Herman Moore
Encyclopedia
Herman Joseph Moore is a former American
National Football League
wide receiver
. At George Washington High School in Danville
he played mostly as a kicker
and also as a tight end
. He went to the University of Virginia
, where he was a 2-sport athlete. He ranks second all-time in career receptions and holds the school record in the high jump. Moore's college jersey number was 87.
Moore was the Detroit Lions
' first-round draft pick in 1991 and went on to shatter virtually all of Detroit's receiving records. He played in 145 games during 11 seasons (1991–2001) in Detroit. A four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, Moore holds the Lions' career, season, and single-game receiving marks.
He holds Detroit's records for career receptions (670), receiving yards (9,174) and touchdown catches (62). In 1995 he was selected the Lions' MVP on offense after breaking club marks in both catches (also a NFL record of 123) and yards (1,686) while scoring 14 touchdowns. His finest single-game performance came on December 4, 1995 against the Chicago Bears when he had a club record 14 catches for 183 yards, the fifth best total in Detroit history.
He also was the last Lion to catch three TD passes in a game (October 29, 1995 vs. Green Bay
) until Roy Williams
matched the total during the 2005 season. One of Moore's and his teammates' more memorable games came on November 23, 1995 - in a classic Thanksgiving Day game against the Minnesota Vikings
. Moore (127 yards) and fellow receivers Brett Perriman
(153) and Johnnie Morton
(102) all eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark, running back Barry Sanders
rushed for 138 yards, and quarterback Scott Mitchell
passed for 410 yards in a 44-38 Lions' shootout victory.
Moore was a member of Lions’ squads who earned six playoff appearances in the 1990s (1991, 1993–95, 1997 and 1999). He was also a member of two teams that won the NFC Central division (1991 and 1993), and was on the 1991 team that played for the 1992 NFC Championship.
Moore was selected to four Pro Bowl
s (1994 to 1997). He was the second player (after Jerry Rice
) to have three 100-catch seasons. Also in 1995, Moore and teammate Brett Perriman
(108 catches) became the first teammates in NFL history with more than 100 receptions in the same season. In his highly successful 1995 season, Moore caught a career high 123 balls (an NFL record at the time). In 1998, Herman Moore received the inaugural All-Iron Award for his performance in the annual Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit.
Moore also played briefly for the New York Giants
and finished his 12 NFL seasons with 670 receptions for 9,174 yards and 62 touchdowns. Herman Moore holds NFL records for both receptions (61) and receiving yards (965) on Thursday games.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
. At George Washington High School in Danville
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
he played mostly as a kicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
and also as a tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
. He went to the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, where he was a 2-sport athlete. He ranks second all-time in career receptions and holds the school record in the high jump. Moore's college jersey number was 87.
Moore was the Detroit Lions
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit, Michigan. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League , and play their home games at Ford Field in Downtown Detroit.Originally based in Portsmouth, Ohio and...
' first-round draft pick in 1991 and went on to shatter virtually all of Detroit's receiving records. He played in 145 games during 11 seasons (1991–2001) in Detroit. A four-time NFL Pro Bowl selection, Moore holds the Lions' career, season, and single-game receiving marks.
He holds Detroit's records for career receptions (670), receiving yards (9,174) and touchdown catches (62). In 1995 he was selected the Lions' MVP on offense after breaking club marks in both catches (also a NFL record of 123) and yards (1,686) while scoring 14 touchdowns. His finest single-game performance came on December 4, 1995 against the Chicago Bears when he had a club record 14 catches for 183 yards, the fifth best total in Detroit history.
He also was the last Lion to catch three TD passes in a game (October 29, 1995 vs. Green Bay
Green Bay
- Geography :Bodies of water* Green Bay , a bay of Wisconsin known to locals as the Bay of Green Bay* Green Bay, Newfoundland and Labrador, a bay located on the island of NewfoundlandMunicipalities* Green Bay, Wisconsin, United States...
) until Roy Williams
Roy Williams (wide receiver)
Roy Eugene Williams, Jr. is an American football wide receiver who is currently a member of the Chicago Bears. He was drafted by the Detroit Lions seventh overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
matched the total during the 2005 season. One of Moore's and his teammates' more memorable games came on November 23, 1995 - in a classic Thanksgiving Day game against the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
. Moore (127 yards) and fellow receivers Brett Perriman
Brett Perriman
Brett Perriman is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints , the Detroit Lions , the Kansas City Chiefs , and the Miami Dolphins...
(153) and Johnnie Morton
Johnnie Morton
Johnnie James "Big Play" Morton, Jr. is a former NFL wide receiver. Originally drafted by the Lions in the 1st round in the 1994 NFL Draft, he played in Detroit until 2002. He subsequently signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played for three seasons. In 2005, he signed with the San...
(102) all eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark, running back Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
rushed for 138 yards, and quarterback Scott Mitchell
Scott Mitchell
Scott Mitchell may refer to:*Scott Mitchell , former quarterback*Scott Mitchell , footballer*Scott Mitchell , offensive lineman in the CFL...
passed for 410 yards in a 44-38 Lions' shootout victory.
Moore was a member of Lions’ squads who earned six playoff appearances in the 1990s (1991, 1993–95, 1997 and 1999). He was also a member of two teams that won the NFC Central division (1991 and 1993), and was on the 1991 team that played for the 1992 NFC Championship.
Moore was selected to four Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
s (1994 to 1997). He was the second player (after Jerry Rice
Jerry Rice
Jerry Lee Rice is a retired American football wide receiver. He is generally regarded as the greatest wide receiver of all time and one of the greatest players in National Football League history...
) to have three 100-catch seasons. Also in 1995, Moore and teammate Brett Perriman
Brett Perriman
Brett Perriman is a former American football wide receiver in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints , the Detroit Lions , the Kansas City Chiefs , and the Miami Dolphins...
(108 catches) became the first teammates in NFL history with more than 100 receptions in the same season. In his highly successful 1995 season, Moore caught a career high 123 balls (an NFL record at the time). In 1998, Herman Moore received the inaugural All-Iron Award for his performance in the annual Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit.
Moore also played briefly for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and finished his 12 NFL seasons with 670 receptions for 9,174 yards and 62 touchdowns. Herman Moore holds NFL records for both receptions (61) and receiving yards (965) on Thursday games.