2002 Dallas Cowboys season

Offseason

Despite an off-season filled with promise, the season would again prove to be a disaster. Former Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator and head coach Bruce Coslet was brought in to run the offense for Dallas. Even though he had been dismissed by Cincinnati, his history of high-powered offenses while running the Bill Walsh–style West Coast offense provided hope for the Cowboys. A promising draft which included former Oklahoma Sooners All-American selection safety Roy Williams in the first round and the free agent addition of Pro Bowl defensive tackle La'Roi Glover provided even more hope for weary Cowboy fans. The team was also covered throughout training camp and featured on the HBO series Hard Knocks with a strong emphasis on the anticipation of running back Emmitt Smith's road to the NFL's all-time rushing record.

2002 draft class

Main article: 2002 NFL draft

Notes

• The Cowboys traded their original first-round (No. 6 overall) selection to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for first (No. 8 overall) and third-round (No. 75 overall) selections, and a 2003 sixth-round (No. 186 overall) selection.
• The Cowboys traded their original third (No. 72 overall), fourth (No. 104 overall) and fifth-round (No. 140 overall) selections to the Chicago Bears in exchange for second (No. 63 overall) and fourth-round (No. 129 overall) selections.
• The Cowboys traded return man Jeff Ogden to the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a seventh-round (No. 237 overall) selection.
• The Cowboys traded their seventh-round (No. 237 overall) and 2003 fifth-round (No. 168 overall) selection to the New England Patriots for a fifth-round (No. 168 overall) selection.
• The Cowboys traded their 2001 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

Regular season

The air was immediately let out of the Cowboys' balloon in the opening regular-season contest which saw the team lose to first-year expansion team and new cross-state rival, the Houston Texans. Though quarterback Quincy Carter again opened the season as the starter, he was eventually benched in favor of newly signed Chad Hutchinson who, until that year, had been a pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals after leaving Stanford as a two-sport star. Many believed that owner Jerry Jones pressured head coach Dave Campo into starting Hutchinson much too early, due in part to the large signing bonus Jones paid to acquire the quarterback. Regardless, neither quarterback proved effective and the team once again spiraled towards a losing season.

It is believed 2002 was the first time an NFL franchise had five African American starters on their offensive line, when the Cowboys lined up rookie center Andre Gurode, tackles Flozell Adams and Solomon Page, guards Larry Allen and Kelvin Garmon.

The Cowboys kept making NFL history on October 27 at home against the Seattle Seahawks. Despite a close loss, Emmitt Smith broke the all-time career yardage rushing record previously held by Walter Payton. The game was stopped momentarily in recognition of the moment, allowing an emotional Smith to briefly celebrate with teammates both current and past who attended the game, as well as members of Payton's family. Smith later scored the 125th rushing touchdown of his career on the same drive. The milestone moment would provide the lone bright spot of the year for the team and Smith, who failed to reach the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the season for the first time in his career since his rookie season of 1990. Overshadowed by the NFL rushing landmark, safety Darren Woodson quietly became the Cowboys' all-time leading tackler.

During a late-season loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, reports began to surface that owner Jerry Jones had secretly met with Bill Parcells, the former head coach of the New York Giants, New England Patriots and New York Jets, about the Cowboys' head-coaching position, on board Jones's private jet. Though this would prove to be a critical move to the Cowboys' future success, it was nonetheless embarrassing for current head coach Dave Campo, who had received no word that any potential moves were pending, and Jones was roundly criticized for the incident. On-field ineptitude and off-field controversy once again led to a 5–11 season, the team's third consecutive such finish. Dave Campo was predictably dismissed after the season and would be the last head coach to have multiple losing seasons until Mike McCarthy in 2020 and 2024.

Notable additions to the team included wide receiver Antonio Bryant and center Andre Gurode.

Schedule

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 2: vs. Tennessee Titans

'''First quarter''''

• TEN – Frank Wycheck 1-yard pass from Steve McNair (Joe Nedney kick), 0:00. ''Titans 7-0. '''Drive: 12 plays, 85 yards, 8:27.''''' Second quarter
• DAL – Tony McGee 17-yard pass from Quincy Carter (Billy Cundiff kick), 12:00. ''Tied 7-7. '''Drive: 6 plays, 71 yards, 3:00.'''''
• TEN – Joe Nedney 37-yard field goal, 5:31. ''Titans 10-7. '''Drive: 13 plays, 55 yards, 6:29.''''' Third quarter
• DAL – Dexter Coakley 52-yard interception return (Billy Cundiff kick), 3:10. Cowboys 14-10. Fourth quarter
• DAL – Joey Galloway 38-yard pass from Quincy Carter (Billy Cundiff kick), 11:25. ''Cowboys 21-10. '''Drive: 7 plays, 95 yards, 3:22.'''''
• TEN – Joe Nedney 53-yard field goal, 5:18. ''Cowboys 21-13. '''Drive: 8 plays, 28 yards, 2:36.''''' Top passers
• TEN – Steve McNair – 20/38, 226 yards, TD, INT
• DAL – Quincy Carter – 14/24, 240 yards, 2 TD Top rushers
• TEN – Eddie George – 19 rushes, 65 yards
• DAL – Emmitt Smith – 18 rushes, 59 yards Top receivers
• TEN – Derrick Mason – 7 receptions, 118 yards
• DAL – Joey Galloway – 5 receptions, 88 yards, TD

