# 2000 Dallas Cowboys season

The 2000 season was the Dallas Cowboys' 41st in the National Football League (NFL). Cowboys owner Jerry Jones promoted the team's long-time defensive coordinator, Dave Campo, to be the fifth head coach of the Dallas Cowboys. This for first time since 1987 Michael Irvin was not on the opening day roster. 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 was also released after five seasons with the team. He later signed with the Cowboys' NFC East division rival Washington Redskins. Fullback Daryl Johnston also retired after the 1999 season.
| Additions | Subtractions |
| LB Joe Bowden (Titans) | WR Michael Irvin (retirement) |
| QB Randall Cunningham (Vikings) | CB Deion Sanders (Redskins) |
| WR Joey Galloway (Seahawks) | LB Randall Godfrey (Titans) |
| TE Jackie Harris (Titans) | LB Lemanski Hall (Vikings) |
| CB Ryan McNeil (Browns) | CB Kevin Mathis (Saints) |
| LB Barron Wortham (Titans) | FB Daryl Johnston (retirement) |
| CB Phillippi Sparks (Giants) | TE Eric Bjornson (Patriots) |
| | G Everett McIver (Falcons) |
| | FB Robert Chancey (Chargers) |
| | G Tom Myslinski (Steelers) |
| | P Toby Gowin (Saints) |
| | QB Mike Quinn (Dolphins) |
| | WR Jeff Ogden (Dolphins) |
| | DE Kavika Pittman (Broncos) |
| | CB Wendell Davis (CFL) |
| | SS Singor Mobley (CFL) |

### 2000 draft class

2000 Dallas Cowboys draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 2 | 49 | Dwayne Goodrich | CB | Tennessee |
| 4 | 109 | Kareem Larrimore | CB | West Texas A&M |
| 5 | 144 | Michael Wiley | RB | Ohio State |
| 6 | 180 | Mario Edwards | CB | Florida State |
| 7 | 219 | Orantes Grant | LB | Georgia |
| Made roster † Pro Football Hall of Fame * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||
Notes
* The Cowboys traded their 2000 and 2001 first-round selections to the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver Joey Galloway.
* The Cowboys traded their third-round selection to the Seattle Seahawks for wide receiver James McKnight.

### Undrafted free agents

2000 undrafted free agents of note :
| Player | Position | College |
| Adam Edwards | Safety | Oklahoma State |
| Aaron Fields | Defensive end | Tory State |
| Troy Hambrick | Fullback | Savannah State |
| Damon Hodge | Wide receiver | Alabama State |
| Alcender Jackson | Guard | LSU |
| Sean Key | Safety | Florida State |
| Micah Knorr | Punter | Utah State |
| Rian Lindell | Kicker | Washington State |
| Tony Ortiz | Linebacker | Nebraska |
| Phillip Rogers | Running back | Georgia Tech |
| Tim Seder | Kicker | Ashland |
| Clint Stoerner | Quarterback | Arkansas |

## Preseason

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue |
| 1 | July 30 | Pittsburgh Steelers | L 10–38 | 0–1 | Texas Stadium |
| 2 | August 5 | vs. Atlanta Falcons | L 9–20 | 0–2 | Tokyo Dome (Tokyo) |
| 3 | August 13 | Oakland Raiders | L 20–21 | 0–3 | Texas Stadium |
| 4 | August 19 | at Denver Broncos | L 23–36 | 0–4 | Mile High Stadium |
| 5 | August 24 | St. Louis Rams | L 17–24 | 0–5 | Texas Stadium |

## 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 had an inauspicious start with an embarrassing blow-out defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles at home (in which the Eagles recovered an onside kick on the opening kickoff). The loss proved to be even more costly as quarterback Troy Aikman suffered a serious concussion early in the game and newly acquired wide receiver Joey Galloway suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth quarter.
New faces like veteran quarterback Randall Cunningham and wide receiver James McKnight filled 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 led to a 5–11 record.
In a blow-out loss to the San Francisco 49ers, then controversial 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens caused 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. Owens immediately returned to the star to celebrate while the brawl ensued. Teague was ejected from the game, and Terrell Owens was suspended for the next game. Ironically, Owens became a Cowboy later 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, proved 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 gained 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.
Backup running back Chris Warren was released after a 27–7 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Warren tipped a pass which was intercepted by Brian Kelly and returned for a touchdown. After the play Warren was benched, he exchanged words with assistant coaches and spent the rest of the game on the sideline sulking. He was released a few days later and was replaced by rookie Michael Wiley, Warren would eventually sign with the Philadelphia Eagles for the remainder of the season.

### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Attendance |
| 1 | September 3 | Philadelphia Eagles | L 14–41 | 0–1 | 62,872 |
| 2 | September 10 | at Arizona Cardinals | L 31–32 | 0–2 | 66,008 |
| 3 | September 18 | at Washington Redskins | W 27–21 | 1–2 | 84,431 |
| 4 | September 24 | San Francisco 49ers | L 24–41 | 1–3 | 64,127 |
| 5 | October 1 | at Carolina Panthers | W 16–13 (OT) | 2–3 | 68,909 |
| 6 | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye | Bye |
| 7 | October 15 | at New York Giants | L 14–19 | 2–4 | 78,189 |
| 8 | October 22 | Arizona Cardinals | W 48–7 | 3–4 | 62,981 |
| 9 | October 29 | Jacksonville Jaguars | L 17–23 (OT) | 3–5 | 63,554 |
| 10 | November 5 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 13–16 (OT) | 3–6 | 65,636 |
| 11 | November 12 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 23–6 | 4–6 | 62,170 |
| 12 | November 19 | at Baltimore Ravens | L 0–27 | 4–7 | 69,416 |
| 13 | November 23 | Minnesota Vikings | L 15–27 | 4–8 | 63,878 |
| 14 | December 3 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 7–27 | 4–9 | 65,621 |
| 15 | December 10 | Washington Redskins | W 32–13 | 5–9 | 63,467 |
| 16 | December 17 | New York Giants | L 13–17 | 5–10 | 61,311 |
| 17 | December 25 | at Tennessee Titans | L 0–31 | 5–11 | 68,498 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

### Standings

NFC East :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | PF | PA | STK |
| $^{(1)}$ New York Giants | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 328 | 246 | W5 |
| $^{(4)}$ Philadelphia Eagles | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 351 | 245 | W2 |
| Washington Redskins | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 281 | 269 | W1 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 294 | 361 | L2 |
| Arizona Cardinals | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 210 | 443 | L7 |

## Publications

The Football Encyclopedia ISBN 0-312-11435-4 Total Football ISBN 0-06-270170-3 Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes ISBN 0-446-51950-2