WARREN MOON

WARREN MOON

Class of 2006
Quarterback >>> 6-3, 212
(West Los Angeles Junior College, Washington)
1984-1993 Houston Oilers, 1994-1996 Minnesota Vikings, 1997-1998 Seattle Seahawks, 1999-2000 Kansas City Chiefs

Harold Warren Moon . . .Began pro career with CFL’s Edmonton Eskimos, winning five straight Grey Cups. . . Signed with NFL’s Houston Oilers, 1984... Completed 3,988 of 6,823 passes for 49,325 yards, 291 touchdowns, 233 interceptions in 17-season NFL career. . .Nine 3,000-yard passing seasons was third in league history. . .Named to nine Pro Bowls. . .Had four 4,000-yard passing seasons. All-Pro, 1990…First or second team All-AFC 1988, 1989, 1990…Born November 18, 1956 in Los Angeles, California.

Player BioPlayer StatsCareer HighlightsCareer Capsule

Prior to the 1978 NFL Draft, some NFL scouts suggested that since University of Washington quarterback Warren Moon had played in a rollout rather than a drop-back passing offense, he would be a mid-round pick. Others speculated that since only one African American quarterback, James Harris, had achieved any measurable success in the NFL, Moon would have to play some other position. Regardless of which misguided reason motivated NFL scouts, Moon remained confident of his abilities and opted to sign with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He went on to lead the Eskimos to an unprecedented five consecutive Grey Cup victories.

Eventually, Moon returned to the United States to play for the Houston Oilers in 1984. He racked up nearly 50,000 passing yards in 17 NFL seasons. Moon set a new club record with 3,338 yards passing in his first year with the Houston, a mark he would break four more times. In 1986, when the Oilers installed the run-and-shoot offense, Moon's quarterback skills finally became apparent to all. The wide-open offense showcased Moon's strong arm, running skills, and big-play ability.

In 1990, Moon led the league with 4,689 passing yards. He also led the league in attempts (584), completions (362), and touchdowns (33), and tied Dan Marino's record with nine 300-yard games in a season. The following year, he again led the league in passing yards 4,690. At the same time, he joined Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Marino and Dan Fouts as the only quarterbacks to post back-to-back 4,000-yard seasons. Moon also established new NFL records that season with 655 attempts and 404 completions.

Moon was traded to the Minnesota Vikings before the 1994 season. In his debut season he passed for 4,264 yards and led the team to the playoffs. In his second season in Minnesota, he again passed for more than 4,200 yards. Moon moved on to the Seattle Seahawks as a free agent in 1997 where the veteran star set franchise records for completions (313) and yards passing (3,678) and earned his ninth Pro Bowl selection. Injuries limited his play in 1998. In 1999, Moon joined the Kansas City Chiefs and spent two seasons as a backup there before retiring.

Despite spending his first six professional seasons in the CFL, Moon ranked third all-time in NFL passing yardage and fourth in touchdown passes thrown at the time of his retirement.

Year Team
G
Att
Comp
Yards
TDs
Int
Rating
No.
Yds.
Avg.
TD
F
 1984 Houston
16
450
259
3338
12
14
76.9
58
211
3.6
1
17
 1985 Houston
14
377
200
2709
15
19
68.5
39
130
3.3
0
12
 1986 Houston
15
488
256
3489
13
26
62.3
42
157
3.7
2
11
 1987 Houston
12
368
184
2806
21
18
74.2
34
112
3.3
3
8
 1988 Houston
11
294
160
2327
17
8
88.4
33
88
2.7
5
8
 1989 Houston
16
464
280
3631
23
14
88.9
70
268
3.8
4
11
 1990 Houston
15
584
362
4689
33
13
96.8
55
215
3.9
2
18
 1991 Houston
16
655
404
4690
23
21
81.7
33
68
2.1
2
11
 1992 Houston
11
346
224
2521
18
12
89.3
27
147
5.4
1
7
 1993 Houston
15
520
303
3485
21
21
75.2
48
145
3
1
13
 1994 Minnesota
15
601
371
4264
18
19
79.9
27
55
2
0
9
 1995 Minnesota
16
606
377
4228
33
14
91.5
33
82
2.5
0
13
 1996 Minnesota
8
247
134
1610
7
9
68.7
9
6
0.7
0
7
 1997 Seattle
15
528
313
3678
25
16
83.7
17
40
2.4
1
7
 1998 Seattle
10
258
145
1632
11
8
76.6
16
10
0.6
0
8
 1999 Kansas City
1
3
1
20
0
0
57.6
0
0
0
0
0
 2000 Kansas City
2
34
15
208
1
1
61.9
2
2
1
0
1
 Career Totals
208
6823
3,988
49,325
291
233
80.9
543
1,736
3.2
22
161
 
