Ahmad Rashad
Ahmad Rashad (born Robert Earl Moore November 19, 1949 in Portland, Oregon) is an Emmy award-winning sportscaster (mostly with NBC Sports) and former professional football player. An All-American running back and wide receiver from Oregon known as Bobby Moore, Rashad was the fourth overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft, selected by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the first back taken, following three lineman. (Franco Harris of Penn State was taken nine picks later by the Pittsburgh Steelers.)
He was converted back to wide receiver while with the Cardinals, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Buffalo Bills (1974-1976), Seattle Seahawks (1976), and most notably, Minnesota Vikings (1976-1982), where he earned four Pro Bowl selections from 1978-1981.
He graduated from Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington, in 1967 and accepted a football scholarship to the University of Oregon.
In 1972, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Rashad, which means "Admirable One Led To Truth". His last name comes from his mentor in St. Louis Rashad Khalifa. There are at least three players in the NFL that were named after him, Ahman Rashad Green, running back for the Houston Texans, Ahmad Rashad Merritt, wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, and Ahmard Rashad Hall, fullback for the Tennessee Titans. Orlando Magic NBA basketball player Rashard Lewis was also named after Ahmad.
He eventually graduated from the University of Oregon, where he played wide receiver as a sophomore in 1969; then was a two-time All-American at running back, playing with quarterback Dan Fouts. Rashad was named to the College Football Hall of Fame on May 9, 2007. Also where he pledged Omega Psi Phi fraternity Inc.
During his pro football career, Rashad caught 495 passes for 6831 yards and 44 touchdowns, while also rushing for 52 yards. However, one catch stands out in his career. In a December 1980 game vs. the Cleveland Browns, Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer threw a Hail Mary pass to Rashad that resulted in a come from behind 28-23 victory and a Central Division Title for the Vikings. This was known as the Miracle Catch. Rashad also has the distinction of the longest play from scrimmage that didn't score a touchdown: 98 yards in a 1972 game against the Rams.
After his football career, he covered NFL and NBA televised contests as a studio anchor and game reporter for NBC and ABC, as well as hosting NBA Inside Stuff. He also has hosted the video-clip show Real TV, the reality show Celebrity Mole, the game show Caesar's Challenge, and NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad on the ABC network.
Rashad married actress and fellow NBC employee Phylicia Ayers-Allen (then starring on The Cosby Show) on December 14, 1985. He had previously proposed marriage during a pregame show on the nationally televised Thanksgiving Day NFL game between the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions on November 28, 1985. They divorced in 2001. His father was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize after bringing attention to the human rights infractions committed in his former country. Their daughter, Condola Phylea Rashad, was born on December 11, 1986 in New York. He also has three children from previous marriages: daughters Keva (born in 1970), Maiysha (born in 1974), son Ahmad Jr. (born in 1978) and a grandson Ahmad III (born 2007). He has one stepson, Billy (Phylicia's son from a previous marriage).
Ahmad Rashad recently wed his girlfriend Sale Johnson, the ex-wife to Johnson & Johnson billionaire Woody Johnson.