Ahmad Rashād

Infobox NFLretired


|caption=
position=Wide Receiver
number=27,28
birthdate=birth date and age|1949|11|19
Portland, Oregon
debutyear=1972
finalyear=1982
draftyear=1972
draftround=1
draftpick=4
college=Oregon
teams=
* St. Louis Cardinals (1972–1973)
* Buffalo Bills (1974–1976)
* Seattle Seahawks (1976)
* Minnesota Vikings (1976–1982)
stat1label=Receptions
stat1value=495
stat2label=Receiving Yards
stat2value=6,831
stat3label=Touchdowns
stat3value=44
nfl=RAS249174
highlights=
* 4x Pro Bowl selection (1978, 1979, 1980, 1981)
* 5x All-Pro selection (1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981)
* 1979 Pro Bowl MVP
HOF=
CollegeHOF=90134

Ahmad Rashād (born Robert Earl Moore November 19, 1949 in Portland, Oregon) is an Emmy award-winning sportscaster (mostly with NBC Sports) and former professional football player. An All-American running back and wide receiver from Oregon known as Bobby Moore, Rashad was the fourth overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft, selected by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was the first skill-position player taken, following three lineman.

He was converted back to wide receiver while with the Cardinals, where he played for two seasons. He then played for the Buffalo Bills (1974–1976), Seattle Seahawks (1976), and most notably, Minnesota Vikings (1976–1982), where he earned four Pro Bowl selections from 1978–1981.

He graduated from Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington, in 1967 and accepted a football scholarship to the University of Oregon.

Conversion and football career

In 1972, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Rashād, which means "Admirable One Led To Truth". His last name comes from his mentor in St. Louis Rashad Khalifa. There are at least three players in the NFL that were named after him, Ahman Rashad Green, running back for the Houston Texans, Ahmad Rashad Merritt, wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, and Ahmard Rashad Hall, fullback for the Tennessee Titans. Orlando Magic NBA basketball player Rashard Lewis was also named after Rashad.

He eventually graduated from the University of Oregon, where he played wide receiver as a sophomore in 1969; then was a two-time All-American at running back, playing with quarterback Dan Fouts. Rashād was named to the College Football Hall of Fame on May 9, 2007. [ [http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=90134 College Football Hall of Fame ] ] . Also where he pledged Omega Psi Phi fraternity Inc.

During his pro football career, Rashad caught 495 passes for 6831 yards and 44 touchdowns, while also rushing for 52 yards. However, one catch stands out in his career. In a December 1980 game vs. the Cleveland Browns, Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer threw a Hail Mary pass to Rashad that resulted in a come from behind 28-23 victory and a Central Division Title for the Vikings. This was known as the Miracle Catch. Rashad also has the distinction of the longest play from scrimmage that didn't score a touchdown: 98 yards in a 1972 game against the Rams.

Broadcasting and Television career

Infobox actor
bgcolour =
name = Ahmad Rashād
| imagesize =
caption =
birthname = Robert Earl Moore
birthdate = birth date and age|1949|11|19
location = Portland, Oregon,
United States
deathdate =
deathplace =
othername =
yearsactive =
spouse = Deidre Waters (1969–1971)
Matilda Johnson (1976–1979)
Phylicia Rashād (1985–2001)
Sale Johnson (2007–present)
homepage =
academyawards =
emmyawards =
tonyawards = After his football career, he covered NFL and NBA televised contests as a studio anchor and game reporter for NBC and ABC, as well as hosting "NBA Inside Stuff". He also has hosted the video-clip show "Real TV," the reality show "Celebrity Mole," the game show "Caesar's Challenge" along with co-host Dan Doherty, and "NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad" on the ABC network. Rashad has also guest starred on several tv shows, mainly ones that starred his then wife Phylicia.

Family life

Rashād has been married four times and divorced three. In 1969 he married his first wife Deidre Waters. They had a daughter Keva, born in 1970. In 1976, he married his second wife Matilda Johnson. They had two children, daughter Mayisha (born in 1976) and son Ahmad Jr. (born in 1978). They divorced in 1979.

In 1985, Rashād married Phylicia Ayers-Allen. It was a third marriage for both. She adopted his adopted surname upon their marriage. Out of this marriage, he gained a stepson Billy Bowles (born 1973). After a year of marriage, Ahmad and Phylicia welcomed a daughter, Condola Phylea Rashād (named after his mother). After nearly sixteen years of marriage, Ahmad and Phylicia Rashād were divorced in 2001. Ahmad Rashad recently wed his fourth wife Sale Johnson in 2007, the ex-wife of Johnson & Johnson billionaire Woody Johnson. He has gained a stepdaughter from this marriage. [ [http://www.mediatakeout.com/19631/hes_rich_beeyotch_ahmad_rashad_marries_billionaire_socialite.html He's Rich BEEYOTCH!! Ahmad Rashad Marries Billionaire Socialite - MediaTakeOut.com 2008 ] ]

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0711116|name=Ahmad Rashad
* [http://www.nba.com/inside_stuff/ahmad_bio.html Ahmad Rashad, Executive Producer, NBA Inside Stuff]
* [http://www.collegefootball.org/famersearch.php?id=90134 College Football Hall of Fame] - 2007 - Ahmad Rashad - (Bobby Moore)
* [http://www.profootballhof.com/history/general/draft/1972.jsp 1972 NFL Draft] - from the Pro Football Hall of Fame
* [http://www.tvacres.com/broad_marriages.htm TV acres.com] - 1985 marriage
* [http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/R/RashAh00.htm NFL Stats] - Career NFL Statistics