Warren Moon facts for kids
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Moon in 2021
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| Position: | Quarterback | ||||||||||||||||
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| Born: | November 18, 1956 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight: | 221 lb (100 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
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| High school: | Alexander Hamilton (Los Angeles, California) |
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| College: | West Los Angeles (1974) Washington (1975–1977) |
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| Undrafted: | 1978 | ||||||||||||||||
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Pro Football Hall of Fame
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Canadian Football Hall of Fame
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Harold Warren Moon (born November 18, 1956) is a famous American former football quarterback. He played for 23 seasons, mostly with the Houston Oilers in the National Football League (NFL) and the Edmonton Eskimos in the Canadian Football League (CFL). Moon also played for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs. Many people think he is one of the best players in NFL history who was not chosen in the draft.
Warren Moon started his professional career with the Eskimos in 1978. NFL teams were not interested in him at first. He had great success in the CFL, winning five Grey Cup championships. This led to him signing with the Oilers in 1984. During his 17 NFL seasons, Moon was named Offensive Player of the Year in 1990. He led the league in passing yards and touchdowns that year. He also led the NFL in passing yards twice and was chosen for the Pro Bowl nine times. Moon played 10 seasons with the Oilers, helping them reach the playoffs seven times. He also made the playoffs with the Vikings before he retired in 2000.
When he retired, Moon held many all-time professional football passing records. Even though he didn't win a Super Bowl, his five Grey Cup wins in a row from 1978 to 1982 are still a CFL record. He was named Grey Cup MVP twice. In 2006, he was put into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the first African-American quarterback and the first undrafted quarterback to get this honor. Moon is also the only player in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.
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Warren Moon: Early Life and Dreams
Warren Moon was born in Los Angeles, California. He was the middle child and had six older sisters. His father, Harold, passed away when Warren was seven years old. His mother, Pat, was a nurse. Warren learned to cook, sew, iron, and clean to help his family.
He decided to play only one sport in high school. He needed to work the rest of the year to help his family. Moon chose football as a quarterback. He found he could throw a football better than anyone he knew.
Moon went to Alexander Hamilton High School. He used a friend's address to go to a school with a better reputation. He didn't play much until his junior year. Then, he became the starting quarterback for the varsity team. In his senior year (1973), his team made it to the city playoffs. Moon was named to the all-city team.
College Football Journey
Moon first went to West Los Angeles College, a two-year school. He set records as a freshman quarterback in 1974. But only a few four-year colleges wanted to sign him. Dick Scesniak, an offensive coach at the University of Washington in Seattle, really wanted Moon. Moon insisted on playing quarterback. He felt he wasn't big, fast, or strong enough to play other positions.
Under new coach Don James, Washington's team had an even record in Moon's first two years. But in 1977, his senior year, he led the Huskies to win the Pac-8 title. They also won the Rose Bowl 27–20 against Michigan. Moon was named the game's Most Valuable Player. He scored two short touchdown runs and threw a 28-yard touchdown pass.
Becoming a CFL Star
Even after his college success, Moon thought he would only be a late pick in the NFL draft. He worried this would limit his chances in the NFL.
Six weeks before the NFL draft, Moon signed with the Edmonton Eskimos in Canada. He and Tom Wilkinson shared quarterback duties from 1978 to 1981. During this time, they won four Grey Cup championships in a row.
Moon became Edmonton's main quarterback in the middle of the 1980 season. That year, the team won their third Grey Cup in a row. Moon won his first Grey Cup Offensive MVP award. Edmonton beat Hamilton 48–10.
In 1981, Moon started his first year as Edmonton's top quarterback. Wilkinson was the backup. During the Grey Cup, Moon struggled, and Edmonton was losing 20–0. Wilkinson replaced him. Moon returned in the second half and led the team to three touchdowns. They won with a field goal in the last three seconds. Edmonton beat Ottawa 26–23, winning their fourth Grey Cup in a row. This was a CFL record.
