Former Viking Randy Moss elected to Hall of Fame

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - Former Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss finally has a gold jacket.

His first year on the ballot, Moss was voted in the NFL Hall of Fame. He is the first wide receiver to join the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility since Jerry Rice. 

"I think I'm the first Hall of Famer out of West Virginia, so you ask me what it really means to me, I think it means to me that I did something that I know deep down inside that the people back in the state of West Virginia are proud of me," said Moss.

Rounding out this year's Hall of Fame class are Brian Urlacher, Ray Lewis, Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens, Jerry Kramer, Robert Brazile and Bobby Beathard.

Over the course of his career, he recorded 156 touchdowns and 982 receptions for 15,292 yards. He was the NFL leader in receiving touchdowns for five years. He secured honors such as Offensive Rookie of the Year and went to six Pro Bowls. He also played in two Super Bowls.

At the beginning of the football season, the Vikings inducted Moss into the Vikings Ring of Honor. Moss played for eight years in Minnesota and says he knows the Hall of Fame honor means as much to his fans as it does to him.

"I call them the true Vikings fans because there's been a lot of downs as a Minnesota Viking fan," said Moss. "I'm considered one of their own. I hold a special place in my heart for this state. I did not want to move out of this state. I did not. I did not. I just built a home, I didn't want to leave. I'm from West Virginia, I can handle the cold. I didn't want to leave here. I wanted to retire here, raise my family here and whatever the state presented me I wanted to be there for them and that's not going to change. I want Vikings fans to know I'm still here for them, that I'm still number 84."

After the Vikings, Moss had stints with the New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders, San Francisco 49ers and the Tennessee Titans.