fred Lane, Indianapolis Colts running back, homicide, died on July 6. Eric Turner, Oakland Raiders safety, stomach cancer, died on May 28.
Notable retirements Dan Marino Steve Young Paul Gruber Michael Irvin Corey Widmer Steve Atwater Daryl Johnston Mark Chmura Charles Haley Aaron Pierce Rae Carruth
Regular season
Scheduling formula Inter-conference AFC East vs NFC Central AFC Central vs NFC East AFC West vs NFC West
Highlights of the 2000 season included: Thanksgiving: Two games were played on Thursday, November 23, featuring New England at Detroit and the Minnesota at Dallas, with Detroit and Minnesota winning.
Final regular season standings
Tiebreakers Green Bay finished ahead of Detroit in the NFC Central based on better division record (5–3 to Lions' 3–5). New Orleans finished ahead of St. Louis in the NFC West based on better division record (7–1 to Rams' 5–3). Tampa Bay was the second NFC Wild Card based on head-to-head victory over St. Louis (1–0).
Playoffs
Milestones The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:
RecordPlayer/teamDate/opponentPrevious record holder Most rushing yards gained, game Corey Dillon, Cincinnati (278) October 22, vs. Denver Walter Payton, Chicago vs. Minnesota, November 20, 1977 (275) Most pass receptions, game Terrell Owens, San Francisco (20) December 17, vs. Chicago Tom Fears, L.A. Rams vs. Green Bay, December 3, 1950 (18) Most points, career Gary Anderson, Minnesota October 22, vs. Buffalo George Blanda 1949–1975 (2,002) Most two-point conversions by a team, game St. Louis (4) October 15, vs. Atlanta Tied by 2 teams (3) Most yards gained by a team, season St. Louis (7,075) N/A Miami, 1984 (6,936) Most passing yards gained by a team, season St. Louis (5,232) N/A Miami, 1984 (5,018)
Statistical leaders
Team Points scoredSt. Louis Rams (540)Total yards gainedSt. Louis Rams (7,075)Yards rushingOakland Raiders (2,470)Yards passingSt. Louis Rams (5,232)Fewest points allowedBaltimore Ravens (165)Fewest total yards allowedTennessee Titans (3,813)Fewest rushing yards allowedBaltimore Ravens (970)Fewest passing yards allowedTennessee Titans (2,423)
Individual ScoringMarshall Faulk, St. Louis (160 points)TouchdownsMarshall Faulk, St. Louis (26 TDs)Most field goals madeMatt Stover, Baltimore (35 FGs)RushingEdgerrin James, Indianapolis (1,709 yards)Passing yardsPeyton Manning, Indianapolis (4,413 yards)Passing touchdownsDaunte Culpepper, Minnesota and Peyton Manning, Indianapolis (33 TDs)ReceptionsMarvin Harrison, Indianapolis and Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina (102 catches)Receiving yardsTorry Holt, St. Louis (1,635)Receiving touchdownsRandy Moss, Minnesota (15 touchdowns)Punt returnsJermaine Lewis, Baltimore (16.1 average yards)Kickoff returnsDarrick Vaughn, Atlanta (27.7 average yards)InterceptionsDarren Sharper, Green Bay (9)PuntingDarren Bennett, San Diego (46.2 average yards)SacksLa'Roi Glover, New Orleans (17)
Awards Most Valuable PlayerMarshall Faulk, running back, St. LouisCoach of the YearJim Haslett, New OrleansOffensive Player of the YearMarshall Faulk, running back, St. LouisDefensive Player of the YearRay Lewis, linebacker, BaltimoreOffensive Rookie of the YearMike Anderson, running back, DenverDefensive Rookie of the YearBrian Urlacher, linebacker, ChicagoNFL Comeback Player of the YearJoe Johnson, defensive end, New OrleansWalter Payton NFL Man of the YearJim Flanigan, defensive tackle, Chicago and Derrick Brooks, linebacker, Tampa BaySuper Bowl most valuable playerRay Lewis, linebacker, Baltimore
Head coach/front office changes Head coach Offseason Dallas Cowboys – Dave Campo replaced Chan Gailey, who was fired after the 1999 season. Green Bay Packers – Mike Sherman replaced Ray Rhodes, who was fired after the 1999 season. Miami Dolphins – Dave Wannstedt replaced Jimmy Johnson, who retired after the 1999 season. New England Patriots – Bill Belichick replaced Pete Carroll, who was fired after the 1999 season. Belichick was hired by the New England Patriots shortly after he resigned from the Jets. Bill Parcells and the Jets claimed that Belichick was still under contract to the Jets, and demanded compensation from the Patriots. NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue agreed, and the Patriots gave the Jets a first-round draft pick in 2000 in exchange for the right to hire Belichick. New Orleans Saints – Jim Haslett replaced Mike Ditka, who was fired after the 1999 season. New York Jets – Al Groh replaced Bill Belichick, who replaced Bill Parcells, who retired to become the full-time General Manager after the 1999 season. Defensive coordinator Bill Belichick, the first choice to replace Parcells as head coach, resigned in order to take the Patriots job. St. Louis Rams – Mike Martz replaced Dick Vermeil, who retired after winning Super Bowl XXXIV.
