On paper, the 1990 New York Jets were pretty stacked.
Both sides of the ball had star players, and even the coaching staff and front office had notable names.
The Jets appeared to add even more depth that spring.
A few months after the regular NFL draft, New York added Syracuse receiver Rob Moore in the first round of the league’s supplemental draft.
Moore had graduated from college with a year of eligibility left and decided to turn pro too late to be included in the main event.
Still, the Jets deemed him worthy of a first-round selection and added him along with a host of other rookies.
Happy 54th Birthday to former New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals WR Rob Moore.🎂
🏆 2X Pro Bowl Selections
🏆 1X All-Pro Selection #NFL #TakeFlight #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/a5WPfEgdBK— Sportskeeda Pro Football (@SKProFootball) September 27, 2022
In his first year, while New York won just six games, Moore started 13 games and caught 44 passes.
He continued to be a reliable pass-catcher for the franchise until he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 1995.
During his seven-year career in the desert, Moore really took off, even leading the NFL in receiving yards in 1997.
While he was a member of the Cards, the receiver’s likeness was used in the movie Jerry Maguire as a proxy for actor Cuba Gooding Jr.
Following his retirement in 2002, Moore became a coach and has tutored receivers at the high school, college, and professional levels.
This is the story of Rob Moore.
Growing Up in Hempstead
Robert (Rob) Sean Moore was born on September 27, 1968, in Hempstead, New York.
Happy Birthday Rob Moore#Cardinals pic.twitter.com/7fzkBfkYk5
— Old Time Football 🏈 (@Ol_TimeFootball) September 27, 2022
His path to the NFL began from less-than-ideal conditions.
“Where I grew up was a pretty tough neighborhood,” Moore said in 1990. “Drug dealers, poverty, one-parent homes. The majority of people I went to high school with are either actively involved with crime or in the penal system.”
Thankfully, he and his younger brother, Brandon (who would also play in the NFL), were able to avoid the mean streets because of his parents, Charles and Lois.
“Without a doubt, my family is where I draw my strength,” said Moore.
The Moores made sure that their son did his homework, and Rob played midget football and participated in programs at Hempstead’s youth center.
When he reached Hempstead High School, Moore had to watch his step, especially since Lois was the secretary for the school’s principal.
He stayed on the straight and narrow, getting good grades and playing tight end for the Tigers.
Moore Heads to Syracuse
At the time, the Hempstead High program ran the wishbone offense, meaning that Moore didn’t get very many opportunities to catch the ball.
In fact, during his entire high school career, he caught just 22 passes.
Despite rarely seeing the ball, Moore was optimistic about his athletic future, sensing that he was destined to play on the gridiron.
“Still, to this day I don’t know why I chose football,” said Moore, who also played basketball, lacrosse and ran track in high school. “It was just a gut feeling. When I grew up, I loved watching Lynn Swann and John Stallworth, Drew Pearson and Art Monk. I loved their style and grace. I’d love to play with their style and grace, but right now it’s hard to play with anything. There’s so much to learn.”
His athleticism as an All-State receiver, and the attention the Tigers received for winning the state title in 1985, led to Moore’s two-star rating by various recruiting services.
Dick MacPherson, then the head coach at Syracuse University, liked the potential of the kid from New York and offered him a scholarship.
Moore jumped at the chance.
Immediate Legend
Talk about timing.
MacPherson had come to Syracuse in 1981 after coaching linebackers for the Cleveland Browns.
In his first six years with the Orangemen, the best the program could muster was seven wins in 1985.
Things changed in 1987 with a roster that included quarterback Don McPherson and running back Darryl “Moose” Johnston.
On October 17, Penn State came to town ranked 10th in the nation to play a Syracuse team that was 5-0 and ranked 14th.
None of the Orangemen’s wins were against ranked opponents, so few outsiders believed they had a chance.
So, imagine the shock of then-Nittany Lions head coach Joe Paterno and his team when McPherson connected with Moore (a freshman) for an 80-yard touchdown on the first play of the contest.
Before PSU knew what hit them, Syracuse was ahead 41-0 on the way to a 48-21 blowout win.
“That was the game that made us feel like we belonged. We understood the historical significance of it. We just beat Penn State. Afterwards, people were saying, ‘You know what? Syracuse is pretty good.’ And we were,” Moore said in 2012.
The Orangemen finished the regular season undefeated before tying Auburn in the Sugar Bowl to end the year 11-0-1.
Moore had nine catches for 261 yards and two scores as a freshman.
Touchdown Machine
In 1988, Moore, Johnston, and QB Todd Philcox helped Syracuse win 10 games, including a 23-10 thrashing of LSU in the Hall of Fame Bowl.
