Even 13 years after his NFL career ended, legendary wideout Randy Moss is still raking in accolades. The latest achievement proves his impact beyond football, as he was announced as the inaugural recipient of the Stuart Scott Impact Award on Tuesday.
NFL Icon Randy Moss Becomes First-Ever Stuart Scott Impact Award Winner
ESPN anchor Michael Eaves posted the update on X, with the caption:
“This year at the annual Boo-Yah Gala in NYC, we will be presenting the first ever Stuart Scott Impact Award, and the inaugural recipient is Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss.”
“Randy embodies Stuart’s spirit and his unwavering commitment to advancing health equity in cancer research,” the V Foundation wrote. “A Pro Football Hall of Famer, six-time Pro-Bowler, and first ballot inductee, Randy redefined the wide receiver position. He was named 1998 NFL Rookie of the Year, selected to the NFL’s All-Time Team and 2000’s All-Decade Team, and recognized as one of the 50 Greatest Vikings.”
The commendation continued by summarizing Moss’s life from university to his current endeavors:
“At Marshall University, he was a two-time All American, Fred Biletnikoff Award winner, and Heisman finalist. Today, Randy is an ESPN NFL Analyst and cancer thriver and whose passion, purpose and advocacy reflect the very essence of Stuart’s legacy.”
The Stuart Scott Impact Award is founded on the legacy of the late ESPN anchor Stuart Scott and is presented to individuals who have leveraged the power of sports for the greater good.
Moss stands as a prominent inaugural awardee, having established himself as one of the greatest wide receivers in NFL history, as the achievements in his commendation indicate.
Drafted in the first round in 1998, the Marshall alum carved out a Hall of Fame career across the span of 14 seasons, most notably with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots.
His run in New England spanned only four seasons. Still, it marked one of the most iconic quarterback-wideout duos in NFL history, as Moss teamed up with the legendary Tom Brady. Together, they drove the Patriots to a spectacular 16-0 campaign in 2007, which ended with their devastating Super Bowl loss against Eli Manning and the New York Giants.
Oddly enough, Moss actually turned into something of a journeyman following his first seven years in the league with the Vikings. He subsequently played two seasons with the Oakland Raiders and split the 2010 season between the Vikings and the Tennessee Titans.
After leaving Tennessee, he announced his retirement right before the 2011 campaign. However, he came out of retirement shortly after that season to make one last run at an elusive Super Bowl ring.
Returning with the San Francisco 49ers for 2012, he played a complementary role behind Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham. Ultimately, his final conquest for a ring also fell short, as San Francisco lost Super Bowl XLVII to the Baltimore Ravens.