2000 Minnesota Vikings season

2000 Minnesota Vikings season
Owner	Red McCombs
General manager	Dennis Green
Head coach	Dennis Green
Home field	Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Results
Record	11–5
Division place	1st NFC Central
Playoff finish	Won Divisional Playoffs (vs. Saints) 34–16 Lost NFC Championship (at Giants) 0–41
Pro Bowlers	C Matt Birk WR Cris Carter QB Daunte Culpepper S Robert Griffith WR Randy Moss RB Robert Smith T Korey Stringer
AP All-Pros	WR Randy Moss RB Robert Smith
Uniform
← 1999 Vikings seasons 2001 →

The 2000 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 40th in the National Football League (NFL). They won the NFC Central division title with an 11–5 record. After not retaining either Randall Cunningham or Jeff George, 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 seven touchdowns. The Vikings started out 7–0 and were 11–2 after 14 weeks, but slumped briefly, losing their last three to the St. Louis Rams, Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts while Culpepper was hampered by injury.

After easily beating the New Orleans Saints in the Divisional game 34–16, they were defeated 41–0 by the New York Giants in the Conference Championship. Running back Robert Smith retired at the end of the year, after only playing eight NFL seasons. It would be 2004 before the Vikings returned to the playoffs.

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.

Seven Vikings including Culpepper, Moss, Carter, Smith, Korey Stringer, Robert Griffith 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.

This would be the final full season for Dennis Green as the team's head coach, he was fired the next season with just one game remaining on the schedule.