D. J. Moore (wide Receiver)
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Denniston Oliver "D. J." Moore Jr. (born April 14, 1997) is an American professional
football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
wide receiver A wide receiver (WR), also referred to as a wideout, and historically known as a split end (SE) or flanker (FL), is an eligible receiver in gridiron football. A key skill position of the offense (American football), offense, WR gets its name ...
for the
Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
of the
National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL). He played
college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Maryland Terrapins The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 19 men's and women's college sports in the United States, varsity intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate ...
, and was selected by the
Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...
in the first round of the
2018 NFL draft The 2018 NFL draft was the 83rd annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2018 NFL season. The draft was held on April 26–28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington southwest of Dallas; it was ...
. Moore was traded to the Bears in March 2023.


Early life

Moore attended
Imhotep Institute Charter High School Imhotep Institute Charter High School is a charter high school located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1998 to offer an African-centered education that emphasizes STEM subjects. During the 2015–16 school year, the school repo ...
in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Philadelphia ( ), colloquially referred to as Philly, is the List of municipalities in Pennsylvania, most populous city in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania and the List of United States cities by population, sixth-most populous city in the Unit ...
, where he played
high school football High school football, also known as prep football, is gridiron football played by High school (North America), high school teams in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular high school sports, interscholastic sports in both c ...
. He is of Jamaican descent through his father. He committed to the
University of Maryland, College Park The University of Maryland, College Park (University of Maryland, UMD, or simply Maryland) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in College Park, Maryland, United States. Founded in 1856, UMD i ...
to play
college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
.


College career

Moore played
college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Maryland Terrapins The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 19 men's and women's college sports in the United States, varsity intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate ...
from 2015 to 2017 under head coaches
Randy Edsall Randy Douglas Edsall (born August 27, 1958) is an American former American football, football coach who recently served as the head football coach for UConn Huskies football, Connecticut from 1999 to 2010 and again from 2017 until his abrupt reti ...
,
Mike Locksley Michael Anthony Locksley (born December 25, 1969) is an American college football coach. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Maryland, a position he has held since 2019. After serving as an assistant coach for several co ...
, and D. J. Durkin. As a freshman, Moore started 10 of Maryland's 12 games, recording 25 receptions for 357 yards and three touchdowns. As a sophomore, he started all 13 games and had 41 receptions for 637 yards and six touchdowns. As a junior, he started all 12 games and set a school record with 80 receptions for 1,033 yards and eight touchdowns. After his junior season, Moore was named to the first-team All-Big Ten Conference, and was the Big Ten Receiver of the Year. Following his junior season, Moore made the decision to enter the
2018 NFL draft The 2018 NFL draft was the 83rd annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2018 NFL season. The draft was held on April 26–28 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington southwest of Dallas; it was ...
.


College statistics


Professional career


Pre-draft

Moore was invited to the 2018
NFL combine The NFL Scouting Combine is a week-long showcase occurring every February at Lucas Oil Stadium (and formerly at the RCA Dome until 2008) in Indianapolis, where college football players perform physical and mental tests in front of National Foot ...
, where he led receivers in the broad jump, and recorded the second best vertical jump. He also ran a 4.42 second 40-yard dash.


Carolina Panthers


2018

Moore was selected by the
Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Panthers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The t ...
in the first round with the 24th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Moore was the first wide receiver drafted. On June 18, 2018, he signed a four-year deal worth $11.2 million featuring a $6.2 million signing bonus. Moore made his NFL debut in the Panthers' season opener against the
Dallas Cowboys The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
. In the 16–8 victory, he had no targets but did have a three-yard rush to go along with a 15-yard punt return. In the following game, a 31–24 loss to the
Atlanta Falcons The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta. The Falcons compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. The Falcons were founded o ...
, he recorded a 51-yard touchdown reception for his first professional catch. In a Week 11 loss to the
Detroit Lions The Detroit Lions are a professional American football team based in Detroit. The Lions compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. The team plays their home game ...
, Moore had a breakout game with seven receptions for 157 yards and a touchdown. Overall, he finished his rookie season with 55 receptions for 788 yards and two touchdowns. He was named to the
PFWA All-Rookie Team Following each National Football League (NFL) season, the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) compiles an honorary All-Rookie Team to recognize that season's most outstanding rookies at each position as adjudged by sportswriters of the PFWA. T ...
, becoming the second Panthers receiver to claim this award, joining
Rae Carruth Rae Theotis Carruth (born Rae Lamar Wiggins; January 20, 1974) is an American former professional football player who was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder. He played as a wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football ...
in 1997.


