Randy Moss

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Randy Gene Moss (born February 13, 1977) is an American former professional football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. Moss played with the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers. Widely regarded as one of the greatest wide receivers of all time and one of the greatest players in NFL history,Template:Refn he holds the NFL single-season touchdown reception record (23 in 2007), as well as the NFL single-season touchdown reception record for a rookie (17 in 1998).

All-time, Moss ranks second in career touchdown receptions (leading the league five times in touchdown receptions, third most all-time) as well as fourth in career receiving yards. In addition to possessing extraordinary speed at his size (4.25 40-yard dash at 6 ft 4 in) and superior leaping ability (43-inch vertical), he was famously known for securing spectacular contested catches in tight coverage by physically overpowering defenders. The term "mossed", referring to this ability, has since become a common term in the football lexicon.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Moss played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd and earned Unanimous All-American honors in 1997. A six-time Pro Bowl and four-time first-team All-Pro selection, Moss was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft, where he set the single-season record for touchdown receptions in a rookie season and was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. In his first stint with the Vikings, Moss caught 90 touchdown receptions in his first seven seasons, as well as having more than 1,200 yards in each of his first six seasons. He was traded in 2005 to the Oakland Raiders, where he experienced a slump in play, notably due to the lack of talent surrounding him and perceived decline.

In 2007, Moss was then traded to the New England Patriots, where he experienced a career resurgence and set the single-season record for total touchdown receptions. That season, he helped lead the Patriots to a record breaking 16–0 regular season record. During both the 1998 and 2007 seasons, Moss was the catalyst of the two highest scoring offenses of all time at the time they occurred (556 points in 1998, 589 points in 2007), now ranking sixth and second all-time. In October 2010, Moss returned to the Vikings in a trade from the Patriots but was waived less than a month later and then claimed by the Tennessee Titans. After sitting out the 2011 season, Moss signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers in 2012 before retiring following the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He played in two Super Bowl games, XLII with the Patriots and XLVII with the 49ers, both losses. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018, and is a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Following his playing career, he began working for ESPN as a studio analyst for its Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown programs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2022, Moss left Monday Night Countdown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Template:TOClimit

Early life

Moss was born in Rand, West Virginia.<ref name="30for30" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He attended DuPont High School, one of two schools that later consolidated into Riverside High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track. Randy was also on the school's debate team.<ref name="98draftprofile">Template:Cite news</ref> On the football field, Moss led the DuPont Panthers to back-to-back state championships in 1992 and 1993.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was a star at wide receiver, but also played free safety, returned kickoffs and punts, and was the team's kicker and punter. In 1994, he was honored with the Harrison H. Kennedy Award as the West Virginia Football Player of the Year. Parade magazine named him to their annual All-American high school football team in 1995<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and in 2009 named him one of the 50 greatest high school football players of all time.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At DuPont, he was a teammate of future Chicago Bears linebacker Bobbie Howard.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In addition to playing football at DuPont, Moss was twice named West Virginia Player of the Year in basketball (in 1994 when he was co-player of the year and in 1995), where he was a teammate of future NBA player Jason Williams.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In his senior season of basketball, Moss averaged 30.2 points, 13.7 rebounds, 5.1 steals, 3.8 blocks, and 3.1 assists while shooting 60% from field; he scored a school-record 1,713 career points.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

As a sophomore in 1992, at the age of 15, Moss joined the track & field team and was the West Virginia state champion in the 100 and 200 meters with times of 10.94 seconds<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and 21.95 seconds,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> respectively. This was the only year he competed on the school's track team, but he would later join the Marshall track team and lower his 200 m time to 21.15 seconds.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also played center field for the baseball team.

College career

Moss's dream was to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but he also considered going to Ohio State, where his half-brother, Eric, had played offensive tackle. Former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz said "Randy Moss was the best high school football player I've ever seen."<ref name="HuntingtonQuarterly">Template:Cite web</ref> Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden said "He was as good as Deion Sanders. Deion's my measuring stick for athletic ability, and this kid was just a bigger Deion."<ref name="SIfeature" />

After originally signing a letter of intent to play college football with Notre Dame in 1995, Moss took part in a racially charged fight at his high school that left one person hospitalized.<ref name="blessing curse">Template:Cite news</ref> On March 23, 1995, Moss had backed a friend in a hallway fight against a white student who had allegedly used racist comments towards Randy's friend.<ref name="SIfeature">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Moss was initially charged with a felony for kicking the student, but it was later reduced to a misdemeanor. On August 1, 1995, Moss pleaded guilty to two counts of misdemeanor battery and was sentenced to 30 days behind bars at the South-Central Regional Jail in Charleston, West Virginia. He served 3 days in jail starting that night and would be required to serve the remaining 27 days within the following 18 months, after he completed his freshman year in college.<ref name="NYTimes">Template:Cite news</ref> Moss was expelled from DuPont and completed his education at Cabell Alternative School.<ref name="blessing curse" />

Notre Dame subsequently denied his enrollment application, but this did not stop another high-profile college football program from giving him a chance. Notre Dame officials suggested he attend Florida State due to the reputation of its coach, Bobby Bowden, for handling troubled players.<ref name="college">Template:Cite news</ref>

Freshman (1995)

Because of his signed letter of intent at Notre Dame, the NCAA considered him a transfer student to Florida State,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> so he had to redshirt the 1995 football season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Redshirt freshman season (1996)

In 1996, while serving his 30-day jail sentence in a work-release program from 1995, Moss tested positive for marijuana, thus violating his probation, and was dismissed from Florida State.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He served an additional 60 days in jail for the probation violation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ultimately, Moss transferred to Marshall University, about an hour's drive from his home. Because Marshall was then a Division I-AA school, NCAA rules allowed him to transfer there without losing any further eligibility.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1996, he set the NCAA Division I-AA records for the most games with a touchdown catch in a season (14), most consecutive games with a touchdown catch (13), most touchdown passes caught in a season (28 – tying Jerry Rice's 1984 record), and most receiving yards gained by a freshman in a season (1,709 on 78 catches), a record which still stands. Moss was also the leading kickoff returner in Division I-AA on the season, with 612 total yards and a 34.0-yard average. The 1996 Marshall Thundering Herd went undefeated and won the Division I-AA title, with Moss having four touchdown receptions in the 1996 NCAA Division I-AA Football Championship Game against Montana.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was Marshall's last season before moving to Division I-A.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At the Southern Conference indoor track championships, Moss ran the 200 meters in 21.15 seconds, missing the conference record by only .02 seconds.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although Moss had not raced competitively for four years, his time was one of the best in the country that year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Sophomore season (1997)

