Herman Moore facts for kids

Herman Joseph Moore (born October 20, 1969) is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. Herman played college football for the Virginia Cavaliers. The Detroit Lions picked him in the first round of the 1991 NFL draft. He also played for the New York Giants.

Early Life and School Sports

Herman Moore grew up in Danville, Virginia. He finished George Washington High School in 1987. Herman was a great athlete in high school. He played three different sports: basketball, football, and track and field.

College Football Career

Herman Moore went to the University of Virginia. He was a two-sport athlete there, playing football and competing in track and field. In football, he became one of the best receivers in the school's history. He is third all-time in catches for the Virginia Cavaliers.

He also holds the school record for most receiving yards in one season. He gained 1,190 yards in 1990. In 1989, he scored 10 touchdowns. The next year, in 1990, he scored 13 touchdowns. His college jersey number, 87, was retired by the Virginia Cavaliers. This means no other player will wear that number again.

Playing in the NFL

The Detroit Lions chose Herman Moore as their first pick in the 1991 NFL Draft. He went on to break many of the Lions' receiving records.

Starting with the Lions

Herman's first year in 1991 was a bit slow. He only caught 11 passes. It turned out he needed to wear contact lenses to see better on the field. Once his vision was fixed, he became a key player. The Lions made it to the playoffs that year. They won their first playoff game since 1957 by beating the Dallas Cowboys 38–6. Herman caught a touchdown pass in that game.

In 1992, Herman caught 51 passes for 966 yards and four touchdowns. The next year, 1993, he caught 61 passes for 935 yards and six touchdowns. The Lions won their division again.

Becoming a Star Player

In 1994, Herman really shined. He was chosen for his first Pro Bowl. He caught 72 passes for 1,173 yards and 11 touchdowns. The next year, 1995, was even better. He set a new NFL record for most catches in a season with 123. He also set a club record for receiving yards with 1,686 and scored 14 touchdowns.

One famous game was on Thanksgiving Day in 1995 against the Minnesota Vikings. Herman and two other Lions receivers, Brett Perriman and Johnnie Morton, all gained over 100 receiving yards. Their star running back, Barry Sanders, also rushed for over 100 yards. The Lions won that exciting game 44-38. Herman was named to the Pro Bowl for the second year in a row. He and Brett Perriman were the first teammates in NFL history to each have over 100 catches in the same season.

Herman continued his amazing play in 1996 with 106 catches. In 1997, he led the league with 104 catches. He became only the second receiver ever, after Jerry Rice, to have three seasons with over 100 catches. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in a row. The Lions made the playoffs again, but lost a high-scoring game to the Philadelphia Eagles. Herman caught a touchdown in that game.

Later Career and Records

After 1997, Herman's performance slowed down. In 1998, he caught 82 passes. In 1999, he played only eight games due to injuries. After playing three games for the Lions in 2001, he moved to the New York Giants for the 2002 season. He played only one game with the Giants before his career ended.

In his 12 seasons in the NFL, Herman Moore had 670 catches for 9,174 yards and 62 touchdowns. He held the Lions' records for career catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns for many years. Later, another great Lions receiver, Calvin Johnson, broke these records.

Herman Moore was honored for his amazing career. In 2010, he was inducted into both the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame.