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David Edward Moore (born November 11, 1969) is an American former professional football tight end and long snapper who played in the National Football League (NFL) with the played for the Miami Dolphins, the Buffalo Bills, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the span of his 15-year career. His last official game was the 2007 Pro Bowl in Honolulu, Hawaii. Moore didn't miss more than two games in any season for his entire Buccaneers career since first joining the team in 1993. At the time of his retirement, he was the fourth tight end in NFL history to play 200 career games. In fact, before him, only 206 NFL players had accomplished this feat in the entirety of the National Football League's existence. During his career he had a rate of one touchdown scored for every 7.7 passes caught, which was the best touchdown rate by any player in Buccaneers history who had at least 50 career receptions.

Early life

Moore attended Roxbury High School in Succasunna, New Jersey, and was a letterman in football, basketball, baseball, and track. He led the Roxbury Gaels to back to back state finals appearances in 1986 and 1987. Moore was selected as both a New Jersey All-State player, as well as an All Tri-State Player which consists of the states of Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.

College career

Moore played college football at the University of Pittsburgh for the Pittsburgh Panthers. He attended from 1988 to 1991, and recorded his best collegiate season in 1991 with 51 receptions, leading the Big East Conference for receptions by a tight end. Following his successful career at The University of Pittsburgh, he received an invite to the NFL Combine.

College statistics

Rushing

Receiving

NFL career

Miami Dolphins (1992)

Moore was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round of the 1992 NFL Draft. He appeared in one game for the Miami Dolphins during his rookie season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1992)

Moore signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1992. He joined George Stewart's tight end room and appeared in 4 total games that season, resulting in one reception for ten yards.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1993)

Moore appeared in 15 games for the Buccaneers in 1993. He totaled four receptions on the year for 47 receiving yards and scored his first NFL touchdown against the Denver Broncos.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1994)

Moore again appeared in 15 games during the 1994 season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He totaled four receptions for 57 receiving yards this year. He missed one game in 1994 due to an ankle sprain. Moore would go on to appear in 119 consecutive games after this injury, earning him a reputation amongst the coaching staff as being extremely durable. Moore also began to be regarded as a great blocker this season.<

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1995)

Moore appeared in all 16 games for the first time in his career. He became more involved in the offensive passing game, more than tripling his receptions from the year before and totaling 13 receptions for 102 yards.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1996)

This was Tony Dungy's first season as Head Coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Before Coach Dungy's arrival, Moore was utilized as a fullback in the Buccaneers offense. During the 1995 offseason, the Buccaneers selected Mike Alstott in the second round of the NFL draft. Dungy moved Moore to tight end to begin this season. With team starter Jackie Harris struggling with injuries, Moore started eight games this season. In his first season at tight end, Moore totaled 27 receptions for 237 yards and 3 touchdowns. His longest reception was for 23 yards.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997)

Moore scored the first touchdown of the year for the Buccaneers. His touchdown helped the Buccaneers take the lead in the fourth quarter against the San Francisco 49ers. The Buccaneers went on to qualify for the playoffs in the 1997 post-season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1998)

In 1998, The Buccaneers faced the Bears at home. During the third quarter, Dave Moore secured a 45-yard one handed catch, thrown by Trent Dilfer, to score the first touchdown by a Buccaneer in the newly built Raymond James Stadium. According to Bucs Report, this catch is often accredited as one of the best catches in Buccaneer History. This catch sparked a fourth quarter comeback by the Buccaneers and resulted in the team's first ever win in Raymond James Stadium.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1999)

Moore amassed 276 receiving yards and 23 receptions. Moore scored 5 touchdowns this season, the most touchdowns he would score in a single NFL season. Over his entire career he had a rate of one touchdown scored for every 7.7 passes caught, which was the best touchdown rate by any player in Buccaneer history who had at least 50 career receptions. He helped contribute to the Buccaneers NFC Championship appearance against the St. Louis Rams. The Buccaneers were defeated 11–6.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2000)

