PORTLAND, Ore. — Known as a legend both on and off the field, former NFL player Ahmad Rashad has built a long-lasting legacy in the world of sports — one that especially hits close to home for sports fanatics in Oregon. Rashad's journey also came with some challenges.
Rashad was born in Portland in 1949 with the name Robert Moore, otherwise known as Bobby Moore.
Moore and his family moved to Tacoma, Washington, where he attended Mount Tahoma High School. He established himself as a triple-threat athlete, excelling in basketball, football and track and field. He won the state high school jump title and led the football team by making all-conference and scoring game-winning touchdowns.
After graduating, Moore accepted a scholarship to the University of Oregon. During three record seasons with the Ducks, he rushed for over two thousand yards, caught 131 passes and scored 226 points. His records stood for 18 years, and he was named to the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
This led to national attention from head NFL coaches. In 1972, the St. Louis Cardinals picked Moore fourth overall in the NFL draft.
Moore converted to Islam during his senior year in college and changed his name to Ahmad Rashad during his second season in the NFL.
The decision, however, led to distaste from the public. Rashad faced ridicule and discrimination as one of the few professional Muslim athletes in the United States.
In an interview with Sports Illustrated, Rashad recalled his first game after the name change and how the stadium reacted to his introduction from the P.A. announcer.
"The whole place was booing like crazy," Rashad said in the interview. "And when I went to stand next to the guys, they were moving away from me, too!"
But this didn't stop him from climbing up the ladder.
During his 11-year career in the league, Rashad made four pro bowls, which led him to the Minnesota Vikings ‘Ring of Honor' in 2017. Rashad has noted it as the ‘most important thing’ that he’s achieved in his career, or rather, something that is closer to his heart than awards and titles.
Even after hanging up his cleats, Rashad extended his love for the game beyond the football field.
The Emmy Award winner worked with NBC Sports for 20 years, covering the NFL, NBA and the Olympics. Rashad also hosted “NBA Inside Stuff” for 15 seasons.