Randy Moss facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Randy Moss

Moss in 2016
No. 84, 18, 81
Position:	Wide receiver
Personal information
Born:	(1977-02-13) February 13, 1977 (age 48) Rand, West Virginia, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:	210 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:	DuPont (Dupont City, West Virginia)
College:	Marshall (1996–1997)
NFL Draft:	1998 / Round: 1 / Pick: 21
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (1998) Oakland Raiders (2005) New England Patriots (2007) Minnesota Vikings (2010) Tennessee Titans (2010) San Francisco 49ers (2012)
Career highlights and awards
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (1998) NFL Comeback Player of the Year (2007) 4× First-team All-Pro (1998, 2000, 2003, 2007) 6× Pro Bowl (1998–2000, 2002, 2003, 2007) 5× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1998, 2000, 2003, 2007, 2009) NFL 2000s All-Decade Team NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor 50 Greatest Vikings New England Patriots All-2000s Team New England Patriots All-Dynasty Team PFWA All-Rookie Team (1998) NCAA I-AA national champion (1996) Fred Biletnikoff Award (1997) Paul Warfield Trophy (1997) Unanimous All-American (1997) MAC Most Valuable Player (1997) MAC Offensive Player of the Year (1997) Most receiving touchdowns in a season: 23 (2007) Most receiving touchdowns in a rookie season: 17 (1998)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 982 Receiving yards: 15,292 Receiving touchdowns: 156
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame
College Football Hall of Fame

Randy Gene Moss (born February 13, 1977) is a famous American former professional football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. Randy Moss played for teams like the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, and San Francisco 49ers. Many people consider him one of the best football players ever.

He holds two amazing NFL records for touchdown catches. In 2007, he caught 23 touchdowns in one season, which is the most ever. As a rookie in 1998, he caught 17 touchdowns, also a record for new players. Randy Moss is second all-time in career touchdown receptions. He is also fourth all-time in career receiving yards.

Moss was known for his incredible speed and jumping ability. He could often catch difficult passes even when defenders were trying to stop him. When a player makes an amazing catch over a defender, it's sometimes called being "mossed."

He played college football for the Marshall Thundering Herd. He was picked by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 1998 NFL draft. After his playing career, Randy Moss became a sports analyst for ESPN. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018.

Randy Moss's Early Life & Talents

Randy Moss was born in Rand, West Virginia. He went to DuPont High School, where he was a star in many sports. He was great at football, basketball, baseball, and track. He was even on the school's debate team!

High School Football Success

In football, Moss led the DuPont Panthers to state championships in 1992 and 1993. He played wide receiver, but also free safety, and returned kicks and punts. He was even the team's kicker and punter. In 1994, he won the Harrison H. Kennedy Award as West Virginia's best football player. Parade magazine named him one of the 50 greatest high school football players ever.

Basketball and Track Achievements

Moss was also named West Virginia Player of the Year in basketball twice. He played with future NBA player Jason Williams. In his senior year, Moss scored a school record 1,713 career points.

At age 15, Moss joined the track & field team. He won state championships in the 100 and 200 meters. He later ran the 200 meters in 21.15 seconds at Marshall University.

Randy Moss's College Football Journey

Randy Moss dreamed of playing for Notre Dame. He also thought about Ohio State. Coaches like Lou Holtz and Bobby Bowden called him one of the best high school players they had ever seen.

Challenges and New Beginnings

After signing with Notre Dame, Moss was involved in a fight at his high school. He faced some legal trouble and spent a few days in jail. Because of this, Notre Dame did not let him enroll.

He then transferred to Marshall University. Marshall was a Division I-AA school at the time. This allowed him to play right away without losing eligibility.

Record-Breaking Seasons at Marshall

In 1996, his first year at Marshall, Moss set many NCAA Division I-AA records. He had 28 touchdown catches, tying Jerry Rice's record. He also had 1,709 receiving yards as a freshman, which is still a record. The 1996 Marshall team went undefeated and won the Division I-AA title. Moss caught four touchdowns in the championship game.

In 1997, Marshall moved to Division I-A. Moss and quarterback Chad Pennington led the team to the Mid-American Conference title. Moss caught 26 touchdown passes that season, a Division I-A record at the time. He was named a first-team All-American. He scored at least one touchdown in all 28 college games he played. He won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the best receiver.

Randy Moss's Amazing NFL Career

Randy Moss decided to enter the NFL Draft after his sophomore year at Marshall. Scouts were amazed by his speed and jumping ability. He was considered a top pick.

Joining the Minnesota Vikings

In the 1998 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings picked Moss 21st overall. Some teams were worried about his past issues. But Moss famously said that teams who passed on him would "regret it." He signed a 4-year, $4.5 million contract.

Rookie Year Success (1998)

In 1998, Moss helped the Vikings have an amazing offense. They set a scoring record with 556 points. In his first NFL game, he caught two touchdowns. He had many multi-touchdown games that season. On Thanksgiving Day against the Dallas Cowboys, he caught three touchdowns, all over 50 yards. The Vikings finished with a 15–1 record.

Moss was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He led the league with 17 touchdown catches, an NFL rookie record. He also had 1,313 receiving yards. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl and was a first-team All-Pro.

Continued Dominance (1999-2004)

Moss continued to shine in 1999. He caught 80 passes for 1,413 yards and 11 touchdowns. He even returned a punt for a touchdown. He made his second straight Pro Bowl and was named MVP of the game.

In 2000, with new quarterback Daunte Culpepper, Moss had a career-high 1,437 yards and led the league with 15 touchdown catches. He became the youngest and fastest player to reach over 3,000 yards and 45 touchdowns. He earned his third Pro Bowl trip.

