Ahmad Rashad (born Bobby Moore November 19, 1949 in Portland, Oregon) is an Emmy award-winning sportscaster (mostly with NBC Sports) and former American football wide receiver for the St. Louis Cardinals, Buffalo Bills, and most notably, the Minnesota Vikings where he earned four Pro Bowl selections from 1978 to 1981.

Conversion and playing career

In 1972, he converted to Islam and changed his name to Ahmad Rashad, which means "Admirable One Led To Truth". His last name comes from his mentor in St. Louis Rashad Khalifa. There are at least two players in the NFL that were named after him, Ahman Rashad Green, running back for the Green Bay Packers, and Ahmad Merritt, a free agent wide receiver in the NFL. Seattle Supersonics NBA basketball player Rashard Lewis was also named after Ahmad.

He eventually graduated from the University of Oregon, where he was a two-time All American.

During his playing career, he caught 495 passes for 6,831 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.

Broadcasting Career

After his playing 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, and game show Caesar's Challenge.

Family life

Rashad married actress Phylicia Ayers-Allen (sister of Debbie Allen) on December 14, 1985. He had previously proposed marriage during a pregame show on the nationally televised Thanksgiving Day NFL game between the New York Jets and the Detroit Lions on November 28, 1985). Phylicia Rashad had joined the cast of The Cosby Show as Clair Huxtable in 1984. Their daughter, Condola Phylea Rashad, was born on December 11, 1986 in New York. He also has three children from a previous marriage: daughters Keva (born in 1970), Maiysha (born in 1974) and son Ahmad Jr. (born in 1978). He has one stepson, Billy (Phylicia's son from a previous marriage). The couple divorced in 2001.

Statistics

• Rashad had 10 carries during his career, gaining 52 total yards.
• During his 11-year NFL career, Rashad had 495 catches for 6,831 yards and 44 touchdowns during the regular season, coming in second in the league in 1979 with 80 receptions.
• Rashad caught a 98 yard non-scoring pass from quarterback Jim Hart in the 1972 season, setting an unbreakable new record for longest non-scoring completion.
• Rashad had 20 receptions for 278 yards with 1 touchdown in the playoffs, including 3 catches for 53 yards in Super Bowl XI.
• Rashad won the MVP award in the 1979 Pro Bowl.
• Rashad has referred to 1,715 guests on NBA Inside Stuff as his "Main Man".
• Rashad once defeated Randy Moss in a game of Jenga on Inside Stuff, prompting Moss to storm off the set.

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