CFL Statistics: 1978-1983 Edmonton Eskimos – Passing: 2382-1369-21,228, 144 TDs, 77 INTs, 93.8 Rtg.; Rushing: 330-1700, 16 TDs

All-Pro: 1990 (SN)

All-Pro Second Team: 1990 (AP)

All-AFC: 1989 (UPI) ? 1990 (UPI, PW)

All-AFC Second Team: 1988 (UPI)

(9) - 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998

At time of his retirement following 2000 season

[1st] Most Passes Completed, Season - 404 (1991)
[1st] Most Fumbles, Career - 161
[1st] Most Fumbles Recovered, Own and Opponents, Career - 56
[1st] Most Fumbles Recovered, Own, Career - 56
[Tied for 1st] Most 300-Yard Passing Games, Season - 9 (1990)
[Tied for 1st] Most Times Sacked, Game - 12 (vs. Dallas, Sept. 29, 1985)
[2nd] Most Passing Attempts, Season - 655 (1991)
[2nd] Most Passing Yards, Game - 527 (vs. Kansas City, Dec. 16, 1990)
[Tied for 2nd] Most 400-Yard Passing Games, Career - 7
[Tied for 2nd] Most Fumbles, Season - 18 (1990)
[3rd] Most Passing Attempts, Career- 6,823
[3rd] Most Passes Completed, Career - 3,988
[3rd] Most Passes Completed, Game - 41 (vs. Dallas, Nov. 10, 1991)
[3rd] Most Passing Yards, Career - 49,325
[3rd] Most 300-Yard Passing Games, Career - 49
[Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons, 3,000 or More Passing Yards - 9
[Tied for 3rd] Most Consecutive Games 300 or More Yards Passing - 4 (1990)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Fumbles, Season - 17 (1984)

Post-Season Records

[1st] Most Passes Completed, Game - 36 (vs. Buffalo, Jan. 3, 1993)
[1st] Most Fumbles, Career - 16
[1st] Most Fumbles, Game - 5 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 16, 1994)
[1st] Most Own Fumbles Recovered, Career - 8
[2nd] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Career - 64.3
[Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive 300-Yard Passing Games - 3 (1991-1993)
Tied for 2nd] Most Passing Attempts Without Interception, Game - 48 (vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 31, 1989)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Passes Completed, Game - 32 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 16, 1994)
[Tied for 3rd] Most 300-Yard Passing Games, Career - 4
[Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdown Passes, Game - 4 (vs. Buffalo, Jan. 3, 1993)

Team Records

Oilers' records held by Moon
Records through the 1993 season, Moon's final season with Houston

