The 2000 season was the Chicago Bears' 81st in the National Football League (NFL). The team failed to improve on their 6–10 from 1999, finishing with a 5–11 record under head coach Dick Jauron. The season saw the addition of rookie sensation Brian Urlacher who would win the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
The Bears in 2000 played an NFL record 13 games against opponents that ended the season with a winning record, including four in their own division twice each; the Bears had a record of 4–9 against these teams.Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2011, in the regular season, only in games against teams with winning record for season, sorted by most games in season matching criteria.
Offseason Additions Subtractions DE Phillip Daniels (Seahawks) WR Curtis Conway (Chargers) WR Eddie Kennison (Saints) LB Ricardo McDonald (Broncos) CB R. W. McQuarters (49ers) TE Ryan Wetnight (Packers) CB Thomas Smith (Bills) P Todd Sauerbrun (Chiefs) S Shawn Wooden (Dolphins) DT Shane Burton (Jets) DB Ray McElroy (Colts) LB Keith Burns (Broncos) DT Brad Culpepper (Buccaneers)
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2000 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeDerrick FosterRunning backTexas A&M–KingsvilleMarlion JacksonRunning backSaginaw Valley StateAhmad MerrittWide receiverWisconsinDamon NivensTackleSouthernGannon ShepardTackleDukeBrad WilliamsGuardNotre Dame
Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 at New York Giants W 20–8 1–0 Giants Stadium 2 Cleveland Browns W 19–6 2–0 Soldier Field 3 at Cincinnati Bengals L 20–24 2–1 Paul Brown Stadium 4 Tennessee Titans L 28–34 2–2 Soldier Field
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 3 at Minnesota Vikings L 27–30 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,104 2 September 10 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 0–41 0–2 Raymond James Stadium 65,569 3 September 17 New York Giants L 7–14 0–3 Soldier Field 66,944 4 September 24 Detroit Lions L 14–21 0–4 Soldier Field 66,944 5 October 1 at Green Bay Packers W 27–24 1–4 Lambeau Field 59,869 6 October 8 New Orleans Saints L 10–31 1–5 Soldier Field 66,944 7 October 15 Minnesota Vikings L 16–28 1–6 Soldier Field 66,944 8 October 22 at Philadelphia Eagles L 9–13 1–7 Veterans Stadium 65,553 9 Bye 10 November 5 Indianapolis Colts W 27–24 2–7 Soldier Field 66,944 11 November 12 at Buffalo Bills L 3–20 2–8 Ralph Wilson Stadium 72,420 12 November 19 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 13–10 3–8 Soldier Field 66,944 13 November 26 at New York Jets L 10–17 3–9 Giants Stadium 77,354 14 December 3 Green Bay Packers L 6–28 3–10 Soldier Field 56,146 15 December 10 New England Patriots W 24–17 4–10 Soldier Field 66,944 16 December 17 at San Francisco 49ers L 0–17 4–11 3Com Park 68,306 17 December 24 at Detroit Lions W 23–20 5–11 Pontiac Silverdome 71,957
Game summaries Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 3: vs New York Giants
Week 4: vs Detroit Lions
Week 5: at Green Bay Packers
Week 7: vs Minnesota Vikings
Week 10: vs Indianapolis Colts
Standings
Awards and records Mike Brown, PFW/Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team Paul Edinger, PFW/Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team Brian Urlacher, NFC Pro Bowl Selection,NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p. 362 Brian Urlacher, NFL Defensive Rookie of the Month, October Brian Urlacher, Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, , p. 201 Brian Urlacher, Football Digest Defensive Rookie of the Year Brian Urlacher, Pro Football Writers of America Defensive Rookie of the Year Brian Urlacher, Sports Illustrated Rookie of the Year Brian Urlacher, Sporting News Defensive Rookie of the Year Brian Urlacher, USA Today Defensive Rookie of the Year Brian Urlacher, PFW/Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team
References
2000 Chicago Bears Season at www.bearshistory.com