The Pro Football Hall of Famer took a hiatus from the show in December to undergo treatment for bile duct cancer.
Randy Moss at SoFi Stadium in 2022
Randy Moss at SoFi Stadium in 2022.
Following a hiatus as he recovered from bile duct cancer treatment, the Pro Football Hall of Famer is set to return to his post on Sunday NFL Countdown this season, the network confirmed to Entertainment Weekly.
After beginning his hiatus from Countdown in December, Moss made a surprise appearance during the show's Super Bowl broadcast in February.
"Randy's return on Super Bowl Sunday was an emotional lift — not just for our team but for the entire football community — and knowing he will resume his full Sunday NFL Countdown schedule, beginning in Week 1, has been the highlight of the offseason," a representative for ESPN said in a statement.
Moss first indicated that he was experiencing health issues on Dec. 1, when he wore sunglasses during a Countdown broadcast.
"Me and my family, we are battling something internally," the former wide receiver said during the show. "I have some great doctors around me. I couldn't miss the show, I wanted to be here with you guys, I feel great. But if you see me with these Michigan turnover glasses I have on, it's not me being disrespectful because I'm on television."
Later that week, ESPN announced that Moss would "step away" from Countdown for an unspecified period of time. "He has ESPN's full support, and we look forward to welcoming him back when he is ready," the network said in a statement at the time.
Mike Greenberg, Jason Kelce, Randy Moss, Adam Schefter, and Tedy Bruschi at the 2025 Super Bowl
Mike Greenberg, Jason Kelce, Randy Moss, Adam Schefter, and Tedy Bruschi at the 2025 Super Bowl
In mid-December, Moss announced that he was undergoing treatment for bile duct cancer, including a surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. "Your boy is a cancer survivor," Moss said in an Instagram video, explaining that he'd spent six days in a North Carolina hospital. "I didn't think I would ever be in a position like this, as healthy as I thought I was."
As he announced his diagnosis, Moss resolved to return to ESPN as soon as possible. "My goal is to get back on that television with my team," he said in the video.
Moss later appeared at the NFL Honors in February, presenting the award for Comeback Player of the Year via livestream. "I'm sorry I could not be there in person to join you all, but I want to send a special thank you to all of my doctors, my beautiful wife, my children, my family, my teammates, and all the prayer warriors out there," he said. "We are Mossing cancer, and I cannot wait to get back on television with all my guys."
Randy Moss at the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans
Randy Moss at the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans
During his appearance at this year's Super Bowl in New Orleans, ESPN compiled a "Welcome Home" video to celebrate Moss' return to the network, featuring messages from the likes of Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Justin Jefferson, and more.
"You already know it's the big crybaby here, man," Moss said, wiping tears from his face. "It's been hard, but I got a lot of love and a lot of people believe in me, man. So I'm happy to be here."