21 MEWELDE MOORE

 

PRO: Signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on March 3, 2008 as a free agent (Minnesota)…holds Vikings record with a 10.5-yard career punt return average…one of only two players in Vikings history (David Palmer) to have two career punt return TDs…owns two of the 10 longest punt returns in Vikings history with his pair of 71-yard TDs…the Vikings were 4-0 in games when Moore runs for 100+ yards...ranks tied with Herschel Walker for 10th place in Vikings history with four career 100-yard rushing games...along with Koren Robinson, who had a kickoff return TD at N.Y. Giants (11/13/05), marked only the 2nd time in Vikings history posted a punt return and kickoff return TD in the same game, the other occurring in 1999 at Kansas City when Robert Tate (KOR) and Randy Moss (PR) accomplished the feat…set a Vikings’ record with 610 combined net yards in a 3-game span in 2004 (at Houston, at New Orleans, vs. Tennessee), topping the old mark of 573 set by Chuck Foreman in 1976...won NFL’s Pepsi Rookie of the Week award for performance vs. Tennessee (10/24/04)…joined Onterrio Smith as the only Viking rookies in  Vikings’ team history to rush for consecutive 100-yard games (at New Orleans, vs. Tennessee) in 2004…was the 1st RB selected from Tulane by the Vikings since taking Tommy Mason #1 overall in the 1961 inaugural draft, the 1st player ever drafted by Minnesota.

2007 (12-0): Rushed 20 times for 113 yards (5.7 avg.)…caught  six passes for 48 yards (8.0 avg.)…returned 13 punts for 130 yards (10.0) with a long of 42 yards…9/9 vs. Atlanta: Was inactive…9/16 at Detroit: Ran six times for a season-high 50 yards (8.3 avg.)…caught a season-high four passes for 36 yards (9.0)…9/23 at Kansas City: Rushed four times for 21 yards (5.3 avg.)…made two receptions for 12 yards (6.0 avg.)…9/30 vs. Green Bay: Was inactive…10/14 at Chicago: Was inactive…10/21 at Dallas: Played primarily special teams…10/28 vs. Philadelphia: Played primarily special teams…11/04 vs. San Diego: Returned four punts for 59 yards (14.8 avg.)…11/11 at Green Bay: Played special teams and lined up as a receiver but did not catch a pass…11/18 vs. Oakland: Rushed twice for nine yards (4.5 avg.) and had one fumble…returned two punts for five yards…11/25 at New York Giants: Rushed three times for 12 yards (4.0 avg.)…12/2 vs. Detroit: Had three carries for four yards with a long of five yards…returned one punt for ten yards…12/09 at San Francisco: Returned a punt for six yards…12/17 vs. Chicago: Was inactive…12/23 vs. Washington: Returned two punts for 29 yards…12/30 at Denver: Ran twice for 17 yards (8.5 avg.)…returned three punts for 21 yards (7.0 avg.).

