It’s nearly impossible for Montigo Moss to avoid the questions.
As the son of legendary receiver Randy Moss trying to make it in the NFL, his last name has been a topic of conversation at pretty much every step of his career.
It was no different on Friday afternoon at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, as Moss found himself surrounded by reporters answering questions about his dad after wrapping up a practice with the Vikings.
“It’s a weird feeling,” Moss said. “I guess I’m caught in the shadow.”
This weekend is the first step in Moss carving out his own niche.
Technically, he’s participating in rookie minicamp on a tryout, meaning he will need to turn some heads in order to get invited back for the rest of organized team activities.
That’s the ultimate goal for Moss right now.
After slowly turning himself into an impact player at the FCS level in college, and finishing with 61 catches for 722 yards and seven touchdowns for Maine last season, Moss was not selected in the 2025 NFL draft.
Why did he choose to attend rookie minicamp with the Vikings?
“To be completely honest, this was my only opportunity, so I jumped right on it,” Moss said. “You know, regardless of if my dad played here or not, they gave me a chance to come prove myself.”
When he initially got the call from his agent a couple of weeks ago, Moss said he was almost in tears. He always dreamed of reaching the NFL as a kid, so he will always be grateful to the Vikings for at least giving him a shot.
As he attempts to separate himself from some of his peers, Moss has a 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame that allows him to stand out whenever he’s on the field. He also showcased his skill set on Friday afternoon with a few impressive reps that included him going up and catching the ball at the highest point.
Asked to assess his performance in practice, Moss noted that there were a few areas that he’d like to improve upon as he continues rookie minicamp. He said he planned to call his dad afterwards to talk through it.
Not a bad person to lean on for advice.
“He will coach me up,” Moss said with a smile. “I’m definitely staying in contact with him.”
As he detailed the process of getting ready for rookie minicamp, Moss shared good news about his dad, saying that he’s doing much better after being treated for cancer.
“I’ve training with him for about a month,” Moss said. “He’s out there running some routes with me.”
Though the odds are still stacked against him at this point, Moss currently has a chip and a chair, and he’s doing everything in his power to make sure he gets to keep playing.
“I’ve got to give it my all,” Moss said. “I can’t imagine football ending here.”
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