Randy Moss is officially back.
The Pro Football Hall of Famer left his chair on ESPN’s ‘Sunday NFL Countdown’ last December to undergo treatment for cholangiocarcinoma – a rare form of bile duct cancer.
But after having successful surgery to remove the cells, the cancer-free 48-year-old rang the bell at the Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte before making his triumphant return to the program ahead of Sunday’s Week 1 action.
‘We’ve got a lot, I mean a lot, of video in this show,’ ESPN host Mike Greenberg said at the top of the show. ‘But none of it will be better than this.’
ESPN then began running footage of Moss running the cancer-free bell on his way out of the Charlotte medical center.
‘Not long ago, our dear friend Randy Moss had this moment that we and all football fans everywhere have been waiting to see,’ Greenberg continued.
Randy Moss was back on ESPN ahead of Sunday’s Week 1 action thanks to his medical team
The Minnesota Vikings legend spoke briefly about his medical providers and his on-air colleagues at ESPN: Greenberg, Rex Ryan, Alex Smith and Teddy Bruschi.
‘Just a great day,’ Moss said. ‘Send some shoutout love to my doctors. I remember seeing you guys on Super Bowl Sunday and that was one of my goals to get here. And now all my treatment is over and I’m ringing the bell and back with the family.’
Moss bumped fists with Ryan and Smith as Greenberg added: ‘There will be no better news on this Week 1.’
On the eve of that long-awaited comeback, Moss was seen ringing the bell at the Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute in Charlotte to officially signal the end of his cancer treatment on Thursday.
He could not contain his delight as he performed the traditional celebratory gesture at the hospital, before hugging several members of staff.
‘I want to thank everybody at this hospital for welcoming me to be a part of their family, of their extended family,’ the former Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots star said.
Rex Ryan bumps fists with Moss on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown ahead of Week 1 games
A choked-up Moss then told doctors: ‘I’ve told y’all this before, y’all do a great job of taking care of people, and I know it’s an emotional moment, but I think you all. God bless you.’
Back in November, a number of fans had grown concerned about Moss’ health when his eyes appeared yellow on ESPN.
That led to him making the shock announcement about his health in December, when he appeared on an Instagram Live video alongside his sons to tell fans he had undergone a six-hour surgery and could not walk without a cane.
Speaking about his cancer battle, Moss said: ‘I’ve told y’all over the last couple of weeks about me battling something internally, and ya boy is a cancer survivor.’
He then revealed: ‘I did have cancer, they found it in the bile duct, right between the pancreas and the liver, and the cancer was sitting right outside the bile duct.
‘So my doctors went in, I had six hours’ surgery, and for a lot of you guys wondering, you can Google it. I had a Whipple procedure. The best doctor in the United States, Dr [John] Martinie, I am forever grateful.’
After stepping away in December, Moss made a tearful ESPN return at February’s Super Bowl
Two months later, Moss made a brief tearful return to ESPN at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.
‘Hey y’all, I couldn’t do it alone, and I really thank y’all,’ he said through tears on the ESPN set at the Superdome following an on-air tribute from the likes of Tom Brady and Bill Belichick.
‘Hey guys, it’s been hard,’ Moss continued, ‘but I got a lot of love, and a lot of people believe in me, man, so I’m happy to be here.’
Greenberg admitted immediately after the tribute ‘we told him, we wouldn’t do that,’ before promising that would be the last heartfelt moment on the program.
‘That is a message from the entire football world, and we are thrilled to have you here,’ Greenberg said to his co-host.
Now Moss is cancer free and back on ESPN to talk about the NFL.