Philcox connected with the 6’3”, 204-pound Moore 44 times for 797 yards and 11 touchdowns (tops in the Independent Conference).
His touchdown mark was also second-best in school history at the time.
During games against Virginia Tech, Rutgers and Navy, Moore caught 10 passes, and he scored three touchdowns against the Hokies and Scarlet Knights.
After the season, he was selected as a second-team All-East member.
Rob Moore, Syracuse pic.twitter.com/F7U7KImqxS
— BraveUlysses24 (@LilMackieB) January 21, 2024
Then, in 1989, Moore caught 53 passes for 1,064 yards and nine touchdowns while the Orangemen went 8-4, including a 19-18 victory over Georgia in the Peach Bowl.
Moore’s receptions and yardage were the best in Syracuse history (he was the first player in school history to top 1,000-yards in a season), and his 20.1 yards-per-catch led the nation.
He was named first-team All-East and second-team All-American.
In just three years of play, Moore had 106 receptions for 2,122 yards and 22 touchdowns.
His yards and touchdowns led Syracuse all-time, and Moore was selected for the program’s All-Century Team in 1999.
Leaving Early
Technically, Moore had one season left of college eligibility, and initially, he was going to play with Syracuse for the 1990 season.
However, as the calendar changed to spring that year, the receiver had a change of heart.
He had already graduated with his bachelor’s degree and decided he had proven everything he could at the collegiate level.
A Look Back- WR Rob Moore
In 1997- Rob Moore led the NFL in receiving yards with 1️⃣5️⃣8️⃣4️⃣on 97 receptions & 8 TDs!! Rob was a star at Hempstead High School before playing collegiately at Syracuse. Moore played 10 seasons in the NFL, making 2 Pro Bowls! #NYmade #NYfootball pic.twitter.com/lwcsuJttnF
— NY MADE FOOTBALL (@NYMadeFootball) November 7, 2024
By the time he decided to declare his intentions to become a pro, it was too late to be eligible for the NFL Draft.
In early May, he notified the league office to be included in the 1990 Supplemental Draft.
“I realized it would probably be in my best interest to leave,” he said. “What else could I do at the collegiate level to really improve my stock?”
The Supplemental Draft began in 1977, and until that point, the most notable players to come from the event were: Bernie Kosar to Cleveland in 1985, Brian Bosworth to Seattle and Cris Carter to Philadelphia in 1987, and Steve Walsh to Dallas and Bobby Humphrey to Denver in 1989.
After submitting the proper paperwork, Moore’s name was added, along with LSU tight end Willie Williams, to the list of eligible players.
“I wouldn’t mind staying close to home,” Moore said before the draft. “The (New York) Jets, Philadelphia, something like that.”
Surprisingly, the Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons each had an opportunity to add him, yet elected not to.
The Jets, who had the third choice, snapped him up, meaning Moore would get a chance to play near his home.
“I tell you it’s definitely like a dream come true, letting my parents see me play and economically, it’s better for me,” Moore said. “I’m so familiar — definitely, I know all about the tradition of the Jets — I know about Joe Namath and (Don) Maynard. This really is the dream come true. (Jets General Manager Dick) Steinberg called and said: ‘Congratulations, you’re a Jet.”
Rookie Starter
“We expect Rob to come in and contribute quickly,” GM Steinberg said to the press. “If we can get him signed quickly and into camp, he can make a big contribution.”
Moore and the Jets did take care of business quickly, although the New York receiver room was bursting at the seams in 1990.
In the draft, the franchise took three receivers, including West Virginia’s Reggie Rembert and New Mexico’s Terance Mathis.
Furthermore, the Jets already had veterans Al Toon (a personal hero of Moore’s) and JoJo Townsell on the roster.
Despite the competition, Moore played in 15 games and started 13 as a rookie.
September 30, 1990
NY Jets 37
New England 13Sullivan Stadium 4PM NBC
Ken O'Brien 19-29-282-1-1
Blair Thomas 20-100
Brad Baxter 12-68-2
Rob Moore 9-175-1
Jets D 2 sacks, 4 Ints#TakeFlight #Jetshistory#ForeverNE #NFL #NFLTwitter pic.twitter.com/X2L9Pgz8VU— New York Jets History (@nyjetshistory) September 30, 2022
The Jets had what looked like a contending team that year.
Along with the receivers, the team had drafted running back Blair Thomas and also had Freeman McNeil in the backfield taking handoffs from quarterback Ken O’Brien.
Even the coaching staff was a who’s-who of head coach Bruce Coslet, defensive coordinator Pete Carroll, defensive line coach Greg Robinson, linebackers coach Monte Kiffin, and special teams guru Foge Fazio.
