Warren Moon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Warren Moon

Moon in 2021
No. 1
Position:	Quarterback
Personal information
Born:	(1956-11-18) November 18, 1956 (age 68) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	221 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:	Alexander Hamilton (Los Angeles, California)
College:	West Los Angeles (1974) Washington (1975–1977)
Undrafted:	1978
Career history
Edmonton Eskimos (1978–1983) Houston Oilers (1984) Minnesota Vikings (1994) Seattle Seahawks (1997) Kansas City Chiefs (1999)
Career highlights and awards
5× Grey Cup champion (1978–1982) 2× Grey Cup MVP (1980, 1982) CFL Most Outstanding Player (1983) NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1990) NFL Man of the Year (1989) Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy (1983) Second-team All-Pro (1990) CFL All-Star (1983) 9× Pro Bowl (1988–1995, 1997) CFL Western All-Star (1983) 2× NFL passing yards leader (1990, 1991) 2× CFL passing yards leader (1982, 1983) NFL passing touchdowns leader (1990) 3× CFL passing touchdowns leader (1979, 1982, 1983) PFWA All-Rookie Team (1984) Titans/Oilers Ring of Honor Tennessee Titans No. 1 retired Edmonton Elks Wall of Honour Bart Starr Award (1994) Pac-8 Co-Player of the Year (1977) Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Career NFL statistics
Passing attempts: 6,823 Passing completions: 3,988 Completion percentage: 58.4% TD–INT: 291–233 Passing yards: 49,325 Passer rating: 80.9 Rushing yards: 1,736 Rushing touchdowns: 22
Career CFL statistics
Passing attempts: 2,382 Passing completions: 1,369 Completion percentage: 57.5% TD–INT: 144–77 Passing yards: 21,228
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame
Canadian Football Hall of Fame

Harold Warren Moon (born November 18, 1956) is a former American football player. He was a quarterback for 23 seasons. He played in both the National Football League (NFL) and the Canadian Football League (CFL). Most of his career was with the NFL's Houston Oilers and the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos. Moon also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs. Many people think he is one of the best undrafted players in NFL history.

Moon played college football for the Washington Huskies. He started his pro career with the Eskimos in 1978. NFL teams were not interested in him at first. He was very successful in his six CFL seasons, winning five Grey Cup championships. This success led the Oilers to sign him 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 led the NFL in passing yards twice and was chosen for nine Pro Bowl games. Moon played 10 seasons with the Oilers, leading them to seven playoff appearances. He made an eighth playoff run with the Vikings before retiring in 2000.

When he retired, Moon held many professional football passing records. He won five Grey Cups in a row from 1978 to 1982, which is still a CFL record. He was also named Grey Cup MVP twice. In 2006, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was the first African-American quarterback and the first undrafted quarterback to receive this honor. Moon is also the only player in both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life and High School Football

Warren Moon was born on November 18, 1956, in Los Angeles. He was the middle child and had six older sisters. His father passed away when Warren was seven years old. His mother, Pat, was a nurse. Warren learned to cook, sew, and do housework to help his family. He decided to play only one sport in high school because he needed to work the rest of the year. Warren chose football as a quarterback. He found he could throw the ball better than anyone he knew.

Moon went to Alexander Hamilton High School. He used a friend's address to attend a school with a better reputation. He did not 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 Career

Moon first attended West Los Angeles College for two years. He set records as a freshman quarterback in 1974. However, only a few four-year colleges showed interest in him. Dick Scesniak, an offensive coordinator at the University of Washington, wanted to sign Moon. Moon was determined to play quarterback. He felt he was an average athlete and not big or fast enough for other positions.

Under new coach Don James, Washington had a record of 11 wins and 11 losses in Moon's first two seasons. But in his senior year (1977), he led the Huskies to win the Pac-8 title. They also won the Rose Bowl game 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.

College Statistics

Professional Football Journey

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 to play in the NFL.

Playing for the Edmonton Eskimos

Six weeks before the NFL draft, Moon signed with the Edmonton Eskimos. He and Tom Wilkinson shared quarterback duties from 1978 to 1981. During this time, they won four Grey Cups 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 the main quarterback. Wilkinson, who would retire after the season, was the backup. During the Grey Cup, Moon struggled, and Edmonton was losing 20–0. Wilkinson replaced him. Moon returned in the second half. He led the team to three touchdowns and a game-winning field goal. Edmonton won 26–23, winning their fourth Grey Cup in a row.

