In December 2024, Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss stunned fans when he revealed that he had been diagnosed with bile duct cancer and would be stepping away from his role on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown. Now, after months of treatment and a powerful show of resilience, Moss is set to return to the ESPN set on a full-time basis just in time for the 2025 NFL season.
Late last year, the former Minnesota Vikings star took to social media to share that he was “battling something internally.” On December 13, Moss went public with the news that he had cancer in the bile duct, located between the pancreas and the liver. “They found it in the bile duct right between the pancreas and the liver, and the cancer was sitting right outside the bile duct,” he said.
His treatment included chemotherapy and radiation, as well as surgery. On Thanksgiving, he underwent a procedure to insert a stent in his liver. Later, he endured a six-hour operation to remove the cancerous mass. Despite the physical toll, Moss remained grounded in faith, frequently expressing gratitude for the prayers and support from family, fans, and the broader faith community.
His first on-air appearance following the diagnosis came during the NFL Honors broadcast on February 7, when he virtually presented the Comeback Player of the Year Award. Moss used the moment to thank his “doctors, my beautiful wife, my children, my family, my teammates and all the prayer warriors out there,” adding, “We are ‘Mossing’ cancer.”
Just two days later, Moss made an emotional return to Sunday NFL Countdown during ESPN’s Super Bowl LIX coverage inside the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. A heartfelt welcome-back video featuring tributes from Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Justin Jefferson, Kevin Garnett, and others brought Moss to tears.
“It’s been hard, but I got a lot of love and a lot of people believe in me, man. So I’m happy to be here,” Moss said on-air on February 9.
Now, ESPN has confirmed that Moss will resume his Sunday NFL Countdown duties full-time starting in Week 1 of the 2025 NFL season, marking his 10th year with the network.
“Randy’s return on Super Bowl Sunday was an emotional lift — not just for our team but for the entire football community,” ESPN said in a statement to The Athletic. “And knowing he will resume his full Sunday NFL Countdown schedule, beginning in Week 1, has been the highlight of the offseason.”
Moss’ journey has been marked by strength, humility, and a deep reliance on faith. As he returns to the studio this fall, he carries with him not only his unmatched football insight but also a powerful testimony of healing, hope, and the sustaining power of community and prayer.