Warren Moon

Warren Moon is a former American professional football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). Born on November 18, 1956, in Los Angeles, California, Moon became one of the most accomplished quarterbacks in professional football history and a trailblazer for African American quarterbacks.

Moon attended the University of Washington, where he led the Huskies to a Rose Bowl victory in 1978. Despite his collegiate success, he was overlooked in the 1978 NFL Draft, largely due to racial prejudices that existed in professional football at the time regarding African American quarterbacks.

Undeterred, Moon signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League in 1978. During his six seasons in Edmonton, he became the most dominant quarterback in CFL history, leading the Eskimos to five consecutive Grey Cup championships from 1978 to 1982. His CFL success included multiple Most Outstanding Player awards and record-setting performances.

Moon finally got his NFL opportunity in 1984 when he signed with the Houston Oilers. He quickly established himself as one of the league's premier quarterbacks, leading the Oilers to seven playoff appearances during his 10 seasons with the team. His strong arm and leadership helped transform Houston into a perennial contender.

Throughout his NFL career, which included stops with Minnesota, Seattle, and Kansas City, Moon accumulated impressive statistics. He became the first quarterback to pass for over 70,000 yards in professional football when combining his NFL and CFL totals. His 49,325 NFL passing yards ranked him among the all-time leaders at retirement.

Moon was inducted into both the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Canadian Football Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest quarterbacks in professional football history and a pioneer who opened doors for future generations.