[1st] Most Passing Yards, Career - 33,685
[1st] Most Passing Yards, Season - 4,690 (1991)
[1st] Most Passing Yards, Game - 527 (vs. Kansas City, Dec. 16, 1990)
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, Career - 4,546
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, Season - 655 (1991)
[1st] Most Passes Completed, Career - 2,632
[1st] Most Passes Completed, Season - 404 (1991)
[1st] Most Passes Completed, Game - 41 (vs. Dallas, Nov. 10, 1991)
[1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Career - 196
[1st] Most Consecutive Games, Touchdown Pass - 21 (1990-91)
[1st] Most Consecutive Pass Attempts Without Interception - 130 (1984)
[1st] Most 300 Yard Passing Games, Career - 38
[1st] Most 300 Yard Passing Games, Season - 9 (1990)
[1st] Most 400 Yard Passing Games, Career - 4
[1st] Most 400 Yard Passing Games, Season - 2 (1991)
[1st] Most Consecutive 300-Yard Passing Games, Season - 4 (1990)
[2nd] Most Passing Yards, Season - 4,689 (1990)
[2nd] Most Passing Attempts, Season - 584 (1990)
[2nd] Most Passes Completed, Season - 362 (1990)
[2nd] Most Touchdown Passes, Season - 33 (1990)
[2nd] Most Consecutive Games, Touchdown Pass - 17 (1992-1993)
[2nd] Most Passes Intercepted, Career - 166
[2nd] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Season - 64.7 (1992)
[2nd] Most 300 Yard Passing Games, Season - 6 (1991)
[3rd] Most Passing Yards, Season - 3,631 (1989)
[3rd] Most Passing Attempts, Season - 520 (1993)
[3rd] Most Passes Completed, Season - 303 (1993)
[3rd] Most Passes Completed, Game - 36 (vs. Seattle, Nov. 7, 1993)
[3rd] Most Passes Intercepted, Season - 26 (1986)
[3rd] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Career - 57.9

Oilers' Post-Season Records

[1st] Most Passing Yards, Career - 2,578
[1st] Most Passing Yards, Game - 371 (vs. Buffalo, Jan. 3, 1993)
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, Career - 351
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, Game - 50 (vs. Buffalo, Jan. 3, 1993)
[1st] Most Passing Completions, Career - 230
[1st] Most Passing Completions, Game - 36 (vs. Buffalo, Jan. 3, 1993)
[1st] Most Touchdowns Passing, Career - 15
[1st] Most Touchdowns Passing, Game - 4 (vs. Buffalo, Jan. 3, 1993)
[1st] Most Passes Intercepted, Career - 12
[1st] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Career - 65.5
[2nd] Most Passing Yards, Game - 325 (vs. Denver, Jan. 4, 1992)
[2nd] Most Passing Attempts, Game - 48 (vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 31, 1989)
[2nd] Most Passing Completions, Game - 32 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 16, 1994)
[2nd] Highest Passing Completion Percentage, Game - 75.0 (vs. Denver, Jan. 4, 1992)
[Tied for 2nd] Most Passing Touchdowns, Game - 3 (vs. Denver, Jan. 4, 1992)
[3rd] Most Passing Yards, Game - 315 (vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 31, 1989)
[3rd] Most Passing Completions, Game - 29 (vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 31, 1989)
[3rd] Highest Passing Completion Percentage, Game - 74.4 (vs. Kansas City, Jan. 16, 1994)
[Tied for 3rd] Most Passing Touchdowns, Game - 2 (vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 31, 1989; vs. NY Jets, Dec. 29, 1991)

Vikings' records held by Moon
Records through the 1996 season, Moon's final season with Minnesota

[1st] Highest Passer Rating, Game - 152.9 (vs. New Orleans, Nov. 19, 1995)
[1st] Most Passing Attempts, Season - 606 (1995)
[1st] Most Passing Completions, Season - 377 (1995)
[1st] Most Passing Yards, Season - 4,264 (1994)
[1st] Most 300 Yard Passing Games, Season - 6 (1994)
[Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games, 300 or more Passing Yards - 3 (1994, 1995)
[1st] Most Touchdowns Passing, Season - 33 (1995)
[1st] Consecutive Passing Attempts, No Interceptions - 193 (1995)
[1st] Highest Passing Attempts/Sack Ratio, Career - 18.0
[Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games, Four or More Touchdown Passes - 2 (1995)
[2nd] Most Passing Attempts, Season - 601 (1994)
[2nd] Most Passing Completions, Season - 371 (1994)
[2nd] Most Passing Yards, Season - 4,228 (1995)
[2nd] Most 300 Yard Passing Games, Career - 10
[Tied for 2nd] Longest Pass Plays - 85 (to Quadry Ismail, vs. Detroit, Sept. 10, 1995)
[3rd] Highest Pass Completion Percentage, Season - 62.2 (1995)
[Tied for 3rd] Highest Passing Attempts/Sack Ratio, Season - 20.7 (1995)