In-season Cincinnati Bengals – Bruce Coslet resigned three games into the season and was replaced by defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, who held the job through the 2002 season. Arizona Cardinals – Vince Tobin was fired seven games into the season and was replaced by defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis, who held the job through the 2003 season.
Front office Houston Texans – Charley Casserly was hired as the first executive vice president/GM of the expansion Texans on January 19th, 2000. The Texans would play their inaugural season two years later. Minnesota Vikings – Head coach Dennis Green took over as de facto general manager after Tim Connolly's resignation on January 24th, 2000. New Orleans Saints – Randy Mueller replaced Bill Kuharich, who was fired after the 1999 season. St. Louis Rams – Charley Armey replaced former head coach Dick Vermeil, who retired after winning Super Bowl XXXIV. Pittsburgh Steelers – Kevin Colbert replaced Tom Donahoe, who was fired after the 1999 season, as de facto general manager. New England Patriots – New head coach Bill Belichick replaced Bobby Grier as de facto general manager, as Belichick was given the final say on personnel matters. Grier left the Patriots after the 2000 NFL draft. Belichick split the duties typically held by a general manager on most other NFL teams with player personnel director Scott Pioli. San Diego Chargers – Director of player personnel Billy Devaney took the responsibility of player acquisitions after Bobby Beathard's retirement on April 25, 2000.
Stadium changes The Cincinnati Bengals moved from Cinergy Field to Paul Brown Stadium, named after team founder Paul Brown The Seattle Seahawks began playing at Husky Stadium while the Kingdome was demolished and a new Seahawks stadium built in its place Giants Stadium's Astroturf was replaced with natural grass
Uniform and logo changes
The Baltimore Ravens introduced a new Ravens wordmark logo, a new Ravens shield logo was placed on the sleeve ends, and there was new pants stripping with the "B" logo on hips. The Kansas City Chiefs began wearing red pants with their white jerseys for first time since 1988. On May 27th 2000 The New England Patriots introduced new uniforms, darkening the shade of their blue from royal to nautical blue. The new white jerseys were worn with blue block numbers and blue pants. The New Orleans Saints updated their fleur-de-lis helmet logo to be a bit smaller but with a wider white and black outline. Also introduced was an alternative old gold logo. They also returned to wearing old gold pants with their white jerseys. On April 5th 2000 The New York Giants unveiled new uniforms. The blue jerseys were a modernized version of the team's design used in the 1950s. The white jerseys still retained elements of the 1980s design (such as the 1980s' blue collars and nameplates, and missing the 1950s' red sleeve stripes) but with red numbers like the 1950s version. Gray pants were worn with both the blue and white jerseys. The helmet also returned to featuring the lowercase "ny" logo, in addition to the TV numbers moving from the sleeve to the shoulder. The San Diego Chargers wore a patch on their uniforms commemorating the teams 40th anniversary, also had brought back their throwback powder blue uniforms for the first time since 1994 for one game. On April 13th 2000 The St. Louis Rams introduced new uniforms, darkening the shades of blue and gold to "New Century Blue" and "Millennium Gold". Among other modifications, the curling rams horns on the sleeves were replaced by a new logo featuring charging ram's head, in addition to the TV numbers moving from the sleeve to the shoulder.
Television