2000 Minnesota Vikings season

The season

The team was led by first-year starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper and running back Robert Smith, who ran for a then team record 1,521 yards and 7 touchdowns. The Vikings started out 7–0 and were 11–2 after 14 weeks, but slumped briefly, losing their last three to the Rams, Packers and Colts while Culpepper was hampered by injury.

Despite the rough patch, the Vikings would return to the playoffs again for the fifth straight year. After easily beating the Saints in the Divisional game 34–16, they were humiliated 41–0 by the New York Giants in the Conference Championship, and to top that, Robert Smith retired at the end of the year, after only playing eight NFL seasons.

After a contract dispute, Hall of Fame defensive tackle John Randle was let go after 11 seasons with the Vikings. Randle had only eight sacks this year, ending a streak of eight consecutive seasons with 10+ sacks.

The Vikings returned to the playoffs in 2004 despite an 8-8 record. They defeated the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the Wildcard round before losing to the Philadelphia Eagles the following week.

Six Vikings including Culpepper, Moss, Carter, Smith, Korey Stringer and Matt Birk were selected to play in the Pro Bowl after the season. It was Stringer's only Pro Bowl appearance before his death in 2001.

2000 Draft

^{^[a]} During the 1999 NFL Draft, Washington traded their 1999 1st round selection (11th overall – Daunte Culpepper), 1999 3rd round selection (73rd overall – later traded to Pittsburgh), and 2000 2nd round selection (56th overall) to Minnesota in exchange for QB Brad Johnson. ^{^[b]} The details of these trades are unknown but may involve Baltimore's acquisition of OL Everett Lindsay from Minnesota. ^{^[c]} Washington received this selection as compensation for restricted free agent G Brad Badger. ^{^[d]} Minnesota traded their 7th round selection (232nd overall) to Cleveland for DT Jerry Ball.

Awards and records

Gary Anderson, NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Week 8

Mitch Berger, NFC Special Teams Player of the Week, Week 14

Mitch Berger, NFC Special Teams Player of the Month, December

Cris Carter, All-NFL Team (as selected by the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly, and the Pro Football Writers of America)

Cris Carter, NFC Pro Bowl Selection

Daunte Culpepper, NFC Offensive Player of the Week, Week 6

Daunte Culpepper, NFC Offensive Player of the Week, Week 12

Chris Hovan, PFW/Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team

Randy Moss, All-NFL Team (as selected by the Associated Press, Pro Football Weekly, and the Pro Football Writers of America)

Randy Moss, PFW/PFWA All-Pro Team

Robert Smith, NFC Offensive Player of the Month, December

40-year team

The team recognized an all-time team in 2000 by announcing the 40th-season all-time team. [1]

VIKINGS 40TH SEASON ALL-TIME TEAM 1961–2000

OFFENSE

WRs: Ahmad Rashad, Cris Carter

Ts: Ron Yary, Tim Irwin

Gs: Ed White, Randall McDaniel

C: Mick Tingelhoff

TE: Steve Jordan

QB: Fran Tarkenton

RBs: Chuck Foreman, Robert Smith

K: Fred Cox

Special Teams Coverage: Bill Brown

DEFENSE

DEs: Jim Marshall, Carl Eller

DTs: Alan Page, John Randle

LBs: Jeff Siemon, Matt Blair, Scott Studwell

Ss: Paul Krause, Joey Browner

CBs: Bobby Bryant, Carl Lee

P: Greg Coleman

Special Teams Returns: Darrin Nelson

Head Coach: Bud Grant