In 1982, Moon became the first professional quarterback to pass for 5,000 yards in a season. Edmonton finished the regular season 11–5. They won the Grey Cup for the fifth year in a row. Moon was named the Grey Cup Offensive MVP for the second time.
In his last CFL season, 1983, Moon threw for a league-record 5,648 yards. He also won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. However, the Eskimos had an 8–8 record and lost in the playoffs.
In his six years in the CFL, Moon completed 1,369 passes for 21,228 yards and 144 touchdowns. He led his team to win nine out of 10 playoff games. Moon was put into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He is also on the Eskimos' Wall of Honour.
NFL Career Highlights
Moon's decision to join the NFL caused a big competition among teams. The Houston Oilers won, led by Hugh Campbell, his coach from Edmonton. Moon had a tough start but threw for a team-record 3,338 yards in his first NFL season (1984). The team started to succeed when coach Jerry Glanville used Moon's strong arm better. In the 1987 season, the Oilers had their first winning record since 1980. In his first NFL playoff game, Moon passed for 237 yards and a touchdown. The Oilers won 23–20 in overtime against the Seattle Seahawks.
Before the 1989 season, Moon signed a big contract. It made him the highest-paid player in the NFL at that time. In 1990, Moon led the league with 4,689 passing yards. He also led in attempts, completions, and touchdowns. He tied a record with nine games where he threw for over 300 yards. He even threw for 527 yards in one game, which was the second-most ever. The next year, he again led the league in passing yards with 4,690. He set new NFL records for pass attempts and completions.
In 1992, Moon played only 11 games because of injuries. But the Oilers still had a 10–6 record. A week later, the Oilers played the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. Houston was leading 35–3 at halftime. But the Bills came back with five touchdowns to lead 38–35. Moon led the Oilers to a last-second field goal to tie the game. However, he threw an interception in overtime, and the Bills won. This game is famous as the Comeback. Moon completed 36 passes for 371 yards and four touchdowns.
The 1993 season was Moon's best with the Oilers, but it was his last. Houston went 12–4 and won their division. But they lost to Joe Montana and the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs. Moon set many team records for the Oilers, including wins, passing touchdowns, and passing yards. Many of these records still stand today.
Minnesota Vikings
Moon was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 1994. He passed for over 4,200 yards in each of his first two seasons there. He signed a new contract in 1996. However, he missed half of the 1996 season because of a broken collarbone. The Vikings gave the starting quarterback job to Brad Johnson. Moon was released after he refused to take a pay cut to be a backup.
Seattle Seahawks
Moon signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 1997. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl and was named Pro Bowl MVP. He played for them for two seasons.
Kansas City Chiefs
Moon signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as a backup in 1999. He played in only three games in two years with the Chiefs. He announced his retirement at age 44 in January 2001. His last touchdown pass was an 8-yard pass against the Rams on October 22, 2000. The Chiefs won that game 54–34.
Legacy
If you combine his NFL and CFL stats, Moon's numbers are amazing. He had 5,357 completions for 70,553 yards and 435 touchdowns. Even just his NFL numbers are great: 3,988 completions for 49,325 yards and 291 touchdown passes. He also ran for 1,736 yards and 22 touchdowns. When he retired, Moon was among the top five all-time for passing yards, touchdowns, attempts, and completions.
Moon was chosen for 9 Pro Bowls. He worked as a broadcaster for the Seattle Seahawks until 2017. He was put into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He was the first player from the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, the first undrafted quarterback, and the first African-American quarterback to be honored. The Tennessee Titans retired his number 1 jersey on October 1, 2006. Moon won his first Super Bowl ring in 2014 as a broadcaster for the Seattle Seahawks.
Life After Football
Warren Moon has helped mentor other African-American quarterbacks, like Cam Newton. In 1989, Moon started the Crescent Moon Foundation. This foundation gives college scholarships to students who need financial help. Moon also supports many other charities. These include the United Negro College Fund, Ronald McDonald House, and the American Heart Association.
Images for kids
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Moon in 2021
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Moon (left) playing with teammate Mike Rozier for the Houston Oilers in 1987.
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Moon in 2007
