2000 NFL season
The 2000 NFL season was the 81st regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XXXV when the Baltimore Ravens defeated the New York Giants 34–7 at the Raymond James Stadium.
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. This was because both Week 1 of the NFL season and CBS’ coverage of the U.S. Open tennis finals would take place on the same day beginning next season.
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.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 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
- Tom Landry, former head coach of the Dallas Cowboys, died February 12. As a tribute, the Cowboys wore a patch of Landry’s hat on their jerseys.
- Derrick Thomas Kansas City Chiefs linebacker died February 8 as a result of injuries suffered in a January 23 automobile accident.
Final regular season standings
Tiebreakers
- Green Bay finished ahead of Detroit in the NFC Central based on better division record.
- New Orleans finished ahead of St. Louis in the NFC West based on better division record.
- Tampa Bay was the second NFC Wild Card based on head-to-head victory over St. Louis.
Playoffs
AFC
- Wild-Card playoffs: Miami 23, Indianapolis 17 ; Baltimore 21, Denver 3
- Divisional playoffs: Oakland 27, Miami 0; Baltimore 24, Tennessee 10
- AFC Championship: Baltimore 16, Oakland 3 at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California, January 14, 2001
NFC
- Wild-Card playoffs: New Orleans 31, St. Louis 28; Philadelphia 21, Tampa Bay 3
- Divisional playoffs: Minnesota 34, New Orleans 16; N.Y. Giants 20, Philadelphia 10
- NFC Championship: N.Y. Giants 41, Minnesota 0 at Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey, January 14, 2001
Super Bowl
- Super Bowl XXXV: Baltimore 34, N.Y. Giants 7 at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida, January 28, 2001
Milestones
| Record | Player/Team | Date/Opponent | Previous Record Holder |
| Most Rushing Yards Gained, Game | Corey Dillon, Cincinnati | October 22, vs. Denver | Walter Payton, Chicago vs. Minnesota, November 20, 1977 |
| Most Pass Receptions, Game | Terrell Owens, San Francisco | December 17, vs. Chicago | Tom Fears, L.A. Rams vs. Green Bay, December 3, 1950 |
| Most Points, Career | Gary Anderson, Minnesota | October 22, vs. Buffalo | George Blanda 1949–1975 |
| Most Two-Point Conversions by a Team, Game | St. Louis | October 15, vs. Atlanta | Tied by 2 teams |
| Most Yards Gained by a Team, Season | St. Louis | N/A | Miami, 1984 |
| Most Passing Yards Gained by a Team, Season | St. Louis | N/A | Miami, 1984 |
Statistical leaders
Team
Individual
Awards
Coaching changes
- Arizona Cardinals – Vince Tobin fired seven games into season; replaced by Dave McGinnis. McGinnis held job through the 2003 season.
- Cincinnati Bengals – Dick LeBeau; replaced Bruce Coslet who was fired during the 2000 season.
- 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.
- 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. Belichick was hired by the New England Patriots shortly after he resigned from the Jets.
- St. Louis Rams – Mike Martz; replaced Dick Vermeil who retired after winning Super Bowl XXXIV.
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
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.
- The New England Patriots introduced new uniforms, changing their primary color 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.
- 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 but with red numbers like the 1950s version. Gray pants were worn with both the blue and white jerseys. The helmet also reverted back to feature the lowercase "ny" logo.
- 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 featuing charging ram's head.