2006 (16-0): Led the team with a 10.1 punt return average and tied for 2nd on the team with a career-high 46 receptions…ranked 4th in the NFC in punt return average…joined Nate Burleson as the only Viking in team history to return a punt for a TD on Monday Night Football with his 71-yard return vs. New England in Week 8…with the return joined David Palmer to become only the 2nd player in franchise history with two career punt return TDs…threw the 7th TD by a RB in team history when he hit TE Jermaine Wiggins on a halfback pass in Week 7 at Seattle  for a 15-yard TD…the TD pass marked the 2nd time on the season that the Vikings scored on a pass by a non-QB (K Ryan Longwell to TE Richard Owens vs. Carolina, 9/10), which tied the team record set in 1984 when RB Alfred Anderson threw two TD passes…also returned a punt 40 yards against the Seahawks…caught the Vikings’ two longest passes on the season, both 50-yarders, one from Brooks Bollinger in Week 8 vs. New England and the other from Tarvaris Jackson vs. St. Louis in Week 17…posted the 2nd-longest punt return in team history in a season opener with his 20-yard return at Washington on Monday Night Football…tied team high with five receptions in Week 15 vs. NY Jets and scored his 1st receiving TD of the season, catching Tarvaris Jackson’s 1st career TD pass on a 35-yard screen pass…9/11 at Washington: Ran twice for negative 0.5 yards…returned two punts for 27 yards (13.5 avg.)…9/17 vs. Carolina: Ran one time for 11 yards…caught three passes for 13 yards (4.3 avg.)…returned six punts for 22 yards (3.7 avg.)…returned one kickoff for 25 yards…9/24 vs. Chicago: Had three rushes for 23 yards (7.7 avg.)…caught three passes for 18 yards (6.0 avg.)…returned two punts for 16 yards (8.0 avg.)…10/1 at Buffalo: Ran two times for 17 yards (8.5 avg.)…two receptions for 21 yards (10.5 avg.)…returned one punt for 16 yards…10/8 vs. Detroit: Had a season-high five receptions for 38 yards (7.6 avg.)…returned three punts for 19 yards (6.3 avg.)…10/22 at Seattle: Threw his first career touchdown pass to TE Jermaine Wiggins (15-yards)…one reception for five yards…returned four punts for 66 yards (16.5 avg.)…10/30 vs. New England: Rushed twice for nine yards (4.5 avg.)…caught four passes for a season-high 91 yards (22.8 avg.)…returned a punt 71 yards for his second career punt return for a touchdown…returned two punts for 81 yards (40.5 avg.)…11/5 at San Francisco: Ran once for minus- one yards…caught a pass for four yards…returned two punts for 18 yards (9.0 avg.)…11/12 vs. Green Bay: Had three rushes for 15 yards (5.0 avg.)…tied a season high with five receptions for 57 yards (11.4 avg.)…returned three punts for 14 yards (4.7 avg.)…11/19 at Miami: Ran one time for 14 yards…tied a season high for the second consecutive week with five receptions for 32 yards (6.4 avg.)…returned six punts for 68 yards (11.3 avg.)…11/26 vs. Arizona: Ran twice for 10 yards (5.0 avg.)…12/3 at Chicago: Had three rushes for 13 yards (4.3 avg.)…again tied a season high with five catches for 51 yards (10.2 avg.)…returned three punts for 10 yards (3.3 avg.)…12/10 at Detroit: Ran three times for 11 yards (3.7 avg.)…caught two passes for 18 yards (9.0 avg.)…12/17 vs. New York Jets: Tied a season high with five receptions for 53 yards (10.6 avg.)…caught his first touchdown of the season…returned one punt for negative one yard…12/21 at Green Bay: Caught two passes for 10 yards (5.0 avg.)…12/31 vs. St. Louis: Ran one time for 10 yards…caught three passes for 57 yards (19.0 avg.)…returned one punt for nine yards.

