The 2000 Dallas Cowboys season was the 41st season for the team in the National Football League. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would promote the team's long-time defensive coordinator, Dave Campo to be the fifth head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. This was also Troy Aikman's last season with the team.
Offseason
The loss of star wide receiver Michael Irvin to retirement led Jerry Jones to trade the team's first round pick in the 2000 draft and the 2001 draft to the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver Joey Galloway. Pro Bowl cornerback Deion Sanders would also be released after five seasons with the team. He would later sign with NFC East division rival, the Washington Redskins.
Regular season
After a lackluster draft which saw the team draft three cornerbacks to replace the departure of star cornerback Deion Sanders, the Dave Campo head coaching era would have an inauspicious start with an embarrassing blow-out defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles at home (in which the Eagles recovered an onsides kick on the opening kickoff). The loss would prove to be even more costly as quarterback Troy Aikman would suffer a serious concussion early in the game and newly acquired wide receiver Joey Galloway would suffer a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter.
New faces like veteran quarterback Randall Cunningham and wide receiver James McKnight would fill in on offense under new offensive coordinator Jack Reilly. On defense, the loss of both starting cornerbacks in the off-season required the addition of veterans Phillipi Sparks and Ryan McNeil. Combined with perennial Pro Bowl safety Darren Woodson, the Cowboys fielded one of the NFL's best secondaries. Unfortunately, a leaky run defense and an inconsistent, aging offense would lead to a 5–11 record.
In a blow-out loss to the San Francisco 49ers, then controversial 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens would cause an uproar by celebrating a touchdown on the large Cowboys star at midfield in Texas Stadium, prompting anger and resentment off the field. This prompted a retaliation by running back Emmitt Smith with a famous "Defend the Star" kneel down celebration of his own on the star. When Owens scored his second touchdown and promptly celebrated in midfield once more, then-safety George Teague knocked Owens off and a short brawl ensued on the field. Ironically, Owens would become a Cowboy later on in his career.
Emmitt Smith's tenth consecutive 1,000 yard season(an NFL record), along with a season sweep of the rival Washington Redskins would prove to be the only highlights in an otherwise disappointing season.
The Cowboys finished 31st in the league in run defense that season, allowing 164.8 yards per game and 4.9 yards per carry.
Notable additions to the team include future starting cornerback Mario Edwards, as well as Dwayne Goodrich. Goodrich would gain notoriety after being involved in a hit and run accident which resulted in the deaths of two people. He was subsequently convicted of criminally negligent homicide.
Schedule
| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | September 3, 2000 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 41–14 | ||
| 2 | September 10, 2000 | at Arizona Cardinals | L 32–31 | ||
| 3 | September 18, 2000 | at Washington Redskins | W 27–21 | ||
| 4 | September 24, 2000 | San Francisco 49ers | L 41–24 | ||
| 5 | October 1, 2000 | at Carolina Panthers | W 16–13 | ||
| 6 | Bye Week | ||||
| 7 | October 15, 2000 | at New York Giants | L 19–14 | ||
| 8 | October 22, 2000 | Arizona Cardinals | W 48–7 | ||
| 9 | October 29, 2000 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 23–17 | ||
| 10 | November 5, 2000 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 16–13 | ||
| 11 | November 12, 2000 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 23–6 | ||
| 12 | November 19, 2000 | at Baltimore Ravens | L 27–0 | ||
| 13 | November 23, 2000 | Minnesota Vikings | L 27–15 | ||
| 14 | December 3, 2000 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 27–7 | ||
| 15 | December 10, 2000 | Washington Redskins | W 32–13 | ||
| 16 | December 17, 2000 | New York Giants | L 17–13 | ||
| 17 | December 25, 2000 | at Tennessee Titans | L 31–0 | ||
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