Moore continued the trend of increasing his receptions and receiving yards from the year before. During this season, he totaled 29 receptions for 288 receiving yards. His 29 receptions ranked seventh among NFC tight ends. His 3 touchdown catches were the third most on the team.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2001)

Moore had a career year for receptions in 2001. He amassed 35 receptions this year for a total of 285 yards. He averaged 8.1 yards per reception and scored 4 touchdowns. Surprisingly, Moore was released by the Buccaneers following his career year. According to the Tampa Bay Times, Jon Gruden wanted to keep Moore in Tampa and planned to use him as a key part of his offense. However, Buccaneers General Manager, Rich McKay didn't offer a contract above the veteran minimum salary of $650,000. Moore was courted by multiple teams in the off season, including the Buffalo Bills and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Considering that he was both a great blocker and a well-versed receiving threat, he was a great fit for both of their offenses.

Buffalo Bills (2002)

Following a career year with the Buccaneers, Moore signed a three-year $3.8 million deal with a $500,000 signing bonus. Former Pittsburgh teammates, QB Alex Van Pelt and Guard Ruben Brown helped recruit Moore to join them in Buffalo. Although Moore suited up for the Buffalo Bills, he continued to keep Tampa Bay as his home and his main residence. In his first season in Buffalo, he caught 16 passes for 141 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Buffalo Bills (2003)

In 2003, Moore appeared in 15 total games. He totaled 7 passes for 82 yards. He averaged 11.7 yards per catch and hauled in 2 touchdown passes.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2004)

The Buccaneers opened up free agency in 2004 offseason by announcing they had signed Moore to return to the team. In addition to playing tight end for the Buccaneers, he also served as the team's long snapper. As a tight end, Moore hauled in 3 receptions for 17 yards, averaging 5.7 yards per reception.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2005)

Moore played in his 200th Career game against the Washington Redskins (Now known as the Washington Commanders). At the time he was just the 207th player in NFL history to accomplish this feat. He is one of only eight NFL tight ends to play 200 games. Moore continued to play both tight end and long snapper for the Buccaneers. He totaled one reception for 5 yards, primarily serving as a blocking tight end for the Buccaneers offense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006)

Moore played his final season for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He totaled one reception for 9 yards. In his entire career, Moore caught 207 passes for 2,028 yards and 28 touchdowns. His longest reception was 44 yards in 1998. He averaged 9.8 yards per reception. During his career he had a rate of one touchdown scored for every 7.7 passes caught, which was the best touchdown rate by any player in Buccaneer history who had at least 50 career receptions. Moore was selected to the Pro Bowl at the end of the 2006 season. He retired following the 2006 season, after playing 15 seasons in the National Football League.

NFL statistics

Buccaneers Radio Network

Beginning with the 2007 football season, Moore began working for the Buccaneers Radio Network. He serves as the color analyst (replacing Hardy Nickerson from 2006) and works alongside play-by-play announcer Gene Deckerhoff. Moore was most recently color commentated the Super Bowl in Tampa for Buccaneers Radio Network. His voice has been featured in Super Bowl highlights released by the National Football League of the Buccaneers victory.

Coaching career

Since retiring from the National Football League, Moore has coached throughout the Tampa Bay area. He began his coaching career for a little league team in St. Petersburg, Florida called the Azalea Bulldogs. He then went on to become the Head Varsity Football Coach for Shorecrest Preparatory High School. Moore served as the third Head Coach in the program's history, replacing Pinellas County's longest tenured coach Phil Hayford. Moore led the Shorecrest Chargers to a 7–3 record in 2012. In the first week of the regular season, Moore opened up with a victory over Northside Christian, a team coached by his former Bucs teammate Mike Alstott. Moore stepped down as the head coach of Shorecrest Preporatory and transitioned to an assistant coaching role for Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida, where he coached his son Jake. Jake played both center and Long Snapper and Jesuit. Jake, following in his father's footsteps, as a football player, was two-year captain of the Jesuit football team, 2x Jesuit Most Valuable Offensive Lineman, received First-team all-area, all county, and all-state honors, played on both conference and regional championship teams, before heading to the Dayton Flyers football team at the University of Dayton

Post-NFL career

Moore hosted a fishing show on SunSports titled “ One Moore Catch” and owns a restaurant “Island Way Grill” in Clearwater, Florida with former teammate Mike Alstott. Dave has a wife, Ann Marie, a daughter, Halee, and a son, Jake. He is an avid fisherman. According to his Twitter account, Moore received a Super Bowl Ring at the Buccaneers' ring ceremony for their 2020 victory.