Vikings' Post-Season Records

[1st] Most Passing Attempts, Game - 52 (vs. Chicago, Jan. 1, 1995)
[1st] Most Passes Completed, Game - 29 (vs. Chicago, Jan. 1, 1995)
[2nd] Most Yards Passing, Game - 292 (vs. Chicago, Jan. 1, 1995)

Seahawks' records held by Moon
Records through the 1998 season, Moon's final season with Seattle

[1st] Most Passing Completions, Season - 313 (1997)
[1st] Most Consecutive Passing Completions - 17 (vs. Oakland, Nov. 1, 1998)
[1st] Most Passing Yards, Season - 3,678 (1997)
[1st] Most Games, Four or More Touchdown Passes, Season - 2 (1997)
[1st] Most Two Point Conversion Attempts, Game - 2 (vs. Oakland, Oct. 26, 1997)
[Tied for 1st] Most Touchdown Passes, Game - 5 (vs. Oakland, Oct. 26, 1997)
[Tied for 1st] Most Games, Five or More Touchdown Passes, Season - 1 (1997)
[Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games, Four or More Touchdown Passes - 1 (vs. San Francisco, Dec. 21, 1997)
[2nd] Highest Pass Rating, Career - 81.3
[2nd] Most Passing Attempts, Season - 528 (1997)
[2nd] Most 400-Yard Passing Games, Career - 1
[2nd] Most Games, Five or More Touchdown Passes, Career - 1
[2nd] Most Consecutive Games with a Touchdown Pass - 13 (1997-98)
[2nd] Highest Percentage, Touchdown Passes, Career - 4.58
[2nd] Most Attempts, No Interceptions, Game - 46 (vs. Oakland, Oct. 26, 1997)
[2nd] Lowest Percentage, Passes Had Intercepted, Career - 3.05
[3rd] Highest Completion Percentage, Career - 58.27
[3rd] Most Seasons, 3,000 or More Yards Passing - 1 (1997)
[3rd] Most Passing Yards, Game - 409 (vs. Oakland, Oct. 26, 1997)
[3rd] Most Touchdowns Passing, Season - 25 (1997)
[3rd] Most Games, Four or More Touchdown Passes, Career - 2
[Tied for 3rd] Most Two Point Conversion Attempts, Career - 3
[Tied for 3rd] Most Two Point Conversion Attempts, Season - 3 (1997)

NFL Statistical Championships
Passing Touchdown Leader: 1990 HOU

AFC Statistical Championships
Passing Titles: 1992 HOU
Passing Touchdown Leader: 1990 HOU

Team Statistical Championships
Passing Titles: 1984 HOU, 1985 HOU, 1986 HOU, 1987 HOU, 1988 HOU, 1989 HOU, 1990 HOU, 1991 HOU, 1992 HOU, 1993HOU, 1994MIN, 1995MIN, 1997SEA, 1998SEA
Passing Touchdown Leader: 1984HOU, 1985 HOU, 1986 HOU, 1987 HOU, 1988 HOU, 1989 HOU, 1990 HOU, 1991 HOU, 1992 HOU, 1993 HOU, 1994MIN, 1995MIN, 1997SEA, 1998SEA

HOU Houston Oilers, MIN Minnesota Vikings, SEA Seattle Seahawks

1989 AFC Player of the Year (FN)
1990 NFL MVP (NEA)
1990 Offensive MVP/Player of the Year (AP, UPI-AFC)
1997 Pro Bowl MVP

Moon_WarrenFull Name: Harold Warren Moon

Birthdate: November 18, 1956

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California

High School: Alexander Hamilton, (Los Angeles, CA)

Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: February 4, 2006

Presenter: Leigh Steinberg, Sports Agent and Longtime Friend

Other Members of Class of 2006:
Troy Aikman, Harry Carson, John Madden, Reggie White, Rayfield Wright

Pro Career: 17 Seasons, 208 games