Warren Moon

Warren Moon is recognized as one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in professional football. A professional quarterback for 23 seasons, Moon spent the majority of his career with the Houston Oilers in the NFL and the Edmonton Eskimos in the CFL, and also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, and Kansas City Chiefs. Prior to the NFL Draft, some scouts expressed concern over his fit within traditional offensive systems, and existing prejudices at the time led some evaluators to suggest Moon might need to switch positions. Rather than risk a fall in the draft, he signed with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos, where he delivered one of the most dominant stretches of quarterback play in CFL history.

Over six seasons, Moon led the Eskimos to five Grey Cup championships, earned Grey Cup MVP honors twice, and was named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player. In one season, Moon became the first professional quarterback to pass for 5,000 yards in a single season. His success in Canada made him a highly sought-after player in football, and his decision to enter the NFL resulted in a bidding war for his services, won by the Houston Oilers. During his 17 NFL seasons, Moon was named Offensive Player of the Year after leading the league in passing yards and passing touchdowns. That season, he led the league with 4,689 passing yards, also leading in attempts, completions, and touchdowns, and tied Dan Marino's record with nine 300-yard games in a season. He holds franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns with the Oilers/Titans organization, while leading the Oilers to seven consecutive playoff appearances.

Moon earned nine Pro Bowl invitations—at the time of his retirement, tied for the most by a quarterback with John Elway and Dan Marino—posted nine 3,000-yard seasons, 49 300-yard games, and led his team to nine playoff appearances. At age 41, Moon continued to perform at a high level, leading the NFL in passing yards per game with the Seattle Seahawks, setting franchise records for completions and passing yards, and earning another Pro Bowl selection. Combining his NFL and CFL statistics, Moon's numbers are nearly unmatched in professional football: 5,357 completions in 9,205 attempts for 70,553 yards and 435 touchdowns. Moon is the only player inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.

Moon was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, becoming the first Canadian Football Hall of Fame player, first undrafted quarterback, and first African-American quarterback honored—elected in his first year of eligibility. His legacy as a minority quarterback is significant; at the time of his arrival in the NFL, only two Black quarterbacks had been significant starters for their NFL teams. Moon has spoken openly about the racial barriers he faced throughout his career, noting that his generation was fighting for the right to play as African American quarterbacks, and that he felt a responsibility to perform well enough to open doors for future generations. He is a founding member of the Field Generals, an African-American quarterback club dedicated to mentoring young African-American quarterbacks into future leaders.

Beyond football, Moon has established himself as a businessman, philanthropist, and public speaker. Following his playing career, Moon worked in broadcasting for the Seattle Seahawks and as president of his own sports marketing company. He is the founder of the Crescent Moon Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting educational pursuits for children in need, through which he has provided more than 350 college scholarships. He has also hosted an annual reception during the Pro Bowl benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where he serves on the advisory board. Moon was named NFL Man of the Year for his community work and sits on the Board of Trustees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. As a keynote speaker, Moon draws on his journey—from facing racial prejudice and being passed over in the NFL Draft to becoming one of the greatest quarterbacks in football history—to deliver messages on perseverance, leadership, and the importance of leaving a lasting legacy.