2005 (16-8): Enjoyed a breakout year of production as a rusher, receiver and return man...was the only player in the NFL to score by rush, reception and punt return in 2005...Moore became the 2nd Viking to score a rushing, receiving and punt return TD, joining Pro Football Hall of Famer Hugh McElhenny in 1961...posted the 9th punt return TD in Vikings history with a 71-yard TD in Week 10 at NY Giants in the upset win...the 71-yard punt return TD was the 6th-longest punt return TD in team history and 8th-long overall punt return..part of an NFL-record setting day in Giants Stadium as he joined Koren Robinson (kickoff return TD) and Darren Sharper (INT return TD) to become the only team in League history to score all three ways in a game...ranked 2nd in the NFC and 3rd in the NFL with an 11.7 yard average on punt returns...his 11.7 average was the 4th-best in Vikings history...became the highest-ranked Vikings punt returner (3rd in NFL) since 1997 when David Palmer was 3rd in the League...led team in rushing (662 yards), punt returns (245 yards) and was 3rd on team in receptions (37)...broke the 100-yard rushing mark twice on the season with 101 vs. New Orleans in Week 3 and 122 at Green Bay in Week 11...the 122 yards at Green Bay on Monday Night Football made him the 4th Vikings RB to break the century mark on MNF...was honored along with CB Dovonte Edwards for MNF Green Bay game by being put on ABC’s “Horse Trailer”...scored 1st NFL TD vs. Green Bay in Week 11 as part of a torrid 2nd-half comeback, catching a 14-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper put the Vikings up 20-17 after trailing 0-17 at halftime. Moore’s TD with 3:10 left in the game gave the Vikings the lead in the contest before future Viking Ryan Longwell hit a 39-yard FG with :24 to play for a 20-17 Green Bay lead before Vikings K Paul Edinger connected on a team-record 56-yarder as time expired for a 23-20 win...scored 1st rushing TD at Carolina in Week 8 on a four-yard rush...scored 2nd receiving TD of his career in season finale vs. Chicago on a seven-yard pass from Brad Johnson…9/11 vs. Tampa Bay: Returned three kickoffs for 66 yards (22.0 avg.)…had a long return of 27 yards…9/18 at Cincinnati: Ran eight times for 29 yards (3.6 avg.)…caught two passes for seven yards (3.5 avg.)…returned one kickoff for six yards…9/25 vs. New Orleans: Eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the first time of the season with 23 carries for 101 yards (4.4 avg.)…caught one pass for three yards…10/2 at Atlanta: Gained 57 yards on 14 attempts (4.1 avg.)…caught a season-high six passes for 63 yards (10.5 avg.)…10/16 at Chicago: Rushed for 57 yards on 14 attempts (4.1 avg.)…had five receptions for 52 yards (10.4 avg.)…10/23 vs. Green Bay: Scored his first career touchdown reception…had four catches for 60 yards (15.0 avg.)…had 13 rushing attempts for 45 yards (3.5 avg.)…returned two punts for nine yards (4.5 avg.)…10/30 at Carolina: Ran nine times for 30 yards (3.3 avg.) and scored his first career rushing touchdown…had one reception for one yard…returned one punt for 13 yards…11/6 vs. Detroit: Gained 49 yards on 11 carries (4.5 avg.)…caught one pass for 26 yards…returned two punts for 30 yards (15.0 avg.)…11/13 at New York Giants: Returned three punts for 87 yards…returned a punt 71 yards for his first career punt return for a touchdown…11/21 at Green Bay: Ran 22 times for a season-high 122 yards (5.5 avg.)…caught two passes for 16 yards (8.0 avg.)…returned five punts for 40 yards (8.0 avg.)…11/27 vs. Cleveland: Gained 67 yards on 21 attempts (3.2 avg.)…had two receptions for nine yards (4.5 avg.)…returned one punt for two yards…12/4 at Detroit: Ran one time for minus-six yards…returned one punt for seven yards…12/11 vs. St. Louis: Ran once for no gain…caught a pass for seven yards…returned one punt for zero yards…12/18 vs. Pittsburgh: Ran twice for five yards (2.5 avg.)…had two receptions for nine yards (4.5 avg.)…returned three punts for 41 yards (13.7 avg.)…12/25 at Baltimore: Gained 49 yards on 10 carries (4.9 avg.)…caught four passes for 42 yards (10.5 avg.)…had one punt return for 16 yards…1/1 vs. Chicago: Had six attempts for 57 yards (9.5 avg.)…caught six passes for 44 yards (7.3 avg.) and one touchdown.

