Warren Moon
refer to caption
Moon in 2021
No. 1
Position:Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1956-11-18) November 18, 1956
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
Career highlights and awards
NFL
CFL
Career NFL statistics
TD–INT:291–233
Passing yards:49,325
Completion percentage:58.4
Passer rating:80.9
Rushing touchdowns:22
Career CFL statistics
TD–INT:144–77
Passing yards:21,228
Completion percentage:57.5
Passer rating:93.8
Rushing touchdowns:14
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR · CFL.ca (archive)

Harold Warren Moon (born November 18, 1956) is an American former football quarterback who played professionally for 23 seasons. He spent the majority of his career with the Houston Oilers of the National Football League (NFL) and the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL). Moon also played for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs. He is considered one of the greatest undrafted players in NFL history.[1][2]

Moon began his professional career with the Eskimos in 1978 after not generating interest from NFL teams. His success during his six CFL seasons, five of which ended in Grey Cup victories, resulted in him being signed by the Oilers in 1984.[3] During his 17 NFL seasons, Moon was named Offensive Player of the Year in 1990 after leading the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns. He led the NFL in passing yards twice, while also receiving nine Pro Bowl selections. Moon spent 10 seasons with the Oilers, whom he led to seven playoff appearances, and made an eighth postseason run with the Vikings before retiring in 2000.

At the time of his retirement, Moon held several all-time professional gridiron football passing records. Although relatively unsuccessful in the NFL postseason, his five consecutive Grey Cups from 1978 to 1982 remain a CFL record and he was named Grey Cup MVP twice. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, becoming the first African American quarterback and the first undrafted quarterback to receive the honor. Moon is also the only player inducted to both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Early years

Born in Los Angeles, California, Moon was the middle child amongst six sisters. His father, Harold, was a laborer and died of liver disease when Moon was seven years old. His mother, Pat, was a nurse, and Warren learned to cook, sew, iron and housekeep to help take care of the family. He decided early on that he could play only one sport in high school because he had to work the rest of the year to help the family. Moon chose to play football as a quarterback since he found that he could throw a football longer, harder, and straighter than anyone he knew.[4][5][6][7][8]

Moon enrolled at Alexander Hamilton High School, using the address of one of his mother's friends to gain the advantages of a better academic and athletic reputation than his neighborhood high school could offer. Moon had little playing time until his junior year, when he took over as varsity starting quarterback. In Moon's senior season in 1973, the football team reached the city playoffs and Moon was named to the all-city team.[4]

College career

Moon attended two-year West Los Angeles College and was a record-setting quarterback as a freshman in 1974, but only a handful of four-year colleges showed interest in signing him. However, Offensive coordinator Dick Scesniak of the University of Washington in Seattle, was eager to sign the rifle-armed Moon. Adamant to play quarterback, Moon considered himself to be perhaps a slightly above-average athlete who lacked either the size, speed, or strength to play other positions.[9]

Under new head coach Don James, Washington was 11–11 in Moon's first two seasons as a starter, but as a senior in 1977, he led the Huskies to the Pac-8 title and a 27–20 upset win in the Rose Bowl over Michigan.[10][11] Moon was named the game's Most Valuable Player on the strength of two short touchdown runs and a third-quarter 28-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Robert "Spider" Gaines.[12]

College statistics

Season Team Passing
CmpAttPctYdsTDInt
1974West Los Angeles N/AN/AN/AN/AN/AN/A
1975Washington 4812239.358722
1976Washington 8117541.71,10668
1977Washington 12522356.31,772129
Total25452049.83,4652019

Professional career

Despite his collegiate success, Moon was led to believe he would only be a late-round NFL pick and was fearful that would lead to a limited opportunity to make it in the NFL.

Edmonton Eskimos

Six weeks before the NFL draft, Moon signed with the Edmonton Eskimos. He and Tom Wilkinson shared signal-calling duties from 1978 to 1981, winning four consecutive Grey Cups during this span.[13]

Moon became Edmonton's No. 1 quarterback midway through the 1980 season. That year, the team won their third consecutive Grey Cup, and Moon won his first Grey Cup Offensive MVP award as Edmonton defeated Hamilton 48-10.

In 1981, Moon started his first year as Edmonton's No. 1 quarterback with Wilkinson, who would retire after the season, as the team's No. 2 quarterback. Moon was moved to the reserve list for Edmonton's game against Ottawa on October 12. During the Grey Cup, Moon was struggling and Edmonton was trailing Ottawa 20-0 in the second quarter. At this time, Moon was replaced by Wilkinson. Moon returned in the second half and directed drives for three touchdowns and the game winning field goal with three seconds remaining in the game. Edmonton defeated Ottawa 26-23 to win a CFL record fourth consecutive Grey Cup.

In 1982, Moon became the first professional quarterback to pass for 5,000 yards in a season by reaching exactly 5,000 yards. Edmonton would recover from a 3-5 start to finish the regular season 11-5, and first place in the West Division for the sixth consecutive season. The team qualified for the Grey Cup for the sixth consecutive season, and won the Grey Cup for the fifth consecutive year. Moon was named the Grey Cup Offensive MVP for the second time in his career.

In his final CFL season, 1983, Moon threw for a league-record 5,648 yards and won the CFL's Most Outstanding Player Award. However, the season was not as successful for the Eskimos as they finished with an 8–8 record. Having barely made the playoffs (which they would have missed altogether if not for a loss by the Calgary Stampeders to the last place Saskatchewan Roughriders in the last week of the regular season), Moon's Eskimos were throttled in Winnipeg by the Blue Bombers in the West semi-final.

In his six years in the CFL, Moon amassed 1,369 completions on 2,382 attempts (57.4 completion percentage) for 21,228 yards and 144 touchdown passes. He also led his team to victory in nine of 10 postseason games. Moon was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Eskimos' Wall of Honour. In 2006, he was ranked fifth on a list of the greatest 50 CFL players presented by Canadian sports network TSN.

Houston Oilers

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

Moon's decision to enter the NFL touched off a bidding war for his services, won by the Houston Oilers, led by Hugh Campbell, his head coach for his first five seasons in Edmonton.[3] Gifford Nielsen—the starting quarterback in 1983—retired after Moon joined the team, stating that Moon becoming the starter was inevitable.[14] Moon had a difficult adjustment period, but threw for a franchise-record 3,338 yards in his first season in 1984, but Campbell was just 8–22 (.267) at the helm and did not finish the 1985 season.[15] When new head coach Jerry Glanville found ways to best use Moon's strong arm in 1986, the team began having success. In the strike-marred 1987 season, the Oilers posted a 9–6 record, their first winning season since 1980. In his first postseason game in the NFL, Moon passed for 237 yards and a touchdown in the Oilers' 23–20 overtime win over the Seattle Seahawks in the wildcard round of the playoffs.

Prior to the 1989 season, Moon signed a five-year, $10-million contract extension, which made him the highest-paid player in the NFL at that time.[16] In 1990, Moon led the league with 4,689 passing yards. He also led the league in attempts (584), completions (362), and touchdowns (33), and tied Dan Marino's record with nine 300-yard games in a season. That included throwing for 527 yards against Kansas City on December 16, 1990, the second-most passing yards ever in a single game.[17] The following year, he again led the league in passing yards, with 4,690. At the same time, he joined Marino and Dan Fouts as the only quarterbacks to post back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons. Moon also established new NFL records that season with 655 attempts and 404 completions.

In 1992, Moon played only 11 games due to injuries, but the Oilers still managed to achieve a 10–6 record, including a victory over the Buffalo Bills, in the final game of the season. Two weeks later, the Oilers faced the Bills again in the first round of the AFC playoffs. Aided by Moon's 222 passing yards and four touchdowns in the first half, Houston built up a 28–3 halftime lead and increased it to 35–3 when Buffalo quarterback Frank Reich's first pass of the third quarter was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. The Bills stormed back with five unanswered second-half touchdowns to take a 38–35 lead with time running out in the final period. Moon managed to lead the Oilers on a last-second field goal drive to tie the game at 38 and force overtime, but threw an interception in the extra period that set up Buffalo kicker Steve Christie's game-winning field goal. The Bills' rally from a 32-point deficit[18] at that time was the largest comeback victory in NFL history and became known in NFL lore simply as the Comeback. Moon finished the game with 36 completions for 371 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions. His 36 completions was an NFL postseason record.

The 1993 season was the Oilers' best with Moon, but was his last with the team. Despite a drama-filled 1–4 start and early struggles from Moon, Houston went 12–4 and won the AFC Central division crown, but lost to Joe Montana and the Kansas City Chiefs 28–20 in the divisional round of the playoffs.[19]

Moon set a franchise record with Houston for wins with 70, which stood until Steve McNair broke it in 2004, long after the team had become the Tennessee Titans. Moon also left the Oilers as the franchise leader in passing touchdowns, passing yards, pass attempts, and pass completions, all of which still stand today.

Minnesota Vikings

Moon was traded to the Minnesota Vikings after the season, where he passed for over 4,200 yards in each of his first two seasons, but missed half of the 1996 season with a broken collarbone. The Vikings' starting quarterback job was given to Brad Johnson and Moon was released after he refused to take a $3.8-million pay cut to serve as Johnson's backup.[20]

Seattle Seahawks

Moon signed with the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in 1997, made the Pro Bowl, and was named Pro Bowl MVP. He played for them for two seasons.

Kansas City Chiefs

Moon signed as a free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs as a backup in 1999.[21] He played in only three games in two years with the Chiefs and announced his retirement at age 44 in January 2001. His 291st and final touchdown pass was an 8-yard pass to Troy Drayton against the Rams on October 22, 2000, a game in which the Chiefs defeated the defending champs, 54–34.[22]

Legacy

Combining his NFL and CFL stats, Moon's numbers are nearly unmatched in professional football annals: 5,357 completions in 9,205 attempts for 70,553 yards and 435 touchdowns. Even if his Canadian Football League statistics are discounted, Moon's NFL career numbers are still exceptional: 3,988 completions for 49,325 yards, 291 touchdown passes, 1,736 yards rushing, and 22 rushing touchdowns.[23] Moon also held individual NFL lifetime records for most fumbles recovered (56) and most fumbles made (162), but this was surpassed by Brett Favre in 2010.[24] Moon was in the top five all-time when he retired for passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass attempts, and pass completions.[25]

Moon was named to nine Pro Bowls (1988–1995, 1997). He worked as a broadcaster for the Seattle Seahawks on both TV and radio until 2017. Moon was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006, becoming both the first Canadian Football Hall of Fame player, first undrafted quarterback, and first African-American quarterback honored; he was elected in his first year of eligibility. The Tennessee Titans retired Moon's number at halftime on October 1, 2006, in a game against the Dallas Cowboys.[26] Moon won his first Super Bowl ring in 2014 as a broadcaster for the Seahawks.[27][28]

Post-NFL career

Moon in 2007

Moon has mentored Cam Newton, the first overall pick of the 2011 NFL Draft, alluding to their common experiences as prominent African-American quarterbacks.[29][30][31] He was suspended indefinitely from his sportscaster position after he was sued in December 2017 for sexual harassment.[32]

Career statistics

CFL statistics

Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GPGSCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
1978Edmonton Eskimos 15—8917351.41,1126.45764.5301143.81
1979Edmonton Eskimos 16—14927454.42,3828.7201289.7561562.72
1980Edmonton Eskimos 16—18133154.73,1279.4251198.3553526.41
1981Edmonton Eskimos 15—23737862.73,95910.52712108.6502986.03
1982Edmonton Eskimos 161633356259.25,0008.9361698.0542594.84
1983Edmonton Eskimos 161638066457.25,6488.5311988.9955276.23
CFL Career94321,3692,38257.521,2288.91447793.83401,7065.014

NFL statistics

Legend
AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
1984HOU 16163–1325945057.63,3387.4121476.9582113.61
1985HOU 14144–1020037753.12,7097.2151968.5391303.30
1986HOU 15155–1025648852.53,4897.1132662.3421573.72
1987HOU 12127–518436850.02,8067.6211874.2341123.33
1988HOU 11117–416029454.42,3277.917888.433883.65
1989HOU 16169–728046460.33,6317.8231488.9702683.84
1990HOU 15158–736258462.04,6898.0331396.8552153.92
1991HOU 161611–540465561.74,6907.2232181.733682.12
1992HOU 11106–422434664.72,5217.3181289.3271475.41
1993HOU 151410–430352058.33,4856.7212175.2481453.01
1994MIN 15159–637160161.74,2647.1181979.927552.00
1995MIN 16168–837760662.24,2287.0331491.533822.50
1996MIN 884–413424754.31,6106.57968.7960.70
1997SEA 15147–731352859.33,6787.0251683.717402.41
1998SEA 10104–614525856.21,6326.311876.616100.60
1999KC 10—1333.3206.70057.6000.00
2000KC 210–1153444.12086.11161.9122.00
NFL Career208203102−1013,9886,82358.449,3257.229123380.95431,7363.222

Postseason

Year Team Games Passing Rushing
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
1987HOU 221–1457560.05377.22374.19131.40
1988HOU 221–1335955.94537.71458.111272.50
1989HOU 110–1294860.43156.62093.73124.00
1990HOU 00—DNP
1991HOU 221–1557672.45967.852106.05244.80
1992HOU 110–1365072.03717.442103.0273.50
1993HOU 110–1324374.43067.11191.83227.30
1994MIN 110–1295255.82925.62268.7294.50
NFL Career10103–725940364.32,8707.1171484.9351143.30

Franchise records

Moon remains statistically one of the best players ever for the Oilers/Titans franchise. As of 2019's NFL off-season, Moon still held at least 37 Titans franchise records, including:

  • Most Completions (career): 2,632[33]
  • Most Completions (season): 404 (1991)
  • Most Completions (game): 41 (1991-11-10 DAL)
  • Most Completions (playoff career): 230
  • Most Completions (playoff game): 36 (1993-01-03 @BUF)
  • Most Completions (rookie season): 259 (1984)[34]
  • Most Pass Attempts (career): 4,546[33]
  • Most Pass Attempts (season): 655 (1991)
  • Most Pass Attempts (playoff career): 351
  • Most Pass Attempts (playoff game): 50 (1993-01-03 @BUF)
  • Most Pass Attempts (rookie season): 450 (1984)[34]
  • Most Passing Yards (career): 33,685[33]
  • Most Passing Yards (season): 4,690 (1991)
  • Most Passing Yards (game): 527 (1990-12-16 @KAN)
  • Most Passing Yards (playoff career): 2,578
  • Most Passing Yards (playoff game): 371 (1993-01-03 @BUF)
  • Most Passing Yards (rookie season): 3,338 (1984)[34]
  • Most Passing TDs (career): 196[33]
  • Most Passing TDs (playoff career): 15
  • Most Passing TDs (playoff season): 5 (1991)
  • Most Passing TDs (playoff game): 4 (1993-01-03 @BUF)
  • Most Pass Yds/Game (career): 238.9[33]
  • Most Pass Yds/Game (season): 312.6 (1990)
  • Most Pass Yds/Game (playoff career): 286.4
  • Most Pass Yds/Game (playoff season): 371 (1992)
  • Most 300+ yard passing games (career): 42
  • Most 300+ yard passing games (season): 9 (1990)
  • Most 300+ yard passing games (playoffs): 4
  • Most 300+ yard passing games (rookie season): 4
  • Most 4,000+ passing yard seasons: 2
  • Most Intercepted (playoff career): 12
  • Most Sacked (career): 315
  • Most Sacked (season): 47 (1984)
  • Most Sacked (game): 12 (1985-09-29 DAL)
  • Most Sacked (playoff career): 22
  • Most Sacked (playoff game): 9 (1994-01-16 KAN)
  • Most Sacked (rookie season): 47 (1984)

Awards

Personal life

In 1981, Moon married Felicia Hendricks, whom he had known since they were 16 years old. They had three children together and divorced in 2001.[36]

Moon married his second wife Mandy Ritter in 2005. They had one child and are currently separated.[37]

