| No. 25 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Wide receiver | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | (1946-07-27)July 27, 1946 (age 79) Los Angeles, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 208 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | Fermin Lasuen (Los Angeles, CA) | ||||||||
| College |
| ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1968: 1st round, 9th overall pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Career NFL/AFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Haven Christopher Moses (born July 27, 1946) is an American former professionalfootball player who was awide receiver for 14 seasons in theAmerican Football League (AFL) andNational Football League (NFL) with theBuffalo Bills andDenver Broncos. He holds the Broncos franchise career record for yards per reception (18.0).
He played two years of college football for Los Angeles Harbor College, where he was a junior college second-teamAll-American. He played his final two college years with theSan Diego State Aztecs, under coachDon Coryell, during which time the team was 21–1, and where Moses was named aLittle All-American as a seniorreceiver.
Moses was born on July 27, 1946, inLos Angeles.[1] He attendedFermin Lasuen High School, which had 400 students.[2] He played on the football and basketball teams at Fermin Lasuen, in the El Camino Real League.[3][4][5] He was atwo-way player on the football team, athalfback anddefensive back. Moses weighed 170 lb (77.1 kg) as a senior in 1963.[5][6]
After high school, Moses initially played juniorcollege football atLos Angeles Harbor College, in 1964 and 1965. He was a two-way player atsafety and halfback. The team was 9–0 in 1964, and won theWestern State Conference (WSC) title. Moses led the team ininterceptions andpunt returning. He was unanimously selected as a first-team WSC All-Star atdefensive back (safety) in 1964; and was named a second-teamjunior collegeAll-American by J. C. Grid Wire.[7][8][9][10]
In a late September 1965 game, Moses had a 40-yardtouchdownreception and 90-yard touchdown on akickoff return, in Harbor's 11th consecutive win.[11] Two weeks later he had a 73-yard touchdown reception.[12] In 1965, Moses was named a Grid-Wire All-American as a defensive specialist, at defensive back.[13][14] He was selected both first-team All-WSC on offense as an end, and second-team All-WSC as a defensive back.[15] He was also named Harbor's most valuable player and a team captain.[13]
Moses then transferred toSan Diego State University. He played football for theAztecs under future Hall of Fame head coach Don Coryell, from 1966 to 1967.[16][17][18][19][20] As a 6 ft 3 in (1.90 m) 196 lb (88.9 kg)flanker in 1966, Moses had eight regular season, and ten total, receiving touchdowns, with 62 receptions for 1,201 yards.[20][21] San Diego State was 11–0 in 1966, and was theNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) small college champion.[20] The Aztecs won the 1966Camellia Bowl, 28–7, overMontana State. Moses had two touchdown receptions in that game.[22][23]
In 1967, San Diego State was the NCAA small college champion for a second straight season.[24] The Aztecs won their first nine consecutive games that season, making 25 consecutive wins over three years, until being defeated by major collegeUtah State, 31–25.[24][25] The Aztecs playedSan Francisco State in the December 9Camellia Bowl, winning 27–6.[26] The NCAA declared seven Aztec players ineligible before the Camellia Bowl, and Moses had to play defensive back for the first time in his San Diego State career (as well as flanker). Coryell commended Moses for his fine job on defense in the game.[27] During the season, in addition to playing as a receiver, Mosesrushed the ball at least 10 times, and played on special teams coveringpunts.[21]
Moses was selected as aLittle College All-American at receiver in 1967.[28] After his senior season, Moses played in the 1967East-West Shrine Game, theChicago College All-Star Game and theSenior Bowl.[29][30][31]
Moses was selectedninth overall in the1968 NFL/AFL draft by theBuffalo Bills of theAFL.[32] Moses was knocked unconscious by a right forearm thrown during a tackle by defensive backErich Barnes during a late August 1968 preseason game against theCleveland Browns; and yet held onto the pass reception (his fourth of the game). He was taken off the field on a stretcher.[33][34] As a rookie in 1968, he started all 14 games at flanker, with 42 receptions for 633 yards and two touchdowns.[35] His 55-yard touchdown pass reception against theNew York Jets was the Bills longest receptions of the season.[36][35]
