ESPN announced on Friday that Randy Moss will be taking an extended hiatus from his role as Sunday NFL Countdown analyst as he continues to deal with an undisclosed health issue.
The network said in a statement that the NFL Hall of Famer would "step away from Sunday NFL Countdown for an extended time to focus on a personal health challenge." The statement continued: "For nearly a decade, Randy has been an invaluable member of the team, consistently elevating Countdown with his insight and passion. He has ESPN's full support, and we look forward to welcoming him back when he is ready."
Moss only recently just announced that he was "battling something internally" earlier this week. "I just want to share something with y'all," he said at the start of Sunday's show. "Talking about my eyes last week, I just want to let the viewers know that me and my wife and my family, we are battling something internally."
"I have some great doctors around me. I couldn't miss the show, I wanted to be here with you guys," he continued. "I feel great—but if ya'll see me with these Michigan Turnover sunglasses that I have on, it's not being disrespectful because I'm on television, man, I'm battling something, I need all the prayer warriors."
Randy Moss opens "Sunday NFL Countdown" by sharing with viewers that he and his family are "battling something internally" and he will be wearing glasses throughout the show. pic.twitter.com/7bOY6LGcWJ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 1, 2024
Just moments before the broadcast, Moss likewise shared news of his health issues on Instagram, asking fans for prayers.
"I just ask for all the prayer warriors to put their blessing hands on me and my family through these hard times. People were talking about my eyes last week," Moss explained, before putting on his sunglasses. "I'm battling something, man, and it's something internal. Your boy is going to get through it. I got a great team of doctors and got a great family around me."
Moss joined ESPN in 2016 as an analyst, appearing on both Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown. Before retiring from the NFL following the 2012 season, the former wide receiver played 14 seasons for the Vikings, Raiders, Patriots, Titans, and 49ers. Throughout his pro football career, he had 156 touchdown catches and 982 career catches for 15,292 yards, ranking second only to Jerry Rice. In 2018, Moss was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
