Rare Photos of Randy Moss

SI Staff | Feb 1, 2013

Rare Photos of Randy Moss /

Rare Photos of Randy Moss

Randy Moss

Randy Moss is making a comeback, agreeing to a one-year contract with the 49ers. Here's a look at some rare photos of the dynamic wide receiver. Moss was raised in Rand, W.Va., and played wide receiver, kicker, punter and defensive back for the DuPont Panthers. After leading the team to back-to-back state titles, Moss signed a letter of intent to play at Notre Dame. He never made it to South Bend, however, as he was arrested for participating in a racially charged fight at school and was sentenced to 30 days in jail. His scholarship was pulled and he instead went to Florida State, where he had to sit out his freshman year. Unfortunately, he tested positive for marijuana and coach Bobby Bowden revoked Moss' scholarship, leading Moss to head to Marshall University.

Randy Moss

Moss landed at Marshall after he convinced Bob Pruett, a former Florida State assistant, to take a chance on him. As a freshman, Moss broke a number of records, including most games with a touchdown catch (14), most touchdown passes caught in a season (28 -- tying Jerry Rice's national 1984 record), and most receiving yards gained by a freshman in a season (1,709 on 78 catches).

Randy Moss

Expectations were high for Moss entering his sophomore season and he did not disappoint. Playing with QB Chad Pennington, Moss racked up 2,178 all-purpose yards and 25 touchdowns as The Thundering Herd went 7-1 in the conference and 10-3 overall. After beating Ole Miss in the Motor City Bowl, Moss felt he was ready for the next step and declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft.

Randy Moss

Moss was projected as a Top 5 pick, but was also seen as a risk because of his troubled past. When Minnesota saw him still on the board at No. 21, it pounced. Vikings coach Dennis Green had a solid reputation with young players and believed he could make it work with Moss.

Cris Carter and Randy Moss

After getting drafted by Minnesota, Moss called veteran receiver Cris Carter and flew to Florida to work out with him before training camp. The extra sessions paid off as Moss impressed Green and the Vikings coaching staff, who named him an opening day starter.

Brad Johnson and Randy Moss

Moss' NFL career got off to a great start as he immediately clicked with QB Brad Johnson and recorded four receptions for 95 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings' 31-7 rout over Tampa Bay.

Randy Moss

Despite a bad reputation that caused him to plummet in the draft, Moss was an angel for Viking fans. He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons as he grabbed 43 touchdowns, gained over 4,100 yards and led Minnesota to the 2000 NFC Championship Game.

Minnesota Vikings fans

Though he had success on the field, Moss ran into trouble in September 2002, when he spent a night in jail after being charged with a variety of traffic offenses in downtown Minneapolis. Police also discovered a small amount of marijuana in the ashtray of his Lexus. As this sign indicates, however, some Viking fans didn't mind the transgressions.

Randy Moss

The 2004 season was a difficult one for Moss. He missed three games with a hamstring injury, the first time he was forced out of action in his career. When he did play, he was often used as a decoy and went two games without catching a pass. He posted career lows in receptions (49) and receiving yards (767) as the Vikings finished the season with a 8-8 record.

Randy Moss

In March 2005, Moss was traded to the Oakland Raiders for linebacker Napoleon Harris and the Raiders' first- (7th overall) and seventh-round picks. High expectations in Oakland were quickly dashed as the Raiders went 4-12. In his first season with the Raiders, Moss had 60 receptions for 1,005 yards and eight touchdowns.

Randy Moss

Moss struggled in his second season with Oakland as he caught just 42 passes for 553 yards and three touchdowns. Moss isolated himself from the team and never clicked with new coach Art Shell. It was clear to both parties that a change of scenery was necessary.

Tom Brady and Randy Moss

Moss was traded to New England for a fourth-round draft pick and quickly emerged as Tom Brady's favorite target. He scored seven touchdowns in his first four games on his way to the NFL record for most TD receptions in a season (23).

New England Patriots

Moss led the Patriots to the NFL's first 16-0 season and a Super Bowl berth. He re-established himself as an elite receiver and finished the season with 98 catches, 1,493 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns.

Mike Vrabel, Matt Light, Dan Koppen, Randy Moss, Tom Brady, Logan Mankins, Vince Wilfork and Asante Samuel

Despite Moss' record-breaking season, the Patriots fell short of a perfect season by losing to the Giants in the Super Bowl.

Mark Cassis and Randy Moss

In addition to football, Moss is a NASCAR enthusiast. His dream came true in 2008 with the formation of Randy Moss Motorsports, an auto racing team in the Craftsman Truck Series.

Randy Moss and Kerry Rhodes

Moss continued to shine in New England in 2008 and 2009, catching 152 passes for 2,272 yards and 24 touchdowns, including this catch in traffic against the rival New York Jets.

Randy Moss

Entering the 2010 season, Moss seemed the picture of happiness but he stewed inside over the Patriots decision not to offer him a contract extension. He was traded to the Vikings on Oct. 6 in exchange for a third-round pick, then waived by Minnesota on Nov. 1 after calling out its coaching staff and saying that he missed New England after a 28-18 loss to his former team in which he caught one pass for eight yards. The Tennessee Titans bravely claimed Moss and the final year of his $6.4 million base salary.

Randy Moss

Randy Moss, pictured here running away from an Arizona Cardinals defender, joined the Niners in 2012, primarily as a third wide receiver option behind Michael Crabtree and Mario Manningham. He caught 28 passes for 434 yards in the regular season with three touchdowns.

Randy Moss

Although Moss' tenure with the San Francisco 49ers has been free of any major controversies or flair ups, he did attract some attention at Super Bowl Media Day with his claim that he is "the greatest receiver ever to play this game." That title is usually given to another 49er, Jerry Rice, who said of Moss' statement that "you put my numbers up against Randy's and my body of work compared to his, and there's a big difference."

Published Feb 1, 2013

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