2004 (10-3/2-0): Played in 10 games with three starts and finished 3rd on the team with 379 yards rushing…had 27 receptions for 238 yards…finished 2nd on the team with 20 kickoff returns for 386 yards (19.3 avg.)…ran for a season-best 138 yards on a season-high 20 carries vs. Tennessee in Week 7…earned Pepsi Rookie of the Week honors for his performance vs. the Titans…had 92 rushing yards in Week 5 at Houston in his first career start, the 3rd-best in team history for a player making their 1st start…set a team rookie record with 12 catches at Houston, which also tied him for 2nd in team history by a RB…posted his 1st career 100-yard rushing day in his return to his collegiate stadium at New Orleans in Week 6, with 109 yards on 15 carries…also caught seven passes for 78 yards to end the day with a career-high 187 yards of offense…inactive Weeks 9-13 with an ankle sprain…inactive for game vs. Chicago in Week 3…played in both of Vikings’ playoff games…caught two passes for 20 yards and returned a pair of kickoffs for 71 yards with a long of 39 in Divisional Playoff game at Philadelphia…Returned three kickoffs for 36 yards in Wild Card game at Green Bay…9/12 vs. Dallas: Made NFL Debut…ran once for eight yards…caught a pass for eight yards…returned one punt for one yard…returned one kickoff for 17 yards…9/20 at Philadelphia: Had one reception for six yards…returned six kickoffs for 123 yards (20.5 avg.)…9/26 vs. Chicago: Was inactive…10/10 at Houston: Had 20 attempts for 92 yards (4.6 avg.)…caught a season-high 12 passes for 90 yards (7.5 avg.)…returned one kickoff for three yards…10/17 at New Orleans: Eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the first time in his career with 109 yards on 15 rushes (7.3 avg.)…also had seven catches for 78 yards (11.1 avg.)…returned three kickoffs for 51 yards (17.0 avg.)…10/24 vs. Tennessee: Rushed for over 100 yards for the second consecutive game…his 138 yards on 20 attempts (6.9 avg.) were a career high…also had five catches for 30 yards (6.0 avg.)…returned one kickoff for 19 yards…10/31 vs. New York Giants: Ran for 29 yards on eight rushes (3.6 avg.)…had one reception for 26 yards…11/8 at Indianapolis: Was inactive…11/14 at Green Bay: Was inactive…11/21 vs. Detroit: Was inactive…11/28 vs. Jacksonville: Was inactive…12/5 at Chicago: Was inactive…12/12 vs. Seattle: Returned one kickoff for 30 yards…12/19 at Detroit: Returned three kickoffs for 59 yards (19.7 avg.)…returned three punts for 27 yards (9.0 avg.)…12/24 vs. Green Bay: Ran one time for three yards…returned two punts for 42 yards (21.0 avg.)…1/2 at Washington: Returned two punts for 42 yards (21.0 avg.)…NFC Wild Card Game 1/9 at Green Bay: Returned three punts for 36 yards (12.0 avg.)…NFC Divisional Playoff Game 1/16 at Philadelphia: Caught two passes for 20 yards (10.0 avg.)…returned two punts for 71 yards (35.5 avg.)…had a long return of 39 yards.

COLLEGE: Only the 2nd player in NCAA history to rush for 4,000 yards and have 2,000 yards receiving in a career, joining former Viking Darrin Nelson (Stanford)…ranks 11th in Division I history in all-purpose yards with 6,505 yards…ran for 100+ yards in 22 games to set Tulane and Conference USA records…his 36 career TDs rank 2nd in Tulane and C-USA history…2003: Earned First-Team C-USA Honors…led the team with 185 carries for 915 yards (4.9 avg.) and five touchdowns…averaged 101.7 rushing yards per game…finished second on the team with 39 receptions for 408 yards (10.5 avg.) and four touchdowns...2002: Led team with 288 carries for 1,138 yards (4.0 avg.) and six touchdowns…also led team in receptions with 52 and receiving yards with 545 (10.5avg.)…caught three touchdowns…became the second player in Tulane history to run for 1,000 yards in consecutive season…2001: Ran 262 times for 1,431 yards (5.4 avg.) and eight touchdowns…set Tulane’s single-season rushing record…named First-Team All-C-USA…led the team with 65 receptions for 756 yards (11.6 avg.) and seven touchdowns…returned five kicks for 82 yards (16.4 avg.)…2000: Had 174 carries for a team-leading 890 yards (5.1 avg.) and two touchdowns…caught 33 passes for 350 yards (10.6 avg.) and one touchdown...named C-USA’s Freshman of the Year.

PERSONAL: Starred at Belaire High in Baton Rouge…named to media All-State team and a 2nd-team All-State choice by state coaches…ran for over 1,600 yards as a senior…all-State in baseball…drafted in the 4th round of the 2000 Major League Baseball draft by the San Diego Padres, spending 3 summers in the organization…took 24 credits in spring 2004 to graduate on time with a double major in finance and accounting…active in the Twin Cities community with the National Football Foundation, United Way, and Memorial Blood Center…recipient of the Community Service Award for Business Ethics at the Tulane Council of Entrepreneurs and Business School Council Awards Gala in spring 2003…member of National Honor Society at Belaire High in Baton Rouge...supports youth education through his Mewelde Moore Knowledge First Foundation…married to Tymeka…Full name: Mewelde Jaem Cadere Moore.