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.
Regular season
Scheduling formula
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: