The NFL is famous for thrilling games and exceptional performances by players. Fans have got to witness numerous unbelievable performances in the league throughout its history. However, the way Randy Moss played on Thanksgiving 1998 was something else. In fact, Thanksgiving has been incomplete without remembering his performance since then.
Born in February 1977, Randy was a rookie in 1998 and was playing for the Minnesota Vikings. It wasn’t the NFL star’s dream team though, as he wanted to join the Dallas Cowboys. However, the wide receiver had numerous controversies and cases on him due to which Jerry Jones didn’t pick him. Later on, it turned out to be the Cowboys owner’s biggest mistake as Randy Moss took his revenge.
It’s not Thanksgiving without a Randy Moss 1998 throwback. pic.twitter.com/r8fZJlr9kW
— DraftKings (@DraftKings) November 23, 2023
On Thanksgiving 1998, Randy Moss delivered a performance that’s probably the best individual performance in the league’s history. During that game, Moss got 3 catches and 3 touchdowns for 163 yards. It’s worth noting that all of the West Virginia-born player’s catches resulted in TDs that day and the Vikings won the game by 46-36.
For the first catch, Moss was open downfield as the ball came to him in an exceptional manner. During the second catch, the WR was yet again open on a long pass. For that catch, his speed was something that made fans go awe-struck. After that, he received a short pass for his third catch during that game against the Cowboys.
The stats make it clear that Randy Moss was undoubtedly on fire on that day in 1998. After his fiery performance, the 46-year-old even wished his mom a happy Thanksgiving. However, he had surely ruined the day for Jerry Jones’ team.
Tracing the phenomenal football career of Randy Moss
Randy Moss was a pure masterclass throughout his time in the NFL. However, the 6-foot-4 WR had been fascinated by football since his childhood. He used to play football, basketball, and track and field at DuPont High School. With his exceptional performance, the star player helped his football team win 2 consecutive championships in 1992 and 1993.
In his high school, Moss used to play as a WR, safety, return kicker, and punter. His exceptional performance even helped him win the prestigious Harrison H. Kennedy Award in 1994. Along with football, Randy Moss was a star basketball player as well. His basketball skills even made him the West Virginia Player of the Year twice in 1994 and 1995.
After that, Randy Moss went on to attend Florida State University and then transferred to Marshall University. There, the 210 lb player played for the Marshall Thundering Herd. Notre Dame‘s former HC, Lou Holtz, even referred to the WR as the best high school footballer. However, Moss impressed everyone during his college career as well.
The former New England Patriots star played 2 years for Marshall University. However, those 2 years were enough for him to grab the limelight. During that time, Randy Moss got 174 receptions and 54 TDs for 3,529 receiving yards. He also had 3 attempts and a touchdown for 31 rushing yards.
After his college career, Moss entered the NFL with the Vikings in 1998. He was the team’s 21st pick in the 1st round of the NFL draft that year. The WR made his debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and scored 2 TDs in the Vikings’ 31-7 victory. With his impressive performance, Moss even became the NFL Rookie of the Year.
Throughout his 14-year NFL career, Randy Moss played for 5 teams including the Raiders and the 49ers. He got to the Pro Bowl 6 times and was a 5-time NFL receiving touchdowns leader. During his career in the league, Moss had 982 receptions and 156 TDs for 15,292 receiving yards. He had an amazing receiving average of 15.6.
Randy Moss’ stats make it obvious that the star WR was inspirational during his career. With his phenomenal gameplay, he undoubtedly established himself as one of the best NFL wide receivers.