2019

In Week 3 against the
Arizona Cardinals The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...
, Moore caught one pass for a 52-yard touchdown in the 38–20 win. In Week 10 against the
Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...
, Moore caught nine passes for 120 yards in the 24–16 loss. During Week 12 against the
New Orleans Saints The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans. The Saints compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC South, South division. Since 1975, the team ...
, Moore finished with six catches for 126 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns as the Panthers lost 31–34. Overall, in the 2019 season, Moore finished with 87 receptions for 1,175 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.


2020

In Week 2, Moore recorded eight receptions for 120 receiving yards in a 17–31 loss to the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...
. In Week 5 against the Falcons, Moore recorded four catches for 93 yards, including a 57-yard touchdown reception, during the 23–16 win. In Week 7, he had four receptions for 93 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 27–24 loss to the Saints. In Week 11 against the Lions, Moore recorded seven catches for 127 yards during the 20–0 win. He was placed on the reserve/
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. In January 2020, the disease spread worldwide, resulting in the COVID-19 pandemic. The symptoms of COVID‑19 can vary but often include fever ...
list by the Panthers on December 7, 2020, and activated on December 16. In Week 15 against the Packers, Moore recorded six catches for 131 yards during the 24–16 loss. Moore finished the 2020 season with 66 receptions for 1,193 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.


2021

On April 30, 2021, the Panthers exercised the fifth-year option on Moore's contract. The option guarantees a salary of $11.116 million for the 2022 season. In Week 3, against the
Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston. The Texans compete in the National Football League as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. The team plays its home games at N ...
, Moore recorded eight receptions for 126 yards in the 24–9 victory. In the following game against the Cowboys, he recorded eight receptions for 113 yards and two touchdowns in the 36–28 loss. Moore finished the 2021 season with 93 receptions for 1,157 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.


2022

On March 18, 2022, Moore signed a three-year, $61.9 million contract extension with the Panthers through the 2025 season. In Week 8, against the Falcons, Moore had six receptions for 152 yards and a touchdown in the 37–34 overtime defeat. Moore's touchdown was a 62-yard catch that appeared to set up the Panthers to win the game with only 12 seconds remaining. However, Moore took off his helmet out of bounds and was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct, which moved the extra point back. The kick was missed and the Falcons later won the game. Moore was off the field when he was penalized and the moment became a controversial topic on whether it should have been flagged. Moore finished the 2022 season with 63 receptions for 888 receiving yards and a career-high seven receiving touchdowns, breaking his three-year streak of 1,000-yard receiving seasons.


Chicago Bears


2023

On March 10, 2023, the Panthers agreed to trade Moore and the ninth overall pick in the
2023 NFL draft The 2023 NFL draft was the 88th annual meeting of National Football League (NFL) franchises to select newly eligible players for the 2023 NFL season, 2023 season. The NFL draft, draft was held outside of Kansas City Union Station, Union Station i ...
, as well as several other draft picks (including their 2024 first-round pick, later used to draft
Caleb Williams Caleb Sequan Williams (born November 18, 2001) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League (NFL). Following one season of college football with the Oklahoma Sooners f ...
), to the
Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
for the first overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, which the Panthers used to select
Bryce Young Bryce Young (born July 25, 2001) is an American professional American football, football quarterback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide football, Alabama Crims ...
. The trade was made official when the league calendar year began on March 15. Moore left the Panthers fourth in franchise history with 5,201 receiving yards. On September 24, during Week 3 against the
Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Chiefs compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) West division. Established in 1959 ...
, Moore recorded three receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown, his first of the year, during the 41–10 loss. On October 5, in Week 5 against the
Washington Commanders The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) East division ...
, Moore recorded eight catches for 230 yards and three touchdowns in a Bears victory, with a final score of 40–20. His three touchdowns were a single game career high. His 230 yards is also a career high and the second-most receiving yards for a Bear in a single regular-season game. In Week 12, Moore surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in a season for the fourth time in a road victory over the
Minnesota Vikings The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis. The Vikings compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. Founded in 1960 as ...
. Overall, Moore had 96 receptions for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns, all career highs.


2024

On July 31, 2024, Moore and the Bears agreed to a four-year, $110 million contract extension. In addition, the deal made Moore the first receiver in NFL history to have the first 10 years of his career guaranteed. In Week 5 of the 2024 season, against his former team, the Carolina Panthers, Moore had five receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns in the 36–10 win. He finished the 2024 season with 98 receptions for 966 yards and six touchdowns.


NFL career statistics


References


External links


Chicago Bears bio

Maryland Terrapins bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, D. J. 1997 births Living people Players of American football from Philadelphia American football wide receivers Maryland Terrapins football players Carolina Panthers players Chicago Bears players American sportspeople of Jamaican descent