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Patriots pay tribute to Randy Moss with heartwarming video, stadium entrance amid cancer battle

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•12/28/24•

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Randy Moss
Mark J. Rebilas | Imagn Images

Ahead of their first home game since Randy Moss announced his cancer diagnosis, the Patriots paid tribute. They released a heartwarming video and entered the field led by a flag with his No. 81 on it.

Moss played for the Patriots from 2007-10, winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award in his first season with the franchise. He led the league in touchdown receptions twice with New England, and his 2007 season ended with his final Pro Bowl appearance and First Team All-Pro selection.

Moss announced his cancer battle Dec. 13 after previously missing a week of Sunday NFL Countdown on ESPN. The Patriots played on the road the next two weeks, but made sure to offer a tribute as they returned to Gillette Stadium for Saturday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers.

During an Instagram Live on Dec. 13, Moss confirmed he was battling cancer. He previously confirmed he had a health issue which led him to wear sunglasses during Countdown, and missed the following week’s show.

More on Randy Moss’ cancer bout

Moss said he spent six days in the hospital after undergoing a six-hour surgery. Doctors found cancer in his bile ducts between his pancreas and liver, and he still has to undergo chemotherapy. Still, he said he’s now a “survivor” after getting back from the hospital.

“Y’all know, I’ve told y’all over the last couple of weeks about me battling something internally,” Moss said on the IG Live. “Your boy is a cancer survivor. … I just want to give a shoutout to a lot of people that really helped me pull through this. Been in the hospital for six days. I just got out today. Thank God.”

Moss is one of the all-time great receivers in NFL and college football history. During his time at Marshall, he helped the Thundering Herd to a national title and won the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the country in 1997 as part of his Hall of Fame career.

The Minnesota Vikings selected Moss with the No. 21 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, and he spent 14 years in the league. He was a four-time All-Pro and a six-time Pro Bowler, leading the NFL in touchdown receptions five times, as he ended up in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.