Manfred Moore Explained

Number:26, 45, 36, 44
Position:Running back
Birth Date:22 December 1950
Birth Place:Martinez, California, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Weight Lb:197
Height In:1
High School:San Fernando (CA)
College:USC
Draftyear:1974
Draftround:9
Draftpick:216
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statlabel1:Rushing attempts-yards
Statvalue1:20-38
Statlabel2:Receptions-yards
Statvalue2:9-94
Statlabel3:Touchdowns
Statvalue3:1
Pfr:MoorMa00
Year1start:1977
Appearances1:5
Tries1:1
Goals1:0
Fieldgoals1:0
Points1:3

Manfred Moore (December 22, 1950 – January 11, 2020)[1] was an American professional American football running back and, briefly, rugby league player who played in the 1970s.

Early years

Moore was born in Martinez, California. He graduated from San Fernando High School in San Fernando, California. He played college football for the University of Southern California.

Professional career

NFL career

Moore was a 9th round selection (216th overall) in the 1974 NFL draft by the San Francisco 49ers.[2] He played for the 49ers in 1974 and 1975, being named their special teams player of the year in both seasons.[3] He then spent the 1976 NFL season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, after being selected by them in the 1976 NFL expansion draft.[4] Near the end of the 1976 season he was cut by the winless Buccaneers (0-13 at that point) and signed by the Oakland Raiders to replace their injured kick returner Rick Jennings.[5]

Switch to rugby league

See also: List of players who have converted from one football code to another. Following his Super Bowl appearance, Moore was recruited by Australian New South Wales Rugby Football League premiership team the Newtown Jets for the 1977 NSWRFL season, with the move being financed by John Singleton.[3] He made his first grade debut just 98 days after the Super Bowl, playing on the wing against the Western Suburbs Magpies before 5,743 spectators at Henson Park. He impressed on debut, scoring the club's first try of the season.[6] This made him the first, and to date only, person to score a first grade rugby league try in Australia and an NFL touchdown in the US.[3] Moore lasted only four games in the NSWRFL; he was relegated to reserve grade and played in the second row before receiving a head injury in a match against Penrith which prompted him to return to the National Football League prematurely.[6] [7]

Return to the NFL

Moore returned to the National Football League with the Minnesota Vikings, playing twelve games in the 1977 NFL season.[8]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Manfred Moore Passes. Mike Terry, Sun Contributing. Writer. The San Fernando Valley Sun.
  2. Web site: 1974 NFL Player Draft . May 23, 2008 . databasefootball.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080327012800/http://www.databasefootball.com/draft/draftyear.htm?yr=1974&lg=NFL . March 27, 2008 .
  3. Web site: The Super Bowl winner who rocked rugby league after walking the reverse path to Jarryd Hayne. foxsports.com.au. August 25, 2015. August 26, 2015.
  4. http://www.bucpower.com/manfred-moore.html Manfred Moore
  5. Mizell, Hubert. "Moore: from 0-13 to the Super Bowl". St. Petersburg Times. December 29, 1976
  6. Book: Ian Heads and David Middleton. A Centenary of Rugby League (1908-2008). 2008. Pan Macmillan. Sydney. 606. 978-1-4050-3830-0.
  7. Web site: When an American bled for Newtown. theage.com.au. August 25, 2007. August 26, 2015.
  8. Web site: Manfred Moore player page . May 23, 2008 . databasefootball.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20070209040810/http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=MOOREMAN01 . February 9, 2007 .