In the 1997 season, Marshall's first in Division I-A, Moss and quarterback Chad Pennington were the centerpiece of an explosive offense that led the Thundering Herd to the Mid-American Conference title.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss caught 26 touchdown passes that season, at the time a Division I-A record, and was a first-team All-American.<ref name="classic">Template:Cite web</ref>

The first game of the season was on the road against the West Virginia Mountaineers where Marshall lost 42–31.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The second game of the season saw Moss pick up right where he left off in 1996. Facing Army, Moss had five receptions for 186 yards and two touchdowns.<ref name="08MarshallMG">Template:Cite book</ref> Against Army, Moss's first touchdown went for 79 yards and the second touchdown marked a career-long of 90 yards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A week later, Moss posted his third career 200+ yard receiving game, against Kent State in a 42–17 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two weeks after that was his fourth and final 200+ yard game in college, recording 13 catches for 205 yards and a Marshall single-game record of five touchdown receptions against Ball State.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the 1997 Ford Motor City Bowl against Ole Miss, Moss added his 26th touchdown of the season on Marshall's first offensive play from scrimmage. He streaked down the right sideline and caught an 80-yard touchdown pass from Pennington to tie the score at 7–7.<ref name="1997MotorCityBowl">Template:Cite web</ref> NCAA rules at the time did not allow for statistics from bowl games to be combined with regular-season stats, so the touchdown did not officially increase his season touchdown record. The two teams traded the lead several times in the fourth quarter before Ole Miss running back Deuce McAllister scored on a 1-yard touchdown run with 31 seconds to play, giving them a 34–31 lead. Trying to pull out a last-second win, Pennington connected with Moss on a 40-yard pass on the final play of the game, but he was stripped of the ball as time expired. Moss finished the game with six receptions for 173 yards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Moss finished his career at Marshall having scored at least one touchdown in all 28 games that he played.<ref name="1997MotorCityBowl" /> He won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the season's outstanding receiver regardless of position, and was a finalist for the 1997 Heisman Trophy, finishing fourth in the balloting.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was a Consensus All-American and won MAC Offensive Player of the Year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A controversial comment was made by Moss in 1997 at a ceremony at Marshall University where he was commenting in regards to the 1970 plane crash that killed most their football team that the crash "was a tragedy, but it really wasn't nothing big". Moss later claimed that the quotes were taken out of context.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Nate Ruffin, a surviving member of the 1970 football team, later met with Randy Moss.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

College statistics

Season Team GP Receiving Rushing Kick returns Punt returns
Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD
1995 Florida State 0 Redshirted
1996 Marshall 15 78 1,709 21.9 — 28 1 2 2.0 2 0 18 612 34.0 88 0 — — — — —
1997 Marshall 13 96 1,820 19.0 — 26 2 29 14.5 32T 1 14 263 18.8 49 0 25 271 10.8 58 0
Total 28 174 3,529 20.3 90T 54 3 31 10.3 32T 1 32 875 27.3 88 0 25 271 10.8 58 0
  • Includes stats from the 1997 Motor City Bowl against Ole Miss<ref name="98draftprofile" /><ref name="08MarshallMG" /><ref name="1997MotorCityBowl" />

NCAA records

Division I-AA – regular season

  • Most games with a touchdown reception in a season – 11 (1996)<ref name="marshallrecordbook">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Most consecutive games with a touchdown reception in a season – 11 (1996)<ref name="marshallrecordbook" />
  • Most receiving yards gained by a freshman in a season – 1,073 (1996)<ref name="marshallrecordbook" />
  • Most touchdown receptions caught by a freshman in a season – 19 (1996 – record for all NCAA divisions)<ref name="marshallrecordbook" />

Division I-AA – playoffs

  • Most touchdown receptions in a single game – 4 (vs. Montana, December 21, 1996)<ref name="marshallrecordbook" />
  • Most yards receiving in a single game – 288 (vs. Delaware, November 30, 1996)<ref name="marshallrecordbook" />
  • Most touchdown receptions in a tournament – 10 (4 games in 1996)<ref name="marshallrecordbook" />
  • Most yards receiving in a tournament – 636 (4 games in 1996)<ref name="marshallrecordbook" />

Professional career

Template:NFL predraft

1998 NFL draft

Moss skipped his junior and senior seasons at Marshall and entered the NFL Draft. He did not attend the NFL Combine,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> opting instead for an individual workout at Marshall's pro day. After the pro day was complete, Marshall head coach Bob Pruett informed the media that Moss had run two 40 yard sprints which timed at 4.24 and 4.28 by scouts' hand timers. Moss also posted a vertical leap of 47 inches.<ref name="Pro Day">Template:Cite web</ref> Numerous teams had scouts on hand with many noting the work-out was jaw dropping, with one Cowboys scout naming Moss the "most gifted prospect in football history".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the 1998 NFL draft, Moss, who was projected as a high first-round pick,<ref name="98draftprofile" /> was taken by the Minnesota Vikings with the 21st overall pick after a number of NFL clubs—even those in need of a WR—were concerned with Moss's well-documented legal problems.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Before the draft Moss was quoted as saying teams that passed on him "will regret it once they see what kind of a player I am and what kind of guy I really am."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team most often cited for passing on Moss is the Dallas Cowboys. Moss grew up a Cowboys fan and wanted to play for the Cowboys. The Cowboys wanted Moss,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but because of many off-field incidents of their own, team owner and GM Jerry Jones did not feel the team could draft Moss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss felt that the Cowboys lied to him because they had told him they would draft him.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On draft day, Dallas went so far as to have a scout in Charleston, West Virginia, the same town where Moss and his mother were watching the draft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Dallas star receiver Michael Irvin even called to apologize to Moss, because Irvin's own off-field problems were a main reason Moss was not drafted by Dallas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the draft, Moss made a point of beating the Cowboys any time he faced them,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> getting his first opportunity to do so in Week 13 of his rookie season. In a game held at Texas Stadium, Moss torched Dallas with a 163-yard, 3-receptions for 3-touchdowns performance.

