2000 San Diego Chargers season

The 2000 season was the San Diego Chargers' 31st in the National Football League (NFL), their 41st overall and their second under head coach Mike Riley. The Chargers failed to improve on their 8–8 record from 1999, and finished the season 1–15, the worst record of any Chargers team in history. The team lost its first eleven games before their only victory of the season against the Kansas City Chiefs (by one point, which was obtained on a last-second field goal). The 2000 Chargers were also the first team to finish 1–15 and have their only win of the season be at home. Oddly enough, out of the eleven teams in NFL history to finish 1–15, only three others had their only win at home (2007 Miami Dolphins, 2016 Cleveland Browns, and 2020 Jacksonville Jaguars). The Chargers were also the third 1–15 team to win their lone game by a single point; the others, the 1980 New Orleans Saints and 1991 Indianapolis Colts, each defeated the New York Jets on the road. It was also Ryan Leaf’s final season with the Chargers.

2000 San Diego Chargers season
OwnerAlex Spanos
Head coachMike Riley
Home fieldQualcomm Stadium
Results
Record1–15
Division place5th AFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers
AP All-Pros

San Diego had a historically inept running attack in 2000; their 1,062 total team rushing yards (66.4 per game) is the lowest total of rushing yards by any team in NFL history in a 16-game season.[3] For perspective, the strike-shortened 1982 NFL season—which was a nine-game schedule—included thirteen teams who rushed for more yards than San Diego did in 2000, and the 1992 Seattle Seahawks, who scored only 140 points in 16 games, rushed for 1,596 yards.[4]

Despite this, there were a few bright spots; Darren Bennett and Junior Seau would be selected for the Pro Bowl that year.

After their miserable season, the Chargers earned the first overall pick in the next season's draft. The Chargers would trade that pick to the Falcons and draft LaDainian Tomlinson and also Drew Brees.

The last remaining active member of the 2000 San Diego Chargers was David Binn, who played his final NFL game in the 2011 playoffs, although he played his final regular season game in 2010.

Offseason

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Additions Subtractions
DE Neil Smith (Broncos) RB Natrone Means (Panthers)
WR Curtis Conway (Bears) CB Terrance Shaw (Dolphins)
CB DeRon Jenkins (Ravens)
G Kevin Gogan (Dolphins)
T Ben Coleman (Chargers)
LB Steve Tovar (Panthers)

NFL draft

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2000 San Diego Chargers draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
2 43 Rogers Beckett  Safety Marshall
3 83 Damion McIntosh  Tackle Kansas State
4 111 Trevor Gaylor  Wide receiver Miami (OH) from Philadelphia
4 113 Leonardo Carson  Defensive tackle Auburn from Detroit via Philadelphia
6 184 Shannon Taylor  Linebacker Virginia
6 203 Damen Wheeler  Cornerback Colorado
6 205 Ja'Juan Seider  Quarterback Florida A&M
7 222 Jason Thomas  Guard Hampton
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

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2000 undrafted free agents of note
Player Position College
Pat Batteaux Wide receiver TCU
Mike Burton Quarterback Trinity
Robert Cooper Running back Cincinnati

Personnel

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Staff

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2000 San Diego Chargers staff

Front office

  • Chairman of the board – Alex Spanos
  • President/vice chairman – Dean Spanos
  • Executive vice president – Michael Spanos
  • Vice president of football operations – Ed McGuire
  • Director of player personnel – Billy Devaney
  • Director of pro personnel – Greg Gaines
  • Director of college scouting – Jimmy Raye

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams – Bruce Read

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – John Hastings
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Mike Schleelein


Roster

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2000 San Diego Chargers roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 7 reserve, 4 practice squad

Preseason

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue
1 August 5 at San Francisco 49ers W 23–20 1–0 3Com Park
2 August 12 Minnesota Vikings W 31–7 2–0 Qualcomm Stadium
3 August 18 at Atlanta Falcons W 28–14 3–0 Georgia Dome
4 August 25 Arizona Cardinals W 24–20 4–0 Qualcomm Stadium

Regular season

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Schedule

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Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 3 at Oakland Raiders L 6–9 0–1 Network Associates Coliseum Recap
2 September 10 New Orleans Saints L 27–28 0–2 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
3 September 17 at Kansas City Chiefs L 10–42 0–3 Arrowhead Stadium Recap
4 September 24 Seattle Seahawks L 12–20 0–4 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
5 October 1 at St. Louis Rams L 31–57 0–5 Trans World Dome Recap
6 October 8 Denver Broncos L 7–21 0–6 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
7 October 15 at Buffalo Bills L 24–27 (OT) 0–7 Ralph Wilson Stadium Recap
8 Bye
9 October 29 Oakland Raiders L 13–15 0–8 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
10 November 5 at Seattle Seahawks L 15–17 0–9 Husky Stadium Recap
11 November 12 Miami Dolphins L 7–17 0–10 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
12 November 19 at Denver Broncos L 37–38 0–11 Mile High Stadium Recap
13 November 26 Kansas City Chiefs W 17–16 1–11 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
14 December 3 San Francisco 49ers L 17–45 1–12 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
15 December 10 at Baltimore Ravens L 3–24 1–13 PSINet Stadium Recap
16 December 17 at Carolina Panthers L 22–30 1–14 Ericsson Stadium Recap
17 December 24 Pittsburgh Steelers L 21–34 1–15 Qualcomm Stadium Recap