Moore Resources Insurance

Dave Moore founded Moore Resources Insurance in 2007, and is CEO and President of the company.

References

1. , Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Accessed July 30, 2021."TE Dave Moore hasn't missed more than two games in any season since 1993".
2. , Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Accessed July 30, 2021."The first time Dave Moore steps onto the field after Sunday's kickoff against the Washington Redskins, he will become just the 207th player in the 86-year history of the National Football League to appear in 200 career games...On Sunday, Buccaneer veteran Dave Moore will reach a remarkable milestone, becoming just the eighth tight end in NFL history to play in 200 regular season games".
3. ^ Tampa Bay Buccaneers Dave Moore Moving Upstairs. Accessed July 30, 2021. "Moore's rate of one touchdown scored for every 7.7 passes caught is the best by any player in Buccaneer history who has at least 50 career receptions".
4. "Dave Moore profile". National Football League Players Association. Retrieved July 24, 2007. Hometown: Morristown, New Jersey...Attended Roxbury High School in Succasunna, New Jersey, lettering in football, basketball, baseball and track… High school All-America as a senior.
5. "Dave Moore". NJ Sports. Retrieved July 29, 2021. A superb all-around athlete, Dave excelled baseball, basketball, football and track. He earned letters in all four at Roxbury High, leading the Gaels to the state football finals as a junior receiver in 1986 and a senior in 1987.
6. "Roxbury's Dave Moore's Wonderful Football Life". My Paper Online. July 20, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2021. Moore, who played for the Roxbury High School football team from 1985 – 1987, was both a New Jersey All-State player, as well as an All Tri-State (Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York) performer. He also took part in basketball, baseball, and track and field.
7. Sports Reference College Football. Accessed July 30, 2021. "Moore was second in total receptions in Big East during the 1991 season with 51 receptions. The only player in front of him was a Wide Receiver, thus making him all the reception leader for Tight Ends".
8. NFL Combine Results. Accessed July 30, 2021. "Dave Moore's Combine Results".
9. "1992 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
10. "Dave Moore". The Football Database. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
11. ^ "Moore Returns", Tampa Bay Buccaneers, March 2, 2004. Accessed July 30, 2021. "In addition to being a sturdy blocker, Moore was extremely durable. After an ankle sprain held him out of one game midway through 1994, he appeared in 119 consecutive games to finish out his first stint as a Buccaneer".
12. , . Accessed July 30, 2021. "At the first minicamp under the new regime, Moore felt solid and secure about his situation, lining up with Rhett and even catching some passes out of the backfield. But a month later, the Bucs selected Purdue fullback Mike Alstott in the second round of the 1996 draft. By the second minicamp, Moore was told he was being moved to tight end. During one workout, Moore saw Dungy standing alone, surveying his new team, and approached him with a request. "Coach, I went from first-string fullback to fourth-string tight end," Moore said. "Don't let me get caught in the shuffle."
13. , . Accessed July 30, 2021. "Moore shared the tight end duties with Harris for one more season, starting six games and recording 18 receptions in 1997, then took over the starting job full time in '98. From 1998-2001, Moore started 64 straight games and averaged 28 catches, 276 yards and".
14. , . Accessed July 29, 2021. "In 1997, Dave ignited the Buccaneers' playoff-qualifying season when he scored the teams first touchdown of the year, lifting Tampa Bay from behind in the fourth quarter of its Week 1 victory over the San Francisco 49ers".
15. "Dave Moore, a True Star". Bucs Report. July 16, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2020. As an added historical fact, Dave Moore, in the 1998 season during the 3rd quarter scored the first buccaneers TD in raymond James Stadium. On a one handed catch at the 22-yard line, thrown by Trent Dilfer from the 45-yard line, and taken in for the score (This catch is considered to be one of the top 10 best catches in bucs history).