After the draft, Moss signed a 4-year, $4.5 million contract that included an additional $4 million in bonuses and incentives.<ref name="CatchingUp">Template:Cite magazine</ref> As part of the deal, he received a $2 million signing bonus.<ref name="WorthEveryDime">Template:Cite web</ref> Moss originally wore #18 in training camp (a number he would eventually wear for Oakland) but switched to the more conventional #84 before the regular season began.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Minnesota Vikings (first stint)

1998 season

In 1998, Moss helped the Vikings to become the number 1 rated offense ever at the time, setting the single-season record for scoring (later surpassed by the 2007 New England Patriots, a team that also featured Moss) with 556 points.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Vikings opened the season with a 31–7 rout against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Moss's first NFL game would also be his first multi-touchdown game as he recorded four receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns. His first NFL reception came on the third play of the game on an 11-yard pass from Brad Johnson. His first touchdown was a 48-yard reception He added a 31-yard touchdown reception on the Vikings' first possession of the second quarter to give the Vikings a 21–0 lead.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

His first Monday Night Football game came in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. He had five receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns, including touchdown receptions of 52 yards and 44 yards, and two other receptions of 46 yards and 41 yards. He also had a 75-yard touchdown catch on the Vikings' first possession of the game that was nullified due to an offensive holding penalty.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Week 12, against the Packers in a second divisional matchup, Moss had eight receptions for 153 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 28–14 victory. He earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against Green Bay.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 13, against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, Moss finished with three catches for 163 yards and three touchdowns all for 50+ yards as the Vikings beat the Cowboys 46–36. Moss was the first rookie to score three touchdowns on Thanksgiving. He also caught a pass for a 2-point conversion, AND picked up 50 yards on a defensive pass-interference penalty on Dallas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For that Thanksgiving game, Moss earned another NFC Offensive Player of the Week nomination.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His last catch in the previous week's game, and his first catch in the following week were also touchdowns, giving him five touchdown receptions on five consecutive catches.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (Although the NFL does not keep records for consecutive catches resulting in touchdowns.) In the following week after the Thanksgiving game, this time against the Chicago Bears, Moss had another three-touchdown performance in the 48–22 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The Vikings finished with a 15–1 record and were in position to represent the NFC in Super Bowl XXXIII.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss had four receptions for 71 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 41–21 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the Divisional Round.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, the Atlanta Falcons stunned the Vikings by winning the 1998 NFC Championship Game 30–27 in overtime. Moss had six receptions for 75 yards and a touchdown in the loss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

At the end of the 1998 regular season, Moss was named to the Pro Bowl, earned first team All-Pro honors, and won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year for his rookie-record and league-leading 17 touchdown receptions and the third-highest receiving yardage (1,313) total.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As a rookie, he finished third in voting for MVP and Offensive Player of the Year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team for 1998.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

1999 season

In Week 4, Moss had four receptions for 120 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 21–14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The game against Tampa Bay started a three-game streak of going for at least 120 receiving yards for Moss, with 122 against the Chicago Bears the following week and 125 in the game after that against the Detroit Lions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 10, against the Chicago Bears, Moss had 12 receptions for a career-high 204 receiving yards in the 27–24 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game verses the Bears.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the following game, he had seven receptions for 127 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 35–27 victory over the San Diego Chargers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 15, against the Green Bay Packers, he had five receptions for 131 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 24–20 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 16, against the New York Giants, he threw a touchdown pass to Cris Carter in the 34–17 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the regular season finale against the Detroit Lions, he had five receptions for 155 receiving yards and one receiving touchdown in the 24–17 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Overall, Moss had another impressive season, catching 80 passes for 1,413 yards and 11 touchdowns, including a punt return for a touchdown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He went on to record five receptions for 127 yards and a touchdown in the Vikings 27–10 NFC Wild Card Round playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Minnesota lost in the Divisional Round to the St. Louis Rams 49–37, despite Moss catching nine passes for 188 yards and two touchdowns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss was fined $40,000, which was later reduced to $25,000, during that game due to squirting an NFL referee with a water bottle. There was a stipulation that he would have to pay the difference in addition to any other fine if he had another run-in with the league.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Moss earned his second straight Pro Bowl appearance, and turned in a record-breaking performance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He had nine receptions for a Pro Bowl record 212 yards and was given the game's Most Valuable Player award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2000 season

The 2000 season featured second-year quarterback Daunte Culpepper leading the team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Culpepper had been the team's first-round draft pick in 1999; with a pick they received from the Redskins for quarterback Brad Johnson.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He had been selected largely due to his extremely strong arm, which the team believed was perfectly suited for Moss's deep routes.Template:Citation needed The decision proved correct. Culpepper was a rookie sensation, the Vikings started 7–0, and Moss was a leading MVP candidate.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In that stretch was a Week 4 game against the Detroit Lions, where Moss had seven receptions for 168 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the 31–24 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the second time in three seasons, Moss punished the Dallas Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day, including a spectacular second half touchdown in which Moss caught the ball with his entire body out of bounds, aside from his toes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The play would be the feature shot in NFL commercials for years to come.Template:Citation needed In Week 16 against the Green Bay Packers, Moss had four receptions for 136 receiving yards and one touchdown in the 33–28 loss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss finished the season with a career-high 1,437 yards and league-leading 15 touchdown receptions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In doing so, he became the youngest and fastest player to ever catch over 3,000 yards and 45 touchdowns, earning him a third consecutive trip to the Pro Bowl, and second selection to the All Pro team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the Divisional Round against the New Orleans Saints, Moss had two receptions for 121 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 34–16 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the NFC Championship, the Vikings were defeated 41–0 by the New York Giants. Moss was held to two receptions for 18 yards in the game<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2001 season

In the offseason, Moss and his agent Danté DiTrapano began negotiating a new contract with the Minnesota Vikings. He was scheduled to earn $3.5 million in 2001. However, Moss, who was entering the final year of the rookie contract he signed in 1998, was seeking a long-term deal that would make him the highest-paid player in the NFL.<ref name="highestpaid">Template:Cite web</ref> His agent said, "We want to break the tradition of quarterbacks being the highest-paid players." One option the Vikings had would be to apply the franchise tag after the season ended, but sources stated that Moss would request a trade if that happened because it would still be less than what he could command on the open market.<ref name="highestpaid" />

