Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss stood smiling at Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute on Thursday and rang the ceremonial bell to mark the end of his cancer treatment. The emotional moment, shared widely on social media, was a signal of hope and recovery.
Moss, 48, was diagnosed with stage 2 bile duct cancer—a rare and aggressive form—late last year. His treatment included a lengthy six-hour Whipple surgery followed by rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.
Gathered with medical staff, Moss looked out at hospital caregivers. “I want to thank everybody here at this hospital for welcoming me to be a part of their family,” he said. “Y’all do a great job of taking care of people. I thank you all. God bless you.”
That moment of celebration served as a turning point not only in his personal journey but for those who watched and waited for his return.
Randy Moss Back to ESPN and Back in the Game
On Sept. 7, Moss made his long-awaited return to ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown. His fellow analysts greeted him warmly and replayed footage of his bell-ringing ceremony.
“It’s just a great day, man,” Moss said, wiping away emotion. “All my treatment is over, ringing the bell, now I’m back with the family, man.”
Co-host Mike Greenberg called it “one that we and all football fans everywhere had been waiting to see.”
Moss’s wife, Lydia, played a central role throughout his recovery. In an earlier interview on Good Morning America, she spoke about the emotional toll and how Moss’s resolve finally allowed him to accept help.
He originally stepped away from ESPN in December 2024 to focus on his health after experiencing symptoms like jaundice and dark urine. Moss urged others—especially Black men—to undergo routine screenings.
ESPN confirmed that Moss would return full-time to Sunday NFL Countdown starting in the 2025 season. His surprise return during Super Bowl coverage earlier this year was described by the network as “an emotional lift—not just for our team but for the entire football community.”
Moss’s cancer battle began around Thanksgiving 2023, when he first underwent a liver stent procedure after noticing urine discoloration. From that moment, his journey took him through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation—and ultimately, to the bell.
He resumed his analytical role with resilience and renewed purpose. “That was just a great day,” he said again. “All my treatment is over… now I’m back with the family, man.”