2001 Dallas Cowboys season

Offseason

An eventful off-season created a lot of buzz but little change in the Cowboys' fortunes. Franchise quarterback Troy Aikman, after suffering a pair of concussions the previous season, was released by the team. Unable to sign on with another team — in part due to his long history of concussions — Aikman announced his retirement at an emotional and lengthy press conference later in the off-season. This left running back Emmitt Smith as the last of the famed "triplets" from the Cowboys' Super Bowl victories. Veteran quarterback Tony Banks was signed in the off-season from the Super Bowl champion Baltimore Ravens as an immediate replacement, and owner Jerry Jones hand-picked Georgia quarterback Quincy Carter with a second-round draft choice as the quarterback of the future. Many saw the Carter pick as quite a reach considering Carter's inconsistent career at Georgia and his low draft rating by several other teams.

2001 draft class

Main article: 2001 NFL draft

Notes

• The Cowboys traded their 2000 first-round (No. 19 overall) and 2001 first-round (No. 7 overall) selections to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for wide receiver Joey Galloway.
• The Cowboys traded their original second-round selection (No. 37 overall) to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for second- (No. 52 overall) and third-round (No. 81 overall) selections.
• The Cowboys traded their second-round (No. 52 overall, from Indianapolis) selection to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for second (No. 56 overall) and fourth-round (No. 122 overall) selections.
• The Cowboys traded two third-round (Nos. 70 and 81 overall) selections to the New Orleans Saints in exchange for a second-round (No. 53 overall) selection.
• The Cowboys traded their fourth-round (No. 102 overall) and 2002 seventh-round (No. 217 overall) selections to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for tight end O.J. Santiago.

Undrafted free agents

Roster

Coaching staff

Preseason

Regular season

Despite what seemed a promising outing in the first pre-season game by starter Tony Banks, the Cowboys, in a very surprising move, released Banks in the middle of training camp and handed the reins over to their rookie quarterback Quincy Carter. Unfortunately, a combination of injuries and ineffectiveness led to the Cowboys starting a total of four different quarterbacks over the course of the season, including journeyman Anthony Wright and former Arkansas Razorback Clint Stoerner. In an attempt to provide more depth at the quarterback position, the team signed former second-overall draft pick Ryan Leaf mid-season, however he provided no improvement in his limited playing time. His only three starts of the season, a Week 9 loss to the Falcons which also marked the first start for Falcons QB Michael Vick, a week 10 loss the Eagles, and a week 11 Thanksgiving Day loss to the Broncos, was the final start of his career.

Even with the injection of new blood, the Cowboys suffered through another 5–11 campaign and a last place finish in the NFC East. The lack of development at quarterback and the offense as a whole would be blamed on offensive coordinator Jack Reilly who was dismissed after the season. Fans became weary of the Cowboys' performance and blamed owner Jerry Jones, who by now had taken a more hands-on approach to running the team.

One notable game included week 7, where the Cowboys led the Giants 24–7 at halftime, but (thanks in part to Clint Stoerner's 4 interceptions) the Giants rallied to win in overtime. In an unusual move, Stoerner was pulled from the game for Ryan Leaf late in the 4th quarter of a tie game. It was Leaf's debut with the team, but he couldn't lead them to victory.

Another infamous game was on Thanksgiving Day against the Broncos. Dallas trailed 26–10 and scored a touchdown in the 4th quarter. Coach Dave Campo decided against "going for 2" which if successful would have made it an eight-point (and one-possession) game. Campo instead had Dallas kick the extra point, keeping the margin at 9. Dallas did score one more late TD but that was not enough to tie the game and they never got the ball back, and lost 26–24.

A fourth consecutive season sweep of rival Washington Redskins and a victory over the San Francisco 49ers were the only victories of note. Much of the focus turned towards Emmitt Smith and his pursuit of the all-time career rushing yardage record. During an early-season game against the San Diego Chargers, Bob Hayes was inducted into the Cowboys Ring of Honor.