Just prior to the start of training camp in July, Vikings owner Red McCombs signed Moss to an 8-year, $75 million contract extension.<ref name="2002NFLpreview">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The extension included a $10 million signing bonus and another $8 million in guarantees.<ref name="WorthEveryDime" />

In Week 10, against the New York Giants, Moss had ten receptions for 171 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the 28–16 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he had eight receptions for 144 receiving yards and one touchdown in the 21–16 loss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the following game against the Tennessee Titans, he had seven receptions for 158 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 42–24 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the next game, against the Detroit Lions, he had seven receptions for 144 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 27–24 loss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Despite finishing the season with 10 touchdowns and posting at least 1,000 receiving yards (1,233) for the fourth consecutive season, Moss failed to make the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Vikings finished with a 5–11 record and missed the playoffs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2002 season

After replacing Dennis Green on an interim basis to end the 2001 season, Mike Tice was officially named head coach on January 10, 2002.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> One of the strategies the Vikings' first-year head coach came up with was a formula to get Moss the ball more often. Coach Tice called it the Randy Ratio. It was an effort on the coaches part to throw 40% of the passes to Moss as a way to keep him involved in the offense more than he had been in the 2001 season when he had stretches in games where he was being shut out, and partly to use more game clock by sustaining long drives to give the Vikings defense a chance to rest.<ref name="RandyRatio">Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> An assistant coach would stand on the sidelines during games and track how many times Moss had been thrown to, and then inform Tice of the percentages so that he is always aware of it. In the 2001 season, the Vikings record was 4–1 when Moss had 40% of the passes thrown his direction, and 1–10 in other games.<ref name="2002NFLpreview" />

The strategy was a response to the 'Randy Rules,' as Vikings receiver Chris Walsh called them. The Randy Rules, similar to the Jordan Rules, were a defensive strategy that teams employed when facing the Vikings to try and eliminate or reduce Randy's impact on the game, and to prevent Moss from being matched up one-on-one with defenders because of his ability to burn them deep or outjump them in single coverage. Opposing teams would routinely double cover Moss with techniques such as having a cornerback attempt to jam him at the line of scrimmage, having a corner defend underneath with a safety defending against the deep ball, having a zone defense roll to Moss's side of the field, and assigning "spies" to follow Moss everywhere he went.

Coach Tice discussed the strategy, explaining that Moss would be running more short and intermediate routes and fewer deep patterns. In training camp, Moss worked specifically on 12 new routes that he had rarely run in his first four NFL seasons, such as crossing patterns over the middle of the field and hook routes.<ref name="RandyRatio" /> Coach Tice said, "When we say Randy Ratio, everybody in the league thinks, 'OK, now they're going to throw the ball down the field to Randy more and more and more.' That's so far from the truth. In fact, we'll probably throw the ball down the field to Randy this year even less."<ref name="RandyRatio" />

The Randy Ratio did not last very long, as Tice scrapped the idea midway through the 2002 season. Randy Moss said "I didn't really care much about the Randy Ratio when it was brought up. I just wanted to win."<ref name="metamorphosis">Template:Cite magazine</ref> In Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints, he had 11 receptions for 113 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 32–31 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 16, Moss threw a touchdown pass to D'Wayne Bates in the 20–17 victory over the Miami Dolphins.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss had seven games with least 100 receiving yards on the year. While Moss caught a career-high 106 passes, he also had a career-low seven touchdown receptions, and the Vikings struggled to a 6–10 record.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss was named to his fourth Pro Bowl.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Tice suggested after the season that it was a mistake to inform opponents about his offensive gameplan, but that it was a tool "to motivate [Moss] and say he was the guy."<ref name="metamorphosis" />

2003 season

Moss's fortunes took a better turn on the football field during the 2003 regular season, where he became the second wide receiver in NFL history (behind Jerry Rice in 1995) to play more than 12 games (he played 16) while averaging over 100 yards and one touchdown per contest. In Week 1, against the Green Bay Packers, he had nine receptions for 150 receiving yards and a touchdown in the 30–25 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 4, against the San Francisco 49ers, he had eight receptions for 172 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in the 35–7 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 7 against the Denver Broncos, he had ten receptions for 151 yards in the 28–20 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the following game against the New York Giants, he had seven receptions for 125 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 29–17 loss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 13, against the St. Louis Rams, he had ten receptions for 160 receiving yards and one touchdown in the 48–17 loss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the following game against the Seattle Seahawks, he had eight receptions for 133 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 34–7 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had seven receptions for 111 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 45–20 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Overall, he finished with 111 receptions for 1,632 yards and 17 touchdowns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> All three numbers either tied or became a new personal best for Moss. The Vikings finished the season 9–7 but missed the playoffs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> One of Moss's memorable highlights that year was when he lateraled to Moe Williams for a last-second touchdown during a home game against Denver.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss was named to his fifth Pro Bowl.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the offseason, he attended the Vikings strength and conditioning program and added five pounds of muscle to his frame.<ref name="metamorphosis" />

2004 season

Moss started the season strong catching eight touchdowns in his first five games of the season, a 4–1 stretch for the Vikings.<ref name="2004gl" /> However, he sustained a hamstring injury to his right leg against the New Orleans Saints in Week 6 that hampered him for the next five weeks.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He played in Week 7 against the Tennessee Titans, but had no receptions in a game for the first time in his career.<ref name="2004gl" /> He also played the following week against the New York Giants, but again recorded no receptions and was used mainly as a decoy.<ref name="2004gl" /> The injury eventually sidelined him for three straight weeks.<ref name="2004gl" /> He returned to the lineup in Week 12 with a touchdown catch against the Jacksonville Jaguars.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He closed out the regular season with consecutive games going over the 100-yard mark with a touchdown in Weeks 14 and 15 against the Seattle Seahawks and Detroit Lions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Even though he finished the season with 13 touchdowns in 13 games, he posted career lows in receptions (49) and receiving yards (767). 2004 was the first season in his career that he failed to reach the 1,000-yard mark.<ref name="2004gl">Template:Cite web</ref>