In 1969, Moses started all 14 Bills' game as a wide receiver. He had 39 receptions for 752 yards and five touchdowns.[37] His touchdown passes included receptions of 55 (tied withO. J. Simpson for the Bills' season longest reception), 45 and 39 yards.[38][39][40] He had two touchdowns in a November 23 game against the Boston Patriots.[41] His 19.3 yards per reception was seventh best in the AFL.[42] Moses was selected to play in the AFL All-Star Game.[43]
He started 14 games for the third consecutive season in 1970, with 39 receptions for 726 yards and two touchdowns.[44] In this first year of theAFL-NFL merger, he was tied for 10th in the now 26-team NFL, with 18.6 yards per reception.[45][46] In 1971, Moses started nine games, with 23 receptions for 470 yards (20.4 yards per reception) and two touchdowns.[47] He had a 73-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter of the first game of the season against theDallas Cowboys.[48] He had six receptions for 151 yards against the New York Jets in the fifth game of the season.[49] He suffered a sprained left ankle during a November 14 game, limiting his play for the rest of the season; not recording a reception again until the 13th game of the season on December 12.[50][51][52]
In 1972, Moses appeared in only five games for theBills, without a start and with only three receptions.[53] The Bills new coachLou Saban had a run oriented offense, and he did not believe Moses was an adequate blocker under this new scheme and did not start Moses.[54] (The BIlls were sixth in the league in rushing yards in 1972, and 24th in passing yards.[55]) Moses was traded in mid-October to theDenver Broncos for wide receiverDwight Harrison.[54] (Harrison never started a game at receiver for the Bills, but became the team's starting right cornerback on defense for five years.[56])
In his four full Bills' seasons (1968 to 1971), Moses started 51 games with 143 receptions for 2,581 yards (18 yards per reception) and 12 touchdowns.[1]
After the trade, Moses finished the season with the Broncos and then played with them for another nine years.[1] He started six games for the Broncos in 1972, with five touchdown receptions. Overall he caught 15 passes for 224 yards.[57] In a December 10 game against theSan Diego Chargers he had two touchdown receptions and made several key blocks in the game, and was awarded the Broncos' game ball for his performance that day.[58][59] The Broncos had a 2–6 record when head coachJohn Ralston made Moses a starter in the ninth game of the season, and then for the Broncos' remaining five games. Over those six games, the Broncos were 3–3.[60][57] He particularly appreciated the opportunity to play with a knowledgeable veteran quarterback in the Broncos'Charley Johnson.[58]
In 1973, the Broncos had their first winning season in team history (7–5–2).[61][62] Moses started all 14 games at wide receiver. He had 28 receptions for 518 yards, and his 18.5 yards per catch was fifth best in the NFL.[63][64] He also had a team-leading and career-high eight touchdown receptions,[61][63] and was selected to his first NFLPro Bowl.[65] He had three touchdown receptions in an October 14 game against theHouston Oilers,[66] and a 76-yard touchdown reception against the New York Jets two weeks later.[67] In a late November game against theKansas City Chiefs, he had touchdown receptions of 18 and 40 yards.[68]
Moses started 13 games in 1974, and led the Broncos with a 16.4 yards per catch average on 34 receptions; two for touchdowns. The Broncos again had a winning season (7–6–1).[69] In 1975, the Broncos had their only losing season during the remainder of Moses's career. He started every game and again led the team with a 17.4 yards per catch average; with 29 receptions and two touchdowns.[70] In 1976, the Broncos achieved the best record in team history (9–5). Moses started all 14 games, averaging nearly 20 yards per reception on 25 catches. He led the Broncos with seven receiving touchdowns.[71] He had a 71-yard touchdown reception in an early November game against theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[72]
He was a key member of the1977 Broncos team that reached theSuper Bowl. The Broncos were 12–2 and finished first in the AFC West Division. Moses again started all 14 games, averaging 20 yards per catch (fourth best in the NFL) on 27 receptions, four for touchdowns.[73][74] The Broncos defeated thePittsburgh Steelers in thedivisional round of the playoffs, 34–21. Moses had two receptions for 45 yards.[75] The Broncos then beat theOakland Raiders, 20–17, in the January 1,1978 AFC championship game. Moses played a critical role in the victory with two receiving touchdowns, including a 74-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.[76] Moses considered this game the highlight of his life up to that point in time.[77] TheDallas Cowboys defeated the Broncos, 27–10, inSuper Bowl XII. Moses had one reception for 21 yards in that game.[78]
The Broncos again were first in the AFC West Division in 1978, with a 10–6 record, Moses starting all 16 games. He averaged 20.1 yards per reception on 37 receptions, with five touchdowns.[79] He led the Broncos in yards per reception and was tied for fifth in the NFL.[80] Moses had two receptions in the Broncos' first round playoff loss to the Steelers that season.[81] The following season (1979), Moses had career-highs of 54 receptions and 943 receiving yards, along with six touchdowns. He again led the Broncos with 17.5 yards per reception.[82] He had three receptions in the Broncos' first round playoff loss to the Houston Oilers, 13–7.[83]
The 34-year old Moses started 14 games in 1980, with 38 receptions for 674 yards and four touchdowns. He led the Broncos in receiving yards and yards per reception (17.7).[84] His 17.7 yards per reception was tied for ninth best in the NFL.[85] Moses started six games in his final season (1981), with 15 receptions for 246 yards and one touchdown.[86]
Moses played in 10 seasons for the Broncos, starting 127 games. He had 302 receptions for 5,450 yards (18.0 yards per reception), with 44 touchdown receptions. Over his entire career, Moses had 448 regular season receptions for 8,091 (18.1 yards per reception), with 56 touchdowns.[1] Moses had 13 receptions in five playoff games during his career. In the1977-78 NFL playoffs, Moses led the NFL with the most receiving yards (234), yards per reception (29.3) and longest reception (74 yards).[87]
In 1970, Moses selected as a member of the Buffalo Bills team of the 1960s.[54] Moses was inducted into the Denver BroncosRing of Fame in 1988, and is on the Ring of Fame wall atEmpower Field at Mile High.[61] He was a 1986 inductee to theColorado Sports Hall of Fame.[88] In 1988, he also was inducted into the San Diego State University Hall of Fame.[29]
The Broncos only had one losing season from 1973 to 1981.[62] From 1973 to 1980, Moses only missed starting three games.[1] At the time he retired, Moses was tied for first in Broncos' history with 44 touchdown receptions (tied for fifth through 2025) and was third with 302 receptions (12th highest through 2025) and 5,450 receiving yards (10th highest through 2025). His 18.0 yards-per-reception average is the highest in franchise history for receivers with more than 100 receptions.[61][89] He is tied withOwen Daniels andClarence Kay for the Broncos' record for receiving touchdowns in a playoff game, with two against the Oakland Raiders on January 1, 1978.[90][91]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1968 | BUF | 14 | 14 | 42 | 633 | 15.1 | 55 | 2 |
| 1969 | BUF | 14 | 14 | 39 | 752 | 19.3 | 55 | 5 |
| 1970 | BUF | 14 | 14 | 39 | 726 | 18.6 | 45 | 2 |
| 1971 | BUF | 12 | 9 | 23 | 470 | 20.4 | 73 | 2 |
| 1972 | BUF | 5 | 0 | 3 | 60 | 20.0 | 25 | 1 |
| DEN | 8 | 6 | 15 | 224 | 14.9 | 33 | 5 | |
| 1973 | DEN | 14 | 14 | 28 | 518 | 18.5 | 76 | 8 |
| 1974 | DEN | 13 | 13 | 34 | 559 | 16.4 | 42 | 2 |
| 1975 | DEN | 14 | 14 | 29 | 505 | 17.4 | 42 | 2 |
| 1976 | DEN | 14 | 14 | 25 | 498 | 19.9 | 71 | 7 |
| 1977 | DEN | 14 | 14 | 27 | 539 | 20.0 | 35 | 4 |
| 1978 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 37 | 744 | 20.1 | 42 | 5 |
| 1979 | DEN | 16 | 16 | 54 | 943 | 17.5 | 64 | 6 |
| 1980 | DEN | 15 | 14 | 38 | 674 | 17.7 | 33 | 4 |
| 1981 | DEN | 16 | 6 | 15 | 246 | 16.4 | 30 | 1 |
| 199 | 178 | 448 | 8,091 | 18.1 | 76 | 56 | ||
| Year | Team | Games | Receiving | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | ||
| 1977 | DEN | 3 | 3 | 8 | 234 | 29.3 | 74 | 2 |
| 1978 | DEN | 1 | 1 | 2 | 33 | 16.5 | 19 | 0 |
| 1979 | DEN | 1 | 1 | 3 | 47 | 15.7 | 25 | 0 |
| 5 | 5 | 13 | 314 | 24.2 | 74 | 2 | ||
In his last four years as a player, in the offseason he worked forSamsonite, the international luggage company headquarteredin Denver.[92]
After the1981 season, Moses retired from the NFL in March at age 35 and went to work forAdolph Coors Company in the community affairsdivision.[93] He spent 15 years with Coors, seven with theArchdiocese of Denver, and five with the Denver Health Foundation.[92] He also worked as a color commentator on ACC football games forJefferson-Pilot Sports with play-by-play announcerMike Patrick in 1985.[94]