Week 9: at Detroit Lions

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• No scoring plays. Third quarter
• DET – Jason Hanson 42-yard field goal, 12:06. ''Lions 3–0. '''Drive: 4 plays, -7 yards, 2:08.'''''
• DET – Jason Hanson 44-yard field goal, 6:09. ''Lions 6–0. '''Drive: 7 plays, 20 yards, 2:27.''''' Fourth quarter
• DAL – Troy Hambrick 3-yard run (Billy Cundiff kick), 7:42. ''Cowboys 7–6. '''Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 6:06.'''''
• DET – Jason Hanson 43-yard field goal, 0:48. ''Lions 9–7. '''Drive: 9 plays, 38 yards, 2:59.''''' Top passers
• DAL – Chad Hutchinson – 22/39, 208 yards
• DET – Joey Harrington – 14/33, 104 yards, 2 INT Top rushers
• DAL – Emmitt Smith – 16 rushes, 39 yards
• DET – James Stewart – 19 rushes, 50 yards Top receivers
• DAL – Joey Galloway – 6 receptions, 56 yards
• DET – James Stewart – 4 receptions, 41 yards

Week 12: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars

First quarter

• No scoring plays. Second quarter
• JAX – Ross Tucker tackled in the end zone by Rob Meier for a safety, 10:18. Jaguars 2–0.
• DAL – Joey Galloway 43-yard pass from Chad Hutchinson (Billy Cundiff kick), 2:17. ''Cowboys 7–2. '''Drive: 4 plays, 69 yards, 2:12.'''''
• JAX – Tim Seder 31-yard field goal, 0:00. ''Cowboys 7–5. '''Drive: 10 plays, 65 yards, 2:17.''''' Third quarter
• DAL – Emmitt Smith 1-yard run (Billy Cundiff kick), 4:15. ''Cowboys 14–5. '''Drive: 13 plays, 99 yards, 7:05.''''' Fourth quarter
• JAX – Stacey Mack 3-yard run (Tim Seder kick), 14:16. ''Cowboys 14–12. '''Drive: 8 plays, 38 yards, 3:36.'''''
• DAL – Joey Galloway 11-yard pass from Chad Hutchinson (Billy Cundiff kick), 11:09. ''Cowboys 21–12. '''Drive: 6 plays, 65 yards, 3:07.'''''
• JAX – Kevin Lockett 8-yard pass from Mark Brunell (Tim Seder kick), 1:54. ''Cowboys 21–19. '''Drive: 9 plays, 70 yards, 1:44.''''' ;Top passers
• JAX – Mark Brunell – 22/40, 202 yards, TD, INT
• DAL – Chad Hutchinson – 16/24, 301 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT ;Top rushers
• JAX – Fred Taylor – 20 rushes, 100 yards
• DAL – Emmitt Smith – 20 rushes, 73 yards, 1 TD ;Top receivers
• JAX – Jimmy Smith – 13 receptions, 90 yards
• DAL – Joey Galloway – 9 receptions, 144 yards, 2 TD

Standings

Division

Conference

Personnel

Staff

• Owner, President and General Manager – Jerry Jones

• COO, Director of Player Personnel, and Executive Vice President – Stephen Jones

• Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, Vice President, and General Counsel – Jerry Jones, Jr.

• Assistant Director Player Personnel – Todd Williams

• Director of Football Operations – Bruce Mays

• Director of College and Pro Scouting – Larry Lancewell

• Head coach – Dave Campo

• Offensive coordinator – Bruce Coslet

• Quarterbacks – Wade Wilson

• Running backs – Galen Hall

• Wide receivers – Wes Chandler

• Tight ends – Greg Seamon

• Offensive line – Frank Verducci

• Defensive coordinator – Mike Zimmer

• Defensive nickel Package/Assistant – Bill Bates

• Linebackers – Gary Gibbs

• Secondary – Clancy Pendergast

• Defensive ends – Jim Jeffcoat

• Defensive tackle – Andre Patterson

• Special teams – Joe Avezzano

• Kickers/Quality Control – Steve Hoffman

• Strength and conditioning – Joe Juraszek

• Assistant Strength and conditioning – Tony Ollison

• Assistant Strength and conditioning – Bennie Wylie

Roster

Awards and records

• Darren Woodson, Athletes in Action/Bart Starr Award

Publications

The Football Encyclopedia

Total Football

Cowboys Have Always Been My Heroes

References

References

1. "2002 NFL Draft Pick Transactions". ProSportsTransactions.com.
2. Pasquarelli, Len. (August 13, 2002). "Color barrier on offensive line disappearing".
3. ''Numbelievable!'', p. 159, Michael X. Ferraro and John Veneziano, Triumph Books, Chicago, Illinois, 2007, {{ISBN. 978-1-57243-990-0
4. "Media Guide Dallas Cowboys". Dallas Cowboys.