On January 9, 2005, the Minnesota Vikings played division rival Green Bay Packers in an NFC Wild Card Round game. Moss finished the game with four catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns in the 31–17 win.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the second score, Moss trotted to the end zone goalpost and feigned pulling down his pants to moon the Green Bay fans.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> NFL on Fox announcer Joe Buck called it a "disgusting act."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss was fined $10,000 for his actions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Though the Vikings would win the game, they would lose in the next round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles, and Moss was traded at the end of the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Oakland Raiders

Moss with the Raiders in 2006

On March 2, 2005, Moss was traded to the Oakland Raiders for linebacker Napoleon Harris and the Raiders' first (7th overall, which Minnesota parlayed into wide receiver Troy Williamson) and seventh-round picks in the 2005 NFL Draft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Adding a player of Moss's caliber generated optimism in Oakland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> With fellow starter Jerry Porter wearing number 84, Moss changed his jersey number to 18, which had been his jersey number at Marshall and was initially not allowed for wide receivers when he entered the NFL in 1998, but had been made permissible in 2004 when a rule change allowed receivers to wear number 10–19 in addition to 80s numbers.

In his Raiders debut, Moss had five receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown in the 30–20 loss to the New England Patriots.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the following game, he had five receptions for 127 receiving yards and one touchdown in the 23–17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Raiders' poor play was a theme throughout the season, while Moss suffered nagging injuries which limited his production.Template:Citation needed<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He surpassed the 1,000 mark on the final day of the 2005 season with seven receptions for 116 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns against the New York Giants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He finished the year with 1,005 receiving yards on 60 catches as the Raiders went 4–12.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In Week 7 of the 2006 season, Moss had seven receptions for 129 yards and one touchdown in the 22–9 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss recorded 553 yards and three touchdowns on 42 receptions in 2006.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Moss was not happy in Oakland, and on November 14, 2006, when he was honored as a kick returner by having a college football award named after him, he responded to questions about his dropped passes and lackluster effort in several games.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss said, "Maybe because I'm unhappy and I'm not too much excited about what's going on, so, my concentration and focus level tend to go down sometimes when I'm in a bad mood".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Days later, he reiterated his unhappiness with losing games and being a member of the Raiders on his weekly segment with Fox Sports Radio, saying, "I might want to look forward to moving somewhere else next year to have another start and really feel good about going out here and playing football".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

New England Patriots

2007 season

Moss on the sidelines speaking with Tom Brady

There were rumors leading up to the 2007 NFL draft that the Raiders were eager to part ways with Moss through a trade. First-year Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin went so far as to contact their division rival Denver Broncos to "gauge interest",<ref name="MossToPats">Template:Cite web</ref> but the Patriots and Green Bay Packers were the two teams most interested in acquiring Moss. Packers quarterback Brett Favre, who once said, "There is no one in this league who puts fear in people more than Randy Moss,"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> tried to persuade team management to trade for him, but a deal that both sides could agree to did not get done.<ref name="FavreLobbiedForMoss">Template:Cite web</ref>

During the first day of the NFL Draft, the Patriots and Raiders discussed the trade several times before reaching an agreement. Bill Belichick spoke with Moss for the first time about the possibility of joining the Patriots at 2:30 Sunday morning.<ref name="2007leginjury">Template:Cite web</ref> Moss boarded a plane and arrived in Boston later that morning on April 29 and was required to pass a team administered physical. Once he was cleared by Patriots officials, the teams completed a trade that sent Randy Moss to New England for a fourth-round selection in the 2007 NFL draft. The Patriots had acquired the draft pick the previous day from the San Francisco 49ers, and the Raiders selected John Bowie.<ref name="MossToPats" />

One of the conditions of the trade was that Randy Moss would have to restructure his contract for salary cap reasons.<ref name="MossToPats" /> Just hours before the Moss trade was completed, New England quarterback Tom Brady converted $5.28 million of his 2007 base salary into a signing bonus that was spread out over the remaining portion of his contract so that it could free up cap room.<ref name="BradyContractNBC"/> This enabled the Patriots to absorb Moss's incoming contract under the salary cap.<ref name="BradyRestructureESPN">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="BradyContractNBC">Template:Cite web</ref> Moss had two years remaining on his current deal and was scheduled to earn $9.75 million in 2007 and $11.25 million in 2008. Once the Patriots had Moss on their roster, he quickly agreed to a new one-year contract to replace his old one. The new deal gave him a $500,000 signing bonus, a base salary of $2.5 million, and the ability to earn an additional $1.75 million in incentives.<ref name="BradyRestructureESPN" />

"I'm still in awe that I'm a part of this organization,"<ref name="BradyContractNBC" /> Moss said, clearly thrilled to join a team that could contend for the Super Bowl and to work with Coach Belichick. "I think that he's the kind of coach that can motivate me. He has a proven track record."<ref name="BradyContractNBC" />

In the first week of training camp, during an 11-on-11 passing drill, Moss suffered a hamstring injury to his left leg.<ref name="2007leginjury" /> As a precaution, the injury prevented Moss from participating in any preseason games and he missed much of the rest of camp.

His first action in a Patriots uniform came against the New York Jets in Week 1. He quickly quieted critics who claimed that his skills had deteriorated by hauling in nine receptions for 181 yards, including a 51-yard touchdown reception in which he ran past three Jets defenders.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He followed up the Jets game with three consecutive games, wins over the San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, and Cincinnati Bengals, going over the 100-yard mark with two receiving touchdowns in each.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 7 against the Miami Dolphins, he had four receptions for 122 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 49–28 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 9, against the Indianapolis Colts, he had nine receptions for 145 yards and a touchdown in the 24–20 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Colts.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 4, 2007, James Black, NFL Editor for Yahoo! Sports wrote, "Every week, in addition to out-leaping at least one defender for a touchdown, [Moss] keeps making incredible one-handed grabs that make you mutter, 'How the heck did he come up with that?Template:'"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Two weeks later, he caught a career-high four touchdowns against the Buffalo Bills, all in the first half.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He earned AFC Offensive Player of the Week for his game against the Bills.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 14, he had seven receptions for 135 receiving yards and two touchdowns in the 34–13 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On December 29, the Patriots defeated the New York Giants 38–35, finishing their regular season with a perfect 16–0 record.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss caught two touchdown passes for a total of 23, breaking the single-season record of 22 touchdown receptions previously set by Jerry Rice (in 12 games in the strike-shortened 1987 season). On the same play, Tom Brady broke Peyton Manning's single-season record set in 2004 with his 50th touchdown pass.<ref name="recordpats">Template:Cite web</ref> Moss recorded 98 catches for 1,493 yards in 2007, the highest yardage total in Patriots franchise history and the third-highest total number of catches, after teammate Wes Welker's 112 catches that same season and Troy Brown's 101 in 2001.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He earned his sixth Pro Bowl selection and fourth first team All-Pro nomination.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His 2007 season featured touchdowns in 13 of 16 games (including eight multi-touchdown games), nine 100-yard games, and six touchdown receptions of 40 or more yards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> For the second-time in his NFL career, Moss was part of a team that broke the NFL single-season scoring record.<ref name="recordpats" />