New York’s director of player personnel, Ron Wolf, would eventually lead the Green Bay Packers back to prominence.
Yet, although Moore stepped up and caught 44 passes for 692 yards and six touchdowns, and was chosen for the PWFA All-Rookie Team, the Jets ended the year 6-10.
Team Leader
Despite suffering from two different stretches of three consecutive losses during the 1991 season, New York limped into the playoffs with an 8-8 record.
Moore and Toon proved to be a formidable pass-catching duo as they both caught over 70 passes and Moore contributed 987 yards and five scores.
Rob’s 10 year @NFL career was split evenly between the @nyjets and the @AZCardinals. Three times he went over 1,000 yards receiving in his career and in 1997 while with the Cardinals led the NFL with 1,584 receiving yards. Rob Moore turns 57 today. pic.twitter.com/A6a9AcAHdx
— Bill Nelson (@Thelscwxman) September 27, 2025
New York fought the Houston Oilers well in the wild card round, but succumbed, 17-10.
In 1992, Toon missed half the year with concussions and would retire after the season.
Moore started 15 games and caught 50 passes for 726 yards and four touchdowns.
Tragically, during a Week 13 game against Kansas City, defensive end Dennis Bryd accidentally ran into teammate Scott Mersereau while rushing Chiefs QB Dave Krieg.
Decals to honor Dennis Byrd after he was paralyzed in a game a week earlier. #JetUp #Jetshistory pic.twitter.com/v2SH4Rg71f
— New York Jets History (@nyjetshistory) June 4, 2026
The collision broke Bryd’s neck and paralyzed him, ending his career.
With Toon gone, Moore became a team leader and the Jets’ top receiver in 1993.
Rob Moore played for the @nyjets from 1990-1994 after the Jets used a 1st Rd pick in the 1990 supplemental draft to acquire him. He was a consistent WR who would reach his first Pro Bowl in 1994 before they shipped him out to Arizona where he'd make his 2nd Pro Bowl.… pic.twitter.com/QFnGS9QCqy
— New York Jets History (@nyjetshistory) January 31, 2024
He responded with 64 catches that season, then 78 receptions for 1,010 yards and six touchdowns in 1994, the best year of his career at that point.
Those stats brought Moore his first Pro Bowl.
Trade To Arizona and Jerry Maguire
One of the teams interested in Moore before the 1990 Supplemental Draft was the Phoenix Cardinals.
However, when the Jets grabbed him, that was that.
Before the 1995 season, the Cards (now re-branded as the Arizona Cardinals) traded for Moore, finally getting their man.
4/22/95 – The Arizona Cardinals formed a dynamic WR-duo when they traded their 1st Rd pick (16th overall), 4th Rd pick (106th overall), and RB Ronald Moore to the NY Jets for WR Rob Moore, then selected WR Frank Sanders with the 15th pick in the 2nd Rd (47th overall). pic.twitter.com/rfJyfWlzuJ
— Arizona Sports History (@AZSportsHistory) April 22, 2026
Under head coach Buddy Ryan, Arizona won only four games, and Moore caught 63 passes for 907 yards and five touchdowns.
That same year, Cameron Crowe directed actors Tom Cruise and Cuba Gooding Jr. in the movie Jerry Maguire.
Cruise played sports agent Maguire while Gooding’s character borrowed the likeness of Moore as an NFL player for the Cards and one of Cruise’s clients.
The receiver was listed as a technical consultant for the film.
12/13/96 – Sony Pictures released Jerry Maguire featuring Tom Cruise (Maguire) as a sports agent & Cuba Gooding Jr. as a star WR for the #ASU Sun Devils & later the Arizona Cardinals. In one scene, Cruise also wore a #Suns v #SuperSonics '93 WCF T-Shirt. #ForksUp #RedSea #RisePH pic.twitter.com/6PzSBLtdA4
— Arizona Sports History (@AZSportsHistory) December 13, 2024
Much of the football scenes were actually of Moore and his number 85, though the receiver downplayed his involvement.
“I got a lot of undue adulation for really doing nothing,” Moore said. “You’re associated with an all-time great movie. All I did was give a few instructions here and there. Outside of that, I didn’t really do much.”
The climax of the film sees Gooding’s character make a huge touchdown catch against the Dallas Cowboys before embarking on a huge end zone celebration, something Moore would never do.
“You would never see me out there doing cartwheels and back spins and things like that after a touchdown,” Moore said. “I’m quite sure they took some liberties in regards to that.”
Jerry Maguire was released in 1996 and to this day is considered one of the best sports movies of all time.
1997
Ryan was fired after the 1995 season, and the franchise hired Vince Tobin.
In his first year, Arizona went 7-9, and Moore caught 58 passes for 1,016 yards and four touchdowns.