The Vikings signed Moss to a big 8-year, $75 million contract extension in 2001. He continued to have over 1,000 receiving yards each season. In 2003, he had his best season with the Vikings, catching 111 passes for 1,632 yards and 17 touchdowns. He was named to his fifth Pro Bowl.

In 2004, Moss dealt with a hamstring injury. He still caught 13 touchdowns in 13 games. In a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, he caught two touchdowns. After the season, he was traded.

Time with the Oakland Raiders

Moss with the Raiders in 2006

In 2005, Moss was traded to the Oakland Raiders. He changed his jersey number to 18. He had 1,005 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his first year with the Raiders. However, the team struggled. In 2006, he had 553 yards and three touchdowns. Moss was not happy with the team's performance and wanted to move to another team.

Record-Breaking Season with the New England Patriots

Moss on the sidelines speaking with Tom Brady

In 2007, Moss was traded to the New England Patriots. He was very excited to join a team that could win the Super Bowl. He also looked forward to working with Coach Bill Belichick.

Unstoppable in 2007

Moss quickly showed he was still one of the best. In Week 1, he caught nine passes for 181 yards and a touchdown. He had many games with over 100 yards and multiple touchdowns.

On December 29, 2007, the Patriots finished their regular season with a perfect 16–0 record. Moss caught two touchdown passes, giving him 23 for the season. This broke Jerry Rice's record for most touchdown receptions in a single season. On the same play, Tom Brady broke the record for most touchdown passes in a season. Moss had 98 catches for 1,493 yards that year. He earned his sixth Pro Bowl selection.

The Patriots reached Super Bowl XLII. Moss scored a go-ahead touchdown late in the game. But the New York Giants made a comeback and won the Super Bowl.

Later Years with Patriots (2008-2010)

In 2008, Moss signed a new three-year contract with the Patriots. Early in the season, Tom Brady got injured. Matt Cassel took over as quarterback. Despite this, Moss still caught 69 passes for 1,008 yards and 11 touchdowns.

In 2009, Moss had another great season. He caught 83 passes for 1,264 yards and 13 touchdowns. He even intercepted a "Hail Mary" pass while playing defense! Coach Belichick called Moss "the smartest receiver he's ever been around."

In 2010, Moss felt he was not wanted by the Patriots and was traded back to the Minnesota Vikings.

Second Stint with Vikings & Titans

Moss's second time with the Vikings was short. He was traded to Minnesota but was waived less than a month later. He then joined the Tennessee Titans. He played eight games with the Titans, but did not score any touchdowns. After the 2010 season, he became a free agent.

Retirement and Comeback

In August 2011, Randy Moss announced his retirement from football. But on his 35th birthday, February 13, 2012, he announced he was ready to play again!

San Francisco 49ers

Randy Moss with the 49ers

On March 12, 2012, Moss signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He caught his 154th touchdown pass, moving him to second all-time in receiving touchdowns. He played in Super Bowl XLVII with the 49ers, but they lost to the Baltimore Ravens. After this season, he retired from playing football.

Randy Moss's NFL Records & Career Highlights

Randy Moss holds many impressive NFL records and achievements:

• Most touchdown receptions in a single season: 23 (in 2007).
• Most touchdown receptions by a rookie in a season: 17 (in 1998).
• He is one of only three players to have at least 1,600 receiving yards and 16 receiving touchdowns in a season.
• He holds the record for most yards receiving in a Pro Bowl game: 212 (in 2000).
• He is the youngest player in NFL history to reach 100 and 120 receiving touchdowns.
• He is the fastest player to reach 5,000 career receiving yards.
• He has the highest career yards per catch average for any player with over 900 receptions.
• He has 64 career games with over 100 receiving yards, which is second all-time.
• He has 156 career touchdown receptions, which is second all-time.
• He has 15,292 receiving yards, which is fourth all-time.
• He was selected to the Pro Bowl six times.
• He was a first-team All-Pro four times.
• He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1998.
• He was part of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team and the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

Randy Moss: Beyond the Field

Randy Moss has done a lot of good work off the football field. He loves helping children and making them smile.

Charity Work

Moss has started and supported many charities. He has given clothes and food to families in need. He has also given free backpacks to school children. He even took kids to amusement parks and NBA games.

In 2005, he hosted a fishing tournament to raise money for the Smile Network. This foundation helps children with mouth problems like cleft palate. The tournament's motto was "fish for a smile."

In 2008, Moss created the Links for Learning foundation. This foundation helps children in his home state of West Virginia. It aims to build learning centers for students who need them most. His foundation also helped a hospital buy a "Fun Center" for young patients. This portable system has a TV, DVD player, and Nintendo Wii games.

Randy Moss Motorsports

In 2008, Randy Moss started his own auto racing team called Randy Moss Motorsports. The team competed in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. The team was later shut down in 2012.

Analyst Career

After his playing career, Moss became a sports analyst. He worked for Fox Sports 1. In 2016, he joined ESPN as an analyst for Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown. He left Monday Night Countdown in 2022.

Personal Life & Health

Randy Moss's parents are Maxine Moss and Randy Pratt. He has a sister, Lutisia, and a brother, Eric, who also played in the NFL. Randy Moss has five children: Sydney, Senali, Thaddeus, and Montigo. He is a Christian.

In late 2024, Randy Moss announced he was taking a break from ESPN to deal with a health issue. He encouraged other men to get checkups. On December 13, Moss shared that he had surgery for bile duct cancer and is now a "cancer survivor."

Images for kids

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  Moss in 2016

• Randy Moss 1998.jpg

  Randy Moss in his rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings, 1998

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  Moss with the Raiders in 2006

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  Moss on the sidelines speaking with Tom Brady

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

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  Randy Moss with the Patriots in 2009

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  Randy Moss with the 49ers