Despite his record-breaking 2007 season, Moss was relatively quiet in the playoffs, going two consecutive games without a touchdown for the first time all season. The Patriots defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Divisional Round and the San Diego Chargers in the AFC Championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, in Super Bowl XLII, against the New York Giants, he scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:42 left in the fourth quarter on a six-yard pass from Tom Brady. The score was not enough for the heavily favored Patriots to end their only undefeated season with a Super Bowl win. Eli Manning drove the Giants down the field, connecting with Plaxico Burress for the game-winning touchdown and an upset over the Patriots. Two deep throws from Brady to Moss on 3rd & 20 and 4th & 20 on the Patriots final drive fell incomplete.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2008 season

Moss (with the Patriots) on the field prior to an away game against Oakland, 2008

On February 28, 2008, Moss became a free agent after the Patriots decided not to place the franchise tag on Moss. Although the Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, and Green Bay Packers were rumored to have interest in Moss,<ref name="Randy Moss in Dallas?">Template:Cite web</ref> he decided to return to the Patriots, signing a three-year, $27 million deal on March 3, 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The contract included a $12 million signing bonus, and a total of $14.1 million guaranteed.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The first game of the 2008 season saw Brady suffer a torn ACL in his left knee while attempting a pass to Moss.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The play occurred in the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs when safety Bernard Pollard dove at Brady's leg while in his throwing motion. Moss described what he saw on the play by saying "any time you see something like that, that looks foul, it looks dirty, it opens your eyes. So, me personally, it looked dirty."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Matt Cassel replaced Brady for the rest of the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 12 against the Miami Dolphins, he had eight receptions for 125 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns in the 48–28 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2008, Moss hauled in 69 catches for 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns despite losing quarterback Tom Brady in the first game of the season.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2009 season

In the season opener of 2009, Moss caught a career-high 12 passes for 141 yards in a comeback 25–24 victory over the Buffalo Bills.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Week 5 against the Denver Broncos, Moss was placed deep in coverage on a Broncos Hail Mary attempt to end the first half, and intercepted Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In a snowy Week 6 game against the winless Tennessee Titans, Moss caught three touchdown passes from Tom Brady, two of them in the second quarter of the 59–0 victory as Brady set a record for most touchdown passes in a single quarter with five.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

During the Patriots' bye week, Belichick stated that Moss "is the smartest receiver he's ever been around."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He compared Moss's ability to see the field and anticipate plays to that of Tom Brady, and to Lawrence Taylor, who Belichick coached with the New York Giants. He said Moss not only knows what he's doing on a play, but what everybody else on the field is doing as well. "That's what makes them special. They just have a sixth, seventh sense", Belichick said.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This sentiment was repeated when Moss was inducted into the Hall of Fame, as Belichick went further to say he learned from Moss.<ref>Template:Citation</ref>

In Week 9 against the Miami Dolphins, Moss recorded six catches for 147 yards and one touchdown in the 27–17 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The touchdown reception was the 140th of his career, which moved him into a tie for second place with Terrell Owens.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Randy Moss with the Patriots in 2009

The following week, in a prime time Sunday night matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, Moss had 179 yards and two touchdowns, including a 63-yard touchdown in the second quarter that moved him ahead of Terrell Owens for sole possession of second place in career touchdown receptions.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the 35–34 loss, he became just the 11th player in NFL history with 900+ receptions and the seventh player to reach 14,000+ career receiving yards.Template:Citation needed

In Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Moss had three receiving touchdowns in the 35–7 victory.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

He finished the season with 83 receptions for 1,264 receiving yards and 13 receiving touchdowns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His 13 receiving touchdowns tied for the league lead.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> New England lost in the AFC Wild Card Round to the Baltimore Ravens 33–14.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2000s first team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2010 season

In the week leading up to the Patriots' 2010 season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, Moss, who was entering the final year of his contract told CBS Sports that he "did not feel wanted" in New England absent a contract extension offer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss went on to catch five passes for 59 yards in Week 1.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the game, Moss told reporters that it would be his final season with the Patriots.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Boston Herald reported weeks later that Moss requested a trade following the game.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Moss had two receptions in Week 2 against the New York Jets, including a 34-yard touchdown that he caught one-handed after All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis pulled a hamstring.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The following week against the Buffalo Bills, Moss had two more catches, both for touchdowns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His final game in New England came in Week 4 on Monday Night Football against the Miami Dolphins; he did not record a catch in the game for the first time in his Patriots career as a touchdown pass attempt off a fake spike bounced off his hands in the end zone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Randy Moss with the Vikings in 2010

Minnesota Vikings (second stint)

Two days after the Patriots' game against Miami, Moss was traded to the Minnesota Vikings, in exchange for the Vikings' third-round selection (later used to select quarterback Ryan Mallett) in the 2011 NFL draft.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Patriots also sent a 2012 seventh-round selection to the Vikings as part of the trade.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Despite the arrival of Moss, the Vikings continued to struggle, due to starting quarterback Brett Favre's age and injuries. Moss only managed 13 catches and two touchdowns in four games with the Vikings. Vikings' head coach Brad Childress hoped that Moss, as a veteran, would be mature but instead "[Moss] walked in the locker room and vomited on it".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On November 1, less than four weeks after being traded to Minnesota, Moss criticized Childress and teammates in a press conference following the Vikings' loss to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Just before the press conference, Moss reportedly told team owner Zygi Wilf that Childress was unfit to coach in the NFL and should be fired.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The next day in a team meeting, Childress told Vikings players that Moss was going to be waived.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wilf reportedly considered firing Childress and keeping Moss, since Childress did not inform Wilf of the move beforehand, but per contract Childress had the final say on personnel so Moss was officially waived the next day, November 2.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Vikings continued to struggle after Moss was waived, and Childress was eventually fired on November 22.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Tennessee Titans

Moss was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans, the only team to submit a claim, on November 3, 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss played eight games with the Titans, starting four. He made six catches for 80 yards and no touchdowns.

