Randy Moss talks about Ring of Honor
The Minnesota Vikings will induct former wide receivers Randy Moss and Ahmad Rashad into the team’s Ring of Honor during the 2017 season.
Moss and Rashad will be the Vikings’ first two inductees at U.S. Bank Stadium, the team announced Wednesday.
Vikings owner Mark Wilf alerted both players of the honor.
“Randy and Ahmad are two of the most recognizable and decorated players in Vikings history,” Wilf said in a statement. “They were great players who made their marks on the NFL during their careers and were highly respected by teammates and opponents. They are as proud of their Vikings roots as we are to have them in our football family forever. Both Randy and Ahmad deserve this team honor, and we look forward to inducting them into the Ring of Honor during the 2017 season.”
Moss started his career for the Vikings in 1998 with a record-setting Rookie of the Year performance and went on to rank among the NFL’s greatest wide receivers in his 14-year NFL career. He ranks second in NFL history with 156 receiving touchdowns, third all-time with 15,292 yards and holds the league record for TD catches in a season with 23 while with the New England Patriot in 2007.
Moss holds the Vikings’ career record with 41 100-yard games. He set the NFL rookie record with 17 TDs in 1998 and had 17 again in 2003, to tie the team record for a season twice. In his career, Moss posted 10 seasons of 1,000-plus yards — second in NFL history and also ranks second in league history with 64 career 100-yard games.
Moss went to five Pro Bowls with the Vikings and was All-Pro three times while in Minnesota, was named to the 2000s Team of the Decade and started 108 of his 113 Vikings games along with eight playoff contests. For his career, Moss had 982 receptions for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns with an average per catch of 15.6 yards. He played in 218 career games with 193 starts. He got emotional when asked about the honor, especially when asked about the late Dennis Green:
Rashad enjoyed the best seasons of his 10-year NFL career with the Vikings, playing seven years for the team (1976-82). A four-time Pro Bowler, Rashad represented the Vikings four straight years from 1978-81 and was named Pro Bowl MVP to cap the 1978 season.
Rashad led the team in receiving three times and was the first Vikings wide receiver to notch consecutive 1,000-yard season in 1979 and 1980. His 80 receptions in 1979 was second in the NFL and he led the NFC in receptions twice.
Rashad had six seasons as a Viking with 50-plus catches, tied for second-best in franchise history with Moss and only trailing Cris Carter’s 11. Rashad still holds Vikings’ records for TD receptions in a game with four, set against the San Francisco 49ers on Sept. 2, 1979, also an opening-day record.
Rashad started 95 of his 98 games played as a Viking and he caught 400 passes for 5,489 yards and 34 TDs. He played in 139 career NFL games, beginning his career as the fourth overall pick by St. Louis in 1972. He played for the Cardinals, Buffalo Bills and Vikings from 1972-82.
Moss and Rashad will be the Vikings’ first Ring of Honor inductees since 2013, as the team did not induct a former player during the two seasons at the University of Minnesota and the inaugural season at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Their additions will bring the Vikings Ring of Honor to 23 members. Current members include: Fran Tarkenton, Alan Page, Jim Finks, Bud Grant, Paul Krause, Fred Zamberletti, Jim Marshall, Ron Yary, Korey Stringer, Mick Tingelhoff, Carl Eller, Cris Carter, Bill Brown, Jerry Burns, Randall McDaniel, Chuck Foreman, John Randle, Scott Studwell, Chris Doleman, Matt Blair and Joey Browner.
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