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Randy Moss opens up about return to 'Sunday NFL Countdown' after cancer battle

ProfilePhotoby: Nick Geddes09/09/25NickGeddesNews
Randy Moss
Mark Konezny-Imagn Images

Randy Moss stepped away from ESPN‘s “NFL Sunday Countdown” last year after he was diagnosed with Stage 2 bile duct cancer. Moss rang the bell this past Friday, signaling the end of his cancer treatment.

Two days later, he made his return to NFL Sunday Countdown ahead of Week 1 of the 2025 regular season. Moss talked about getting “back around my football family again” and what that meant to him.

“It was just great to be back,” Moss said on the ManningCast. “Just getting back to the swing of things — it’s lights, camera, action. They’re giving us the five-minute countdown, three-minute countdown, one-minute countdown, then all my nerves set in. It was just good to get back around my football family again — messing with Rex [Ryan], Teddy [Bruschi] and the crew. [Mike] Greenberg, Alex [Smith], Schefty [Adam Schefter]. So, it was just good to get back to work.”

Moss went public with his diagnosis in December 2024. He shared an emotional moment with the staff at Atrium Health, where he went through his treatment.

“I want to thank everybody here at this hospital for welcoming me to be a part of their, of their extended family,” Moss told the staff in attendance. “I’ve told y’all this before, y’all do a great job of taking care of people. I know it’s an emotional moment, but I thank you all. God bless you.”

Randy Moss is back at ESPN

Moss is one of the all-time great receivers in NFL and college football history. During his time at Marshall, he helped the Thundering Herd to a national title and won the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in the country in 1997. He is No. 4 on the NFL’s all-time receiving list.

Moss wore sunglasses during a show late last season as he worked through his health issues, and he was later off the air while he attended to his situation. Moss expressed his excitement to return during an interview with TMZ over the summer.

“Man, I look forward to it. I missed my crew. Greeny, Alex, Teddy,” Moss said. “I really didn’t miss Rex Ryan much because he got on my nerves. So, Rex, if you’re hearing this, I am coming back, so scoot over.

“But really, Michael, in all honesty, we have a great group of guys that I work with that I tremendously missed for two months, and ESPN accepted me back with open arms. Man, I just can’t wait for week one to get back with the crew and talk football.”

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this report.