Moss finished the 2010 season with career lows in receptions (28) and receiving yards (393).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The Titans stated that they did not plan to re-sign Moss for the 2011 season, and he became a free agent.<ref name="profootballtalkflorio">Template:Cite web</ref>

Initial retirement and comeback

On August 1, 2011, Moss's agent, Joel Segal, announced Moss's decision to retire from professional football.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On February 13, 2012, his 35th birthday, Moss announced that he was coming out of retirement and was ready to play again.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

San Francisco 49ers

Randy Moss with the 49ers

On March 12, 2012, Moss signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers for undisclosed financial terms after a workout with the team's head coach Jim Harbaugh.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On September 9, 2012, Moss caught his 154th touchdown reception, and subsequently passed Terrell Owens for sole possession of second on the all-time receiving touchdown list.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After Alex Smith suffered a concussion against the St. Louis Rams in week 10, Colin Kaepernick took over as the team's quarterback, and Moss had at least two receptions in each of the remaining five games of the regular season. He finished the season with 28 catches for 434 yards and three touchdowns.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since the retirement of Terrell Owens at the end of 2010, he had been the NFL's active leader in receiving yards. Moss eventually went on to play in Super Bowl XLVII, where he had two receptions for 41 yards in a 34–31 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

NFL career statistics

Legend
NFL record
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Returning Passing Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Cmp Att Pct Yds TD Int Rtg Fum Lost
1998 MIN 16 11 69 1,313 19.0 61T 17 1 4 4.0 4 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 — — — — — — — 2 1
1999 MIN 16 16 80 1,413 17.7 67T 11 4 43 10.8 15 0 17 162 9.5 64T 1 1 1 100.0 27 1 0 158.3 3 3
2000 MIN 16 16 77 1,437 18.7 78T 15 3 5 1.7 9 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — 2 0
2001 MIN 16 16 82 1,233 15.0 73T 10 3 38 12.7 18 0 — — — — — 1 1 100.0 29 0 0 118.8 0 0
2002 MIN 16 16 106 1,347 12.7 60 7 6 51 8.5 25 0 1 11 11.0 11 0 1 3 33.3 13 1 0 87.5 1 1
2003 MIN 16 16 111 1,632 14.7 72 17 6 18 3.0 11 0 1 22 22.0 22 0 0 1 0.0 0 0 0 39.6 1 1
2004 MIN 13 13 49 767 15.7 82T 13 — — — — — — — — — — 1 2 50.0 37 0 1 56.2 1 1
2005 OAK 16 15 60 1,005 16.8 79 8 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
2006 OAK 13 13 42 553 13.2 51 3 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
2007 NE 16 16 98 1,493 15.2 65T 23 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
2008 NE 16 16 69 1,008 14.6 76T 11 2 0 0.0 2 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — 3 2
2009 NE 16 16 83 1,264 15.2 71T 13 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 2 1
2010 NE 4 3 9 139 15.4 35T 3 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
MIN 4 4 13 174 13.4 37T 2 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
TEN 8 4 6 80 13.3 26 0 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
2012 SF 16 2 28 434 15.5 55 3 — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — 1 0
Career 218 193 982 15,292 15.6 82T 156 25 159 6.4 25 0 20 195 9.8 64T 1 4 8 50.0 106 2 1 95.8 16 10

Postseason

Year Team Games Receiving Rushing Returning Fumbles
GP GS Rec Yds Avg Lng TD Att Yds Avg Lng TD Ret Yds Avg Lng TD Fum Lost
1998 MIN 2 2 10 148 14.8 45 2 — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
1999 MIN 2 2 14 315 22.5 58 3 — — — — — 3 34 11.3 14 0 0 0
2000 MIN 2 2 4 139 34.8 68 2 — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
2004 MIN 2 2 7 121 17.3 34 2 1 14 14.0 14 0 — — — — — 0 0
2007 NE 3 3 7 94 13.4 18 1 — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
2009 NE 1 1 5 48 9.6 19 0 — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
2012 SF 3 3 7 112 16.0 32 0 — — — — — — — — — — 0 0
Career 15 15 54 977 18.1 68 10 1 14 14.0 14 0 3 34 11.3 14 0 0 0

NFL records and career notables

  • Most touchdown receptions in a season – 23 (2007)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Most touchdown receptions by a rookie in a season – 17 (1998)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
  • Most seasons with 17 or more touchdown receptions – 3 (1998, 2003, 2007)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Most seasons with 16 or more touchdown receptions – 3 (1998, 2003, 2007)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Most seasons with 11 or more touchdown receptions – 8 – tied with Jerry Rice<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Most seasons with 10 or more touchdown receptions – 9 – tied with Jerry Rice<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Most games in a season with at least two touchdown receptions – 8 (2007)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • One of three players to have at least 1,600 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns in a season<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Most yards receiving in a Pro Bowl game – 212 (2000)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Most touchdowns scored in first ten games with a new team – 16 (2007)
  • Most 1,200+ yard receiving seasons to start a career – 6 (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003)
  • Moss has averaged at least one receiving touchdown per game played in four different seasons: 1998 (17 TDs in 16 games), 2003 (17 in 16), 2004 (13 in 13), and 2007 (23 in 16)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Youngest player in NFL history to record his 100th receiving touchdown (29 years, 235 days)<ref name="jamestown">Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Youngest player in NFL history to record his 120th receiving touchdown (30 years, 313 days)<ref name="jamestown" />
  • Most touchdown receptions before 30th birthday – 101<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Fastest player to reach 5,000 career receiving yards – 59 games (broke record of 61 games by Jerry Rice)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • Youngest player to reach 5,000 career receiving yards (24 years, 292 days)
  • Highest career yards per catch average for any player with 900+ receptions – 15.6 yards per reception
  • Most offensive touchdowns in first two seasons: 28 (Tied with Rob Gronkowski)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career highlights