16. "Dave Moore, a True Star". Bucs Report. July 16, 2018. Retrieved August 14, 2020. Moores catch SPARKED THE FOURTH QUARTER COMEBACK THAT LED THE BUCCANEERS TO THEIR FIRST EVER WIN IN THEIR BRAND NEW STADIUM..
17. , . Accessed July 27, 2021. "One of the most popular and productive Bucs, Moore figured to be an integral part of the offense under Gruden. But Tampa Bay never seemed willing to offer much more than a $650,000 minimum salary to re-sign Moore. "I had a couple of conversations with (Gruden) and he wanted to keep me," said Moore, who says he believes he can play for three more seasons. "We discussed the ways he was going to use me in his offense, different things. But the bottom line is, it comes down to the numbers. When push comes to shove, the Bucs weren't willing to go where Pittsburgh and Buffalo wanted to go".
18. , . Accessed July 27, 2021. "Moore's decision was influenced by two Bills and former University of Pittsburgh teammates, QB Alex Van Pelt and guard Ruben Brown".
19. , . Accessed July 27, 2021. "Moore, an avid fisherman who co-owns the Island Grill on Clearwater Beach with fullback Mike Alstott, said he plans to continue to make the Tampa Bay area his home.".
20. , . Accessed July 30, 2021. "The Buccaneers opened their 2004 free agency efforts on Wednesday with the immediate signing of Moore, the 12th-year veteran tight end. Moore played the majority of his NFL career with the Buccaneers before spending the last two seasons with the Buffalo Bills".
21. , Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Accessed July 30, 2021. "TE Dave Moore hasn't missed more than two games in any season since 1993 The first time Dave Moore steps onto the field after Sunday's kickoff against the Washington Redskins, he will become just the 207th player in the 86-year history of the National Football League to appear in 200 career games. Really, though, Moore's list is even more exclusive than that. Here it is, in its entirety".
22. "Dave Moore Stats". ESPN Internet Ventures. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
23. "Buccaneers Radio". Tampa Bay Buccaneers Radio Network. Retrieved March 30, 2020. Beginning with the 2007 football season, Moore began working for the Buccaneers Radio Network. He serves as the color analyst replacing Hardy Nickerson from 2006 and works alongside play-by-play legend Gene Deckerhoff.
24. , . Accessed July 17, 2021. "Moore's voice is featured in clips of Buccaneers highlights alongside Gene Deckerhoff".
25. , . Accessed July 30, 2021. "After two seasons, Moore has stepped down as the head coach at Shorecrest Prep. Moore became the school's third football coach after the 2011 season, replacing Pinellas County's longest tenured coach Phil Hayford. In 2012, Moore led the Chargers to a 7-3 record, including a regular-season opening victory over Northside Christian, a team coached by his former Bucs teammate Mike Alstott. This past season, Shorecrest Prep finished 2-6".
26. , . Accessed July 30, 2021. "Jake, following in his father's footsteps, as a football player, was two-year captain of the Jesuit football team, 2x Jesuit Most Valuable Offensive Lineman, received First-team all-area, all county, and all-state honors, played on both conference and regional championship teams, before heading to the Dayton Flyers football team at the University of Dayton".
27. , . Accessed July 30, 2021. "Moore, an avid fisherman who co-owns the Island Grill on Clearwater Beach with fullback Mike Alstott, said he plans to continue to make the Tampa Bay area his home".
28. "Moore Resources Insurance". Retrieved March 29, 2020.

External links

• 1969 births
• Living people
• American football tight ends
• American football long snappers
• Buffalo Bills players
• Miami Dolphins players
• National Football League announcers
• Roxbury High School (New Jersey) alumni
• Sportspeople from Morristown, New Jersey
• Players of American football from Morris County, New Jersey
• People from Roxbury, New Jersey
• Pittsburgh Panthers football players
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers announcers
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers players