RAND, W. Va. — Future Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss decided Monday to retire from the NFL after 13 seasons.
The NFL Network confirmed a report by ESPN, both citing Moss’ agent, Joel Segal.
The 34-year-old became a free agent after playing for the New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans last season. Moss only caught six passes for 80 yards in the final eight games of the season with Tennessee.
“After weighing his options and contemplating offers, he’s decided to retire,” said Segal, according to ESPN. The veteran wideout had been looking to make a deal with a contending team, his agent said.
Moss leaves the NFL having recorded 954 career receptions for 14,858 yards and 153 touchdowns.
The native of Rand, West Virginia, was drafted 21st overall in 1998 by the Minnesota Vikings out of Marshall University. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1998, and went on to make seven Pro Bowl appearances.
Moss, one of the best deep threats in NFL history, currently ranks second all-time in receiving touchdowns, eighth all-time in career receptions and ninth all-time with a yards-per-game average of 73.6.
Moss spent the first seven years of his career with the Vikings before being traded to the Oakland Raiders in March 2005. After a lackluster 2006 season in which he had a then-career-low 42 catches for 553 yards, he was traded to the New England Patriots.
A rejuvenated Moss teamed with quarterback Tom Brady for a historic 2007 season, setting the record for receiving touchdowns in a single season with 23, and helping the team go 18-0 before their eventual upset at the hands of the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
It would be the only Super Bowl appearance of Moss’ career. He scored the Patriots’ go-ahead touchdown with 2:42 left in the game before the Giants produced a dramatic game-winning drive as time ran out.
Moss headed into last season expressing publicly his disappointment that New England had not offered him a contract extension. The Patriots shocked the football world by trading him to Minnesota after just four games.
The Vikings then waived Moss after four games in which he recorded 13 catches for 174 yards. He was picked up by Tennessee, but made little impact as the team struggled to a 6-10 finish.