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Randy Moss Reduced to Tears Upon Emotional Return to NFL Countdown
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- Randy Moss Reduced to Tears Upon Emotional Return to NFL Countdown
Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images
For the 48th straight NFL season (1977), the Minnesota Vikings are not playing in the Super Bowl this weekend. But hey, 2025 is a new year. Maybe you've never heard the popular saying, but it's very well known that the 49th time is always the charm.
One of the more recent opportunities Vikings Super Bowl opportunities came in 1998 (technically 1999), after they won more games (15) than any other team in franchise history . It's also the last time Minnesota earned a No. 1 playoff seed in the NFC.
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Randy Moss means more to Minnesota Vikings fans
Of course, the most vivid memories of that season were created by a phenom rookie wide receiver out of Marshall University, named Randy Moss. In 1998 , Moss burst onto the NFL scene with 1,313 yards and 17 touchdowns on 69 regular season receptions. Even two and a half decades later, Moss highlights still hit different.
5 catches
190 yards
2 touchdowns
In 1998 and his first career #MNF game, @RandyMoss introduced himself to both the Packers and the world 😳 pic.twitter.com/aNgO9hmNG0— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) September 4, 2018
Of course, we all know how that season ended, with a devastating NFC Championship Game vs the Atlanta Falcons . But for most Minnesota Vikings fans, the '98 season will always be remembered as the most fun we have ever had watching our favorite football team. And without Moss, none of those memories would exist.
During his seven plus seasons in purple, Randy Moss left an imprint on this sports fan base that most superstar athletes who have rolled through town can only dream of. Why? How? Because he did things that we had never seen before and he did them with a No. 84 Vikings jersey on.
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Related: Justin Jefferson Breaks Another Randy Moss Receiving Record
So back in December, when reports were confirmed that Moss had been diagnosed with cancer , the news hit Minnesota Vikings fans especially hard. We're trained from a young age that cancer can hit anyone. But to most of us, Randy Moss isn't just a superstar football player. He's a superhero.
Moss has emotional return to ESPN NFL Countdown
Thankfully, our superhero wide receiver announced a few weeks ago that he is cancer free. Then, after not appearing since week 17, Randy Moss returned to the desk of NFL Countdown on ESPN. The show opened with a video montage of appreciation and love for Moss that included many well-known local names including Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen . When the camera turned back to Moss, he was in tears.
"It is so great to have you back." – Tom Brady
Bill Belichick, Kevin Garnett and Justin Jefferson, among others, join Brady in welcoming back Randy Moss pic.twitter.com/ZwUhvgsOTT— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) February 9, 2025
It's always good to see the GOAT feeling healthy and back at work, doing what he loves. Randy Moss turns 48 years old this week so he still has plenty of life left to live. Here's to seeing the greatest wide receiver of all time on our TV for many, many years to come.