In 1982, Moon became the first pro quarterback to pass for 5,000 yards in a season. He threw for 36 touchdowns, an Edmonton record. The team finished 11–5 and 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 set league records for pass completions (380), attempts (664), and yards (5,648). These records have since been broken. He was named the CFL All-Star quarterback and 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 of 10 playoff games. Moon was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He was also honored on the Eskimos' Wall of Honour.

Time with the Houston Oilers

Moon (left) playing with teammate Mike Rozier for the Houston Oilers in 1987

Moon decided to join the NFL. Many teams wanted him, but the Houston Oilers won. Their coach, Hugh Campbell, had coached Moon in Edmonton. Moon had a tough start, but he threw for a team-record 3,338 yards in his first season (1984). The team started to have success when new coach Jerry Glanville used Moon's strong arm well. In 1987, the Oilers had their first winning season since 1980. Moon passed for 237 yards and a touchdown in his first NFL playoff game. The Oilers won 23–20 in overtime.

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 (584), completions (362), and touchdowns (33). 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 at the time. The next year, he again led the league in passing yards with 4,690. He also set new NFL records with 655 attempts and 404 completions.

In 1992, Moon played only 11 games due to injuries. But the Oilers still had a 10–6 record. They played the Buffalo Bills in the playoffs. Houston led 35–3 in the third quarter. But the Bills made a huge comeback, scoring 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 finished with 36 completions for 371 yards and four touchdowns. His 36 completions were an NFL playoff record.

The 1993 season was Moon's last with the Oilers. Despite a tough start, Houston finished 12–4. They won their division but lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs.

Moon set a team record for wins with Houston (70). He also left the Oilers as the team leader in passing touchdowns, passing yards, pass attempts, and pass completions. These records still stand today.

Playing for the Minnesota Vikings

On April 14, 1994, Moon was traded to the Minnesota Vikings. He signed a two-year deal.

Moon passed for over 4,200 yards in his first two seasons with the Vikings. He signed a new contract in 1996. However, Moon 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 did not agree to a pay cut to be a backup.

Time with the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs

Moon signed with the Seattle Seahawks in 1997. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl and was named Pro Bowl MVP. He played for the Seahawks for two seasons.

Moon then 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 on January 25, 2001. His last touchdown pass was on October 22, 2000.

Warren Moon's Legacy

Moon in 2007

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 touchdowns. He also ran for 1,736 yards and 22 touchdowns. When he retired, Moon was among the top five players all-time for passing yards, touchdowns, attempts, and completions.

Moon was chosen for nine Pro Bowl games. He worked as a broadcaster for the Seattle Seahawks until 2017. In 2006, Moon was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 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 Moon's number 1 jersey on October 1, 2006. He won his first Super Bowl ring in 2014 as a broadcaster for the Seahawks. In 2025, Moon allowed quarterback Cam Ward to wear his retired No. 1 Titans jersey.

Life After Football

Moon has mentored other quarterbacks, including Cam Newton. In 1981, Moon married Felicia Hendricks. They had three children and divorced in 2001. Moon married Mandy Ritter in 2005. They had one child and are now separated.

Moon lives in Redmond, Washington. In 1989, he started the Crescent Moon Foundation. This foundation helps students who need financial support get college scholarships. Moon also supports many other charities.

Career Statistics

CFL Statistics

CFL Playoffs

Grey Cup Games

NFL Statistics

Regular Season

NFL Postseason

Awards and Honors

• 9× Pro Bowl selection (1988–1995, 1997)
• All-Pro selection (1990)
• 5× Grey Cup champion (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982)
• 2001 Honored on Eskimos' Wall of Fame
• 1990 NFL Offensive Player of the Year
• 1989 Man of the Year
• 1997 Pro Bowl MVP
• 1982 Grey Cup MVP
• 1980 Grey Cup MVP
• 1983 CFL Most Outstanding Player
• 1983 Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy
• 1978 Rose Bowl MVP
• 1977 Pac-8 Player of the Year
• Oilers/Titans Career Passing Yards Leader
• Tennessee Titans #1 Retired
• Pro Football Hall of Fame (inducted in 2006)
• Canadian Football Hall of Fame (inducted in 2001)
• University of Washington Ring of Honor (Inaugural Member in 2013)

See also

• List of 500-yard passing games in the National Football League
• List of National Football League career quarterback wins leaders