Outside football

Charity

Moss has participated in, founded, and financed many charitable endeavors since joining the NFL, particularly aimed at helping children. Many times when talking about his charity work, he has said he just looks forward to "seeing smiles." He has donated clothing and food to needy families, given away free backpacks to Boston area school-children, and hosted autograph signings. He has also bussed children to amusement parks, NBA games, and even NFL games in which he has played.<ref name="CharityGolfEvent">Template:Cite web</ref>

On June 29, 2005, he hosted the Randy Moss Celebrity Charity Invitational Bass Tournament. The tournament was a one-day event that paired celebrities and corporate sponsors with pro fishermen to raise money for the Smile Network, which is a foundation that provides financial assistance to children with treatable mouth problems, such as cleft palate. The tournaments motto is "fish for a smile."<ref name="BassTournament">Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2008, Moss formed the Links for Learning foundation, which was established to help children in his home state of West Virginia, and to build learning centers for the most needy student populations.<ref name="athlebrities">Template:Cite web</ref> In June, he and his former high school teammate Jason Williams hosted the foundations first annual charity golf tournament at the Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Hurricane, West Virginia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In March 2009, Moss's foundation made a donation that enabled the Women and Children's Hospital of Charleston, West Virginia to purchase a Starlight Children's Foundation 'Fun Center' for their patients. The 'Fun Center' is a portable bedside entertainment system equipped with a TV, DVD player, and 22 Nintendo Wii games.<ref name="athlebrities" />

Randy Moss Motorsports

Template:Main On April 29, 2008, Moss announced the formation of Randy Moss Motorsports, an auto racing team in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In July 2008, Moss announced that he had bought a 50 percent share in Morgan-Dollar Motorsports, with the team's No. 46 entry switching to No. 81.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The team was reportedly shut down in 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Analyst career

Upon his release from the 49ers, Moss was hired as an analyst for Fox Sports 1's Fox Football Daily show.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss was hired as an associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Victory Christian Center High School in Charlotte, North Carolina, in June 2014, where his son was attending high school and playing football.<ref name="Randy Moss joins high school staff">Template:Cite web</ref>

In July 2016, Moss joined ESPN as an analyst, appearing on Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2019, Moss was named to the National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

Moss's parents are Maxine Moss and Randy Pratt. Moss has little contact with his father.<ref name="classic" /> He has a sister named Lutisia and had a brother Eric, who had a short stint in the NFL as an offensive tackle with the Minnesota Vikings. Moss has five children: Sydney, Senali, Sylee, Thaddeus, and Montigo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Moss is a Christian, attested by his NFL Hall of Fame speech.

Health

In December 2024, Moss announced that he would be taking an indefinite leave of absence from ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown to address an "internal" and unspecified health issue. He directed his message to men and urged them to get checkups and bloodwork done, without specifying any particular illness.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On December 10, sportswriter Larry Fitzgerald Sr. publicly announced that Moss was battling liver cancer. This was refuted by Randy's son Thaddeus.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On December 13, Moss revealed that he had undergone a Whipple procedure to address bile duct cancer and that he was now "a cancer survivor". On Thanksgiving, he had a stent inserted into his liver after experiencing discolored urine.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Traffic incident

On September 24, 2002, in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota, Moss was driving and was preparing to make an illegal turn. A traffic control officer, noticing what he was about to do, stood in front of his vehicle and ordered him to stop. Eyewitness accounts of the event differ at this point, but Moss did not comply with the officer's order, his vehicle bumped her, and she fell to the ground. Moss was arrested, and a search of his vehicle revealed a joint amounting to less than a gram of marijuana in his ashtray.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Initially charged with felony Suspicion of Assault with a Deadly Weapon and a misdemeanor marijuana possession, Moss spent the night in jail and was released the following morning. Moss pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor traffic violation and was ordered to pay a $1,200 fine and perform 40 hours of community service.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> While the criminal charges were thus disposed of, the civil lawsuit filed by the traffic control officer brought a substantial penalty fine<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "in the low to mid six figures". Moss claimed that the joint was not his, and that he had let friends use his car prior to the accident.<ref name="2002weedcharge" />

Marijuana use

In April 1996, Moss smoked a joint just prior to turning himself in to jail. He was scheduled to finish the remainder of his 30-day sentence for misdemeanor battery while in high school. During his first week in jail, Moss was given a drug test that came back positive. He was placed in solitary confinement for a week and had 60 days attached to his 27-day sentence. Coach Bobby Bowden revoked his scholarship and Moss was dismissed from Florida State University for the failed drug test.<ref name="SIfeature" />

Moss tested positive in 2001 for marijuana under the NFL's substance abuse program and was subject to additional random drug screening for two years.<ref name="2002weedcharge">Template:Cite news</ref> A first time violation of the NFL's drug policy can result in up to 10 tests per month. Moss did not fail an NFL drug test again, and was rotated out of the program after two years.<ref name="bluemoon">Template:Cite web</ref>

In August 2005, during an interview with Bryant Gumbel, Moss admitted that he has smoked marijuana during his NFL career "every blue moon." When asked whether he still used marijuana currently, Moss replied "I might. I might have fun. And, you know, hopefully ... I won't get into any trouble by the NFL by saying that, you know. I have had fun throughout my years and, you know, predominantly in the offseason." The interview drew criticism from the league office, and his agent tried to spin it that his words were taken out of context. In response, Moss said "That was really me talking in the past tense of way back in the beginning of my career and my childhood – especially in high school and college."<ref name="bluemoon" />

Dating violence allegations

On January 15, 2008, Orlando-based radio station WDBO reported that Moss "had" been hit with a temporary injunction for protection against dating violence. According to the affidavit, Moss committed battery upon Rachelle Washington,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> causing serious injury, and then refused to allow her to seek medical attention. The affidavit out of Broward County reveals Moss cannot come within 500 feet of the victim and cannot use or possess firearms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The next day, in a locker room press conference, Moss claimed the woman was simply looking for money "over an accident."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On March 3, 2008, Washington filed papers with the Broward County Circuit Court clerk's office requesting that the restraining order be dissolved.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> No criminal charges were filed in the incident.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

See also

References

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