Moon currently lives in Redmond, Washington.[38] In 1989, he launched the Crescent Moon Foundation, which provides college scholarships for economically disadvantaged students. Moon also supports various charitable organizations including the United Negro College Fund, Ronald McDonald House, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, American Heart Association, and Cerebral Palsy Foundation.[39]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Curtis, Jake (April 26, 2022). "Top 10 Undrafted NFL Players the Past 25 Years, and Top 10 Undrafted Players from Cal". Sports Illustrated Cal Bears News, Analysis and More. Archived from the original on May 21, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  2. ↑ May, Jeffrey (April 28, 2022). "Who were the best undrafted players in NFL history?". Diario AS. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Moon and Oilers agree to terms". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). February 5, 1984. p. D4.
  4. 1 2 "Warren Moon". Contemporary Black Biography. The Gale Group, Inc. 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  5. ↑ Plaschke, Bill (July 30, 2006). "Moon Made His Position Clear From Start". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  6. ↑ Bishop, Greg (July 30, 2006). "The man that is Moon". The Seattle Times. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  7. ↑ George, Thomas (October 21, 1990). "Moon: He Wears No. 1, And He's Playing Like It". The New York Times. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  8. ↑ "Warren Moon's enshrinement speech transcript". Pro Football Hall of Fame. August 5, 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2009.
  9. ↑ "How Warren Moon Improved His Athleticism In High School". Retrieved January 19, 2007.
  10. ↑ Missildine, Harry (January 3, 1978). "Jackson rescues Washington". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). p. 19.
  11. ↑ "Huskies go from rags to roses". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. January 3, 1978. p. 1C.
  12. ↑ Dodds, Tracy (January 3, 1978). "Bo's rare gamble backfires in Rose Bowl". Milwaukee Journal. p. 8, part 2.
  13. ↑ "CFL Legends >> Warren Moon". Retrieved January 22, 2007.
  14. ↑ Blackburn, Jess (May 15, 1984). "Quarterback Gifford Nielsen, a six-year veteran with the Houston..." UPI. UPI. Retrieved September 17, 2018.
  15. ↑ "Oilers fire Campbell as". Spokane Chronicle. (Washington). Associated Press. December 9, 1985. p. C1.
  16. ↑ "Moon Says New Pact Is Richest in N.F.L." New York Times. April 8, 1989. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
  17. ↑ "Individual Records: Passing". NFL Records. Archived from the original on May 13, 2008.
  18. ↑ "Bills and Eagles Turn Mountains Into Molehill; Buffalo Erases 32-Point Deficit". New York Times. January 4, 1993. Retrieved July 12, 2016.
  19. ↑ "Houston '93". A Football Life. Season 3. Episode 15. December 10, 2013. NFL Network.
  20. ↑ "Vikings Release Moon". The New York Times. February 22, 1997. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
  21. ↑ "Moon Joins Chiefs". The New York Times. April 27, 1999. Retrieved January 19, 2007.
  22. ↑ "St. Louis Rams at Kansas City Chiefs - October 22nd, 2000". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  23. ↑ "NFL Passing Yards Single-Season Leaders". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  24. ↑ "History". Nfl.com. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  25. ↑ "NFL Leaders, Football Records, NFL Leaderboards". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  26. ↑ "Retired Jersey Numbers". Tennessee Titans Official Website. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  27. ↑ "Warren Moon". www.facebook.com. Archived from the original on February 26, 2022.
  28. ↑ "Warren Moon on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  29. ↑ Sports, Nate Davis, USA TODAY. "Is criticism of Cam Newton racially motivated? Warren Moon thinks so". USA TODAY.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  30. ↑ "From The Mag: How Newton's joy made (great) football fun". ESPN.com. January 13, 2016.
  31. ↑ ET, 2016 at 11:00a (February 1, 2016). "Is race really a factor in how Cam Newton is perceived?". FOX Sports.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  32. ↑ "Seahawks broadcaster and former Husky star Warren Moon sued for alleged sexual harassment". Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  33. 1 2 3 4 5 "Titans Career Passing Leaders". pro-football-reference.com.
  34. 1 2 3 "Oilers/Titans Rookie Passing Records". pro-football-reference.com. Retrieved December 4, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Husky Legends Come Alive in New Stadium". University of Washington. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
  36. ↑ Hanson, Eric; Chronicle, Copyright 2001 Houston (February 14, 2001). "Moons file for divorce". Houston Chronicle.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  37. ↑ "Warren Moon IMDB Mini-Biography". IMDb.
  38. ↑ "Warren Moon welcomes NFL as distraction: 'Sports have always been there for us'". www.andscape.com. April 1, 2020. Retrieved February 15, 2023.
  39. ↑ "Warren Moon". www.blackhoustonhalloffame.weebly.com. Retrieved March 25, 2023.
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