Had things gone differently in 1998, maybe the Vikings wouldn’t have become the franchise they are today. Had things gone differently, Randy Moss would’ve been teammates with the Dallas Cowboys No. 21 instead of being the 21st overall pick in the 1998 Draft. After all, Jerry Jones had told him before draft night, “If you’re still on the board when we select, we’re going to get you.” Seeing as America’s Team had the 8th pick, and Moss fell to No. 21, you can imagine how that played out. But at least the wide receiver met Deion Sanders for the first time, thanks to this ordeal.

And it’s safe to say Randy Moss was absolutely fanboying!

Back in 2014, Moss did a Fox NFL Kickoff segment where he revealed an amusing pre-draft story that should’ve included dinner with the Cowboys front office but instead featured a game of Pac-Man in Prime Time’s home. “I was in Dallas right before the draft; I think it was a five o’clock dinner. So, I get down there early, but somebody says, ‘Randy, you don’t have to go to the dinner tonight. There’s going to be a limo here to pick you up to take you over to Deion’s house.'” Cue the fanboying.

“You could’ve melted me and put me in a cup,” Randy Moss revealed on the segment. He met the Cowboys legend; they talked, they laughed, and after Moss headed back home, it’s safe to say his friends heard a different, more extravagant story of that night. In the end, though, things didn’t work out between America’s Team and the wide receiver. But they did work out between him and Deion Sanders. There was a certain level of respect between the two, in that Coach Prime fully believed Moss “changed the game in every aspect of changing the game.” And that respect between the “fishing buddies” and dear friends goes beyond the gridiron, something we got to witness after Randy Moss’ recent health update.

Even legends have their tough days. And sometimes, they let us in on the battles they’re quietly fighting. Ahead of Sunday NFL Countdown, Randy Moss did just that—he let us in.

Donning a pair of Michigan turnover glasses, Moss opened the show with a simple admission: “I just want to share something with y’all. I put a post up on Instagram just telling people who were talking about my eyes last week, and I just want to let the viewers know that me and my wife, me and my family, we are battling something internally.” Translation: if you spot him wearing shades on the show, just don’t get confused. Or worried. After all, he revealed, “I have some great doctors around me.”

So, that’s why he wanted to leave it to them and be present for the football night. He added, “I couldn’t miss the show; I wanted to be here with you guys. I feel great, but if you see me with these Michigan turnover glasses 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. God bless you all and thanks for the prayers.” The response? Pure love.

Deion Sanders was quick to hype Randy with a “CLEAN!” comment. He was basically saying, ‘Hey man, do whatever you got to. Prime’s got your back.’ Meanwhile, after Randy’s admission on live TV, Mike Greenberg (fellow announcer on the show) was there to nail the vibe. “If he’s wearing glasses, we’re all wearing glasses today,” he declared. And the entire Countdown crew followed suit. It wasn’t just a show of solidarity. Oh, no! But it was also to tell everyone that even on the brightest stages, the NFL brotherhood has each other’s backs.

The football community didn’t hold back either. Darius Butler sent prayers, Bryant McKinnie added some prayer-hand emojis, and fans across social media rallied behind the Hall of Famer. We don’t know the full story, and maybe we don’t need to. But what’s important is that Moss knows he has got the pigskin fam behind him. I mean, that’s the least we can do for one of the best, right?

Looking back at Randy Moss’ record-breaking season with the Pats

Randy Moss once called the Pro Football Hall of Fame a “political war.” But let’s be real—Moss in Canton was never a debate. First-ballot? Of course. It’s Randy Moss. His record-breaking stats at Marshall alone would make you shake your head in disbelief: 1,820 receiving yards and 28 touchdowns in a season. Oh, and he holds the school’s career TD record at 54. But let’s talk about his magnum opus—the 2007 season with the Patriots.

23 touchdowns. You call it a stat? Well, we’d say it’s more of a mic drop. The record still stands. And here’s the kicker: just a year before, people were calling for Moss to hang his cleats up. Critics were lining up like defenses trying to stop him—unsuccessfully, I might add. But Moss didn’t just answer them; he torched the field, proving he wasn’t done.

The Patriots’ 2007 offense was already cooking, and then they added Moss to the mix. The result? Absolute chaos for opposing defenses. Tom Brady finally had a deep threat who could outrun, outjump, and just outright dominate anyone in his path. So, what do you expect out of such a team? Outclassing everyone… Yeah, they did that and much more with a whitewash of 16-0 in the regular season.

So, now, how are we to sit tight-lipped when such a legend asked just one thing from us: Prayers! “I need all the prayer warriors,” Moss said. Let’s rally behind him… No questions asked. He might tell us what it was when he feels like it, or he might not. What we can do is just pray for the Moss family. That’d be enough.