Game summaries

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Week 1: at Oakland Raiders

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Week One: San Diego Chargers at Oakland Raiders – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 0 066
Raiders 0 0 279

at Network Associates Coliseum, Oakland, California

Game information

Week 2: vs. New Orleans Saints

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Week Two: New Orleans Saints at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 6 6928
Chargers 3 21 0327

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 3: at Kansas City Chiefs

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Week Three: San Diego Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 10 0 0010
Chiefs 0 14 141442

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Missouri

  • Date: September 17
  • Game time: 3:05 p.m. CDT
  • Game weather: 88 °F (31.1 °C), relative humidity 26%, no wind
  • Game attendance: 77,604
  • Referee: Johnny Grier
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Mark May
  • Box score
Game information

Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks

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Week Four: Seattle Seahawks at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 10 3 7020
Chargers 6 6 0012

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 5: at St.Louis Rams

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Week Five: San Diego Chargers at St.Louis Rams – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 7 71431
Rams 17 13 171057

at Trans World Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

Game information

Week 6: vs. Denver Broncos

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Week Nine: Denver Broncos at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 0 7721
Chargers 0 7 007

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: October 8
  • Game time: 2:15 p.m. MDT
  • Game weather: 68 °F (20 °C), relative humidity 82%, wind 7 mph
  • Game attendance: 56,079
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones
  • Box score
Game information

Week 7: at Buffalo Bills

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Week Seven: San Diego Chargers at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Chargers 3 7 140024
Bills 0 14 010327

at Ralph Wilson Stadium, Buffalo, New York

Game information

Week 9: vs. Oakland Raiders

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Week Nine: Oakland Raiders at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Raiders 9 3 0315
Chargers 0 0 7613

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 10: at Seattle Seahawks

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Week Ten: San Diego Chargers at Seattle Seahawks – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 3 9315
Seahawks 0 14 0317

at Husky Stadium, Seattle, Washington

  • Date: November 5
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 48 °F (9 °C), relative humidity 100%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 59,884
  • Referee: Larry Nemmers
  • TV announcers (CBS): Bill Macatee and Charles Mann
  • Box score
Game information

Week 11: vs. Miami Dolphins

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Week Eleven: Miami Dolphins at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Dolphins 7 7 3017
Chargers 0 0 077

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 12
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 63 °F (17 °C), relative humidity 69%, wind 7 mph
  • Game attendance: 56,896
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones
  • Box score
Game information

Week 12: at Denver Broncos

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Week Twelve: San Diego Chargers at Denver Broncos – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 21 10337
Broncos 0 10 72138

at Mile High Stadium, Denver, Colorado

Game information

Week 13: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

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Week Thirteen: Kansas City Chiefs at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 3 3 10016
Chargers 7 7 0317

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: November 26
  • Game time: 1:15 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 69 °F (20.6 °C), relative humidity 66%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 47,228
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar
  • TV announcers (CBS): Ian Eagle and Mark May
  • Box score
Game information

Week 14: vs. San Francisco 49ers

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Week Fourteen: San Francisco 49ers at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
49ers 0 17 101845
Chargers 7 3 0717

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

Game information

Week 15: at Baltimore Ravens

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Week Fifteen: San Diego Chargers at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 0 3 003
Ravens 3 7 14024

at PSINet Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Date: December 10
  • Game time: 1:02 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 39 °F (4 °C), relative humidity 62%, wind 2 mph
  • Game attendance: 68,805
  • Referee: Tom White
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones
  • Box score
Game information

Week 16: at Carolina Panthers

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Week Fifteen: San Diego Chargers at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 2 14 6022
Panthers 7 0 131030

at Ericsson Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: December 17
  • Game time: 1:04 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 36 °F (2.2 °C), relative humidity 67%, wind 15 mph, wind chill 12
  • Game attendance: 72,159
  • Referee: Bill Carollo
  • TV announcers (CBS): Craig Bolerjack and Charles Mann
  • Box score
Game information

Week 17: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

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Week Seventeen: Pittsburgh Steelers at San Diego Chargers – Game summary
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 7 17 01034
Chargers 14 0 7021

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego, California

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 1:05 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: 62 °F (16.7 °C), relative humidity 63%, wind 8 mph
  • Game attendance: 50,809
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (CBS): Gus Johnson and Brent Jones
  • Box score
Game information

Standings

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AFC West
W L T PCT PF PA STK
(2) Oakland Raiders 12 4 0 .750 479 299 W1
(5) Denver Broncos 11 5 0 .688 485 369 W1
Kansas City Chiefs 7 9 0 .438 355 354 L1
Seattle Seahawks 6 10 0 .375 320 405 L1
San Diego Chargers 1 15 0 .063 269 440 L4

References

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  1. ^ "2000 NFL Pro Bowlers". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  2. ^ "2000 NFL All-Pros". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  3. ^ Pro Football Reference: In a single season, from 1978 to 2011, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Rushing Yards | as of 2017 season
  4. ^ Pro Football Reference; 1992 Seattle Seahawks