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 2: vs San Diego Chargers

First quarter

• SDG – Freddie Jones 11-yard pass from Doug Flutie (Wade Richey kick), 10:23. ''Chargers 7–0. '''Drive: 9 plays, 38 yards, 3:48.'''''
• SDG – Curtis Conway 7-yard pass from Doug Flutie (Wade Richey kick), 3:43. ''Chargers 14–0. '''Drive: 10 plays, 48 yards, 5:39.''''' Second quarter
• SDG – Wade Richey 22-yard field goal, 13:30. ''Chargers 17–0. '''Drive: 5 plays, 39 yards, 1:42.'''''
• DAL – Rocket Ismail 80-yard pass from Anthony Wright (Tim Seder kick), 13:12. ''Chargers 17–7. '''Drive: 1 play, 80 yards, 0:18.'''''
• SDG – Wade Richey 24-yard field goal, 3:55. ''Chargers 20–7. '''Drive: 7 plays, 85 yards, 3:03.'''''
• DAL – Wane McGarity 11-yard pass from Anthony Wright (Tim Seder kick), 1:01. ''Chargers 20–14. '''Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 2:54.''''' Third quarter
• SDG – Tim Dwight 16-yard run (pass failed), 6:55. ''Chargers 26–14. '''Drive: 10 plays, 83 yards, 5:45.''''' Fourth quarter
• SDG – Wade Richey 23-yard field goal, 12:53. ''Chargers 29–14. '''Drive: 11 plays, 81 yards, 5:00.'''''
• DAL – Mike Lucky 7-yard pass from Anthony Wright (Tim Seder kick), 9:21. ''Chargers 29–21. '''Drive: 7 plays, 77 yards, 3:32.'''''
• SDG – Wade Richey 43-yard field goal, 1:09. ''Chargers 32–21. '''Drive: 7 plays, 9 yards, 1:26.''''' Top passers
• SDG – Doug Flutie – 23/38, 348 yards, 2 TD
• DAL – Anthony Wright – 12/25, 193 yards, 3 TD, 3 INT Top rushers
• SDG – LaDainian Tomlinson – 27 rushes, 90 yards
• DAL – Emmitt Smith – 17 rushes, 85 yards Top receivers
• SDG – Jeff Graham – 6 receptions, 94 yards
• DAL – Rocket Ismail – 2 receptions, 83 yards, TD

Week 8: at New York Giants

First quarter

• DAL – Tim Seder 22-yard field goal, 3:15. ''Cowboys 3–0. '''Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 5:49.'''''
• DAL – Joey Galloway 16-yard pass from Clint Stoerner (Tim Seder kick), 0:19. ''Cowboys 10–0. '''Drive: 2 plays, 15 yards, 0:47.''''' Second quarter
• DAL – Dexter Coakley 29-yard interception return (Tim Seder kick), 14:32. Cowboys 17–0.
• NYG – Joe Jurevicius 4-yard pass from Kerry Collins (Morten Andersen kick), 3:22. ''Cowboys 17–7. '''Drive: 4 plays, 63 yards, 1:49.'''''
• DAL – Mario Edwards 71-yard interception return (Tim Seder kick), 0:39. Cowboys 24–7. Third quarter
• NYG – Joe Jurevicius 34-yard pass from Kerry Collins (Morten Andersen kick), 5:45. ''Cowboys 24–14. '''Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 2:57.''''' Fourth quarter
• NYG – Morten Andersen 40-yard field goal, 10:41. ''Cowboys 24–17. '''Drive: 7 plays, 28 yards, 4:06.'''''
• NYG – Ike Hilliard 9-yard pass from Kerry Collins (Morten Andersen kick), 8:19. ''Tied 24–24. '''Drive: 2 plays, 14 yards, 0:46.''''' Overtime
• NYG – Morten Andersen 42-yard field goal, 7:48. ''Giants 27–24. '''Drive: 8 plays, 61 yards, 4:17.''''' Top passers
• DAL – Clint Stoerner – 13/23, 177 yards, TD, 4 INT
• NYG – Kerry Collins – 24/34, 280 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT Top rushers
• DAL – Troy Hambrick – 30 rushes, 77 yards
• NYG – Ron Dayne – 17 rushes, 52 yards Top receivers
• DAL – Raghib Ismail – 6 receptions, 107 yards
• NYG – Amani Toomer – 3 receptions, 69 yards

Week 11: vs Denver Broncos

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

• DEN – Brian Griese – 17/29, 171 yards, TD, INT
• DAL – Ryan Leaf – 16/32, 193 yards ;Top rushers
• DEN – Mike Anderson – 33 rushes, 118 yards, TD
• DAL – Troy Hambrick – 5 rushes, 17 yards ;Top receivers
• DEN – Rod Smith – 7 receptions, 81 yards
• DAL – Joey Galloway – 6 receptions, 64 yards

Week 17: at Detroit Lions

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

;Top passers

• DAL – Quincy Carter – 11/26, 158 yards, INT
• DET – Ty Detmer – 24/40, 242 yards, 2 TD ;Top rushers
• DAL – Emmitt Smith – 18 rushes, 77 yards, TD
• DET – James Stewart – 13 rushes, 69 yards ;Top receivers
• DAL – Joey Galloway – 3 receptions, 58 yards
• DET – Johnnie Morton – 8 receptions, 86 yards, TD

Standings

Notes

References

Publications

• The Football Encyclopedia
• Total Football
• Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes

References

1. "2001 NFL Draft Pick Transactions". ProSportsTransactions.com.
2. ''NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book'', Workman Publishing Co, New York, NY, {{ISBN. 0-7611-2480-2, p. 113.