 One of the only highlights of this era occurred on October 27, 2002, when running back Emmitt Smith broke Walter Payton's all-time career yardage rushing record during a 17–14 home loss to the Seattle Seahawks.Many fans and media blamed Jerry Jones for the team's ills, noting that he refused to hire a strong coach, preferring to hire coaches who did not want to be involved with personnel duties so that Jones himself could manage them.However, Jones proved them wrong in 2003 by luring Bill Parcells out of retirement to coach the Cowboys.