Before the 1997 season, the organization drafted hometown hero Jake Plummer, a quarterback for the Arizona State Sun Devils.
12/7/97 – The Tempe Art Festival held up traffic, and Rookie Jake Plummer brought the Cardinals back from down 17-0 three times, throwing 19-38-337 and 4 TDs (3 to Rob Moore), however the defense let them down as Arizona lost to the Washington Redskins in Tempe, 38-28. #RedSea pic.twitter.com/3eAO52zmkE
— Arizona Sports History (@AZSportsHistory) December 7, 2019
Plummer and fellow QBs Stoney Case and Kent Graham tossed Moore a ton of footballs, including a league-high 209 attempts.
The receiver caught 97 of those attempts for 1,584 yards (NFL-best) and eight touchdowns, all career-highs.
A Look Back- WR Rob Moore
In 1997- Rob Moore led the NFL in receiving yards with 1️⃣5️⃣8️⃣4️⃣on 97 receptions & 8 TDs!! Rob was a star at Hempstead High School before playing collegiately at Syracuse. #NYmade #NYfootball #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/zsVcNisyzB
— NY MADE FOOTBALL (@NYMadeFootball) July 20, 2023
He was named a first-team All-Pro and selected for his second Pro Bowl.
Unfortunately, the Cards were awful.
All three QBs were sacked a combined 78 times, and a 2-7 start led to a 4-12 overall record.
Retirement
At that point, the Cardinals had not been to the playoffs since 1982, when the team was located in St. Louis.
Thankfully, that changed in 1998.
With Plummer becoming a breakout star at quarterback, and Adrian Murrell (a former teammate of Moore’s on the Jets) running for over 1,000 yards, the team won nine games and qualified for the postseason.
Moore, fellow receiver Frank Sanders, and fullback Larry Centers caught passes in bunches.
Now in his ninth season, Moore hauled in 67 passes for 982 yards and five scores.
2/11/99 – Met w/the decision to franchise tag either WR Rob Moore (30) or OLB Jamir Miller (25 – Arizona's leading tackler in '98), the Cardinals chose Moore opening up a 3 month back-&-forth between the AZ & Miller, who would ultimately sign w/CLE on 5/11/99. #BirdCityFootball pic.twitter.com/uwAgYK8YBx
— Arizona Sports History (@AZSportsHistory) February 12, 2023
Arizona upset Dallas in the wild-card round, 20-7, before getting crushed by rookie Randy Moss and the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round, 41-21.
A year later, Moore started 10 games and had 37 receptions for 621 yards and five touchdowns while the Cards regressed to 6-10.
Number 85 was briefly on the Denver Broncos’ roster in 2002 before retiring.
During his career, Moore had 628 receptions for 9,368 yards and 49 touchdowns.
He was a two-time Pro Bowler, one-time All-Pro, and led the NFL in targets and receiving yards once each.
Coach Moore
Shortly after leaving the game as a player, Moore decided to stick with what he knew best and became a coach.
In 1992, he returned home and coached receivers at Montclair High School in New Jersey for two years.
Moore then transitioned to helping pass-catchers prepare for the draft by working with Protect Management and Athlete’s Performance for five years.
During that time, he tutored the likes of Vernon Davis, Golden Tate, and Dwayne Bowe.
Then, in 2009, Moore returned to the coaching ranks by teaching receivers at Phoenix College in Arizona.
The #Panthers have made big moves in filling up Dave Canales’ back room staff. They have agreed to terms with 4 new assistant coaches (with one more on the way), while 3 will be moving on.
All coaches coming from their previous teams will work the same role in Carolina: Harold… pic.twitter.com/9aEnOSPrFX
— The Panthers Magpie – NFL UK (@PanthersMagpie) January 31, 2024
That experience brought him back to Syracuse in 2010 under head coach Doug Marrone.
It was there that Moore helped Alec Lemon surpass his own school record for career receptions.
From Syracuse, Moore returned to the NFL in 2013 with the Buffalo Bills and coached Robert Woods, Chris Hogan and Sammy Watkins.
Two years in Western New York led to three seasons with the Oakland Raiders, where Moore coached Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper.
From 2018 through 2023, he coached in Tennessee with receivers DeAndre Hopkins, Corey Davis, A.J. Brown, and Julio Jones.
Before the 2024 season, Moore was hired to coach receivers for the Carolina Panthers and has worked with Adam Thielen, Xavier Legette, Jalen Coker, and Tetairoa McMillan.
Moore (who will turn 58 in September 2026) and his wife, Candice, have five children.
References
https://cardswire.usatoday.com
https://cardswire.usatoday.com
https://www.sports-reference.com
https://www.pro-football-reference.com
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