MINNEAPOLIS — Vikings legend Randy Moss has announced he was diagnosed with cancer.
"Your boy is a cancer survivor," said Moss, who was using a cane, on an Instagram Live Friday afternoon.
Moss said he has a long road ahead of him, which will include chemotherapy.
Moss, who is currently on an "extended leave" from his role at ESPN, thanked his fans for their prayers as he battles the illness.
"I felt all the prayers coming through, I really did," said Moss who revealed he was in the hospital for the past six days.
"Just got out today, thank god!" he exclaimed.
Moss initially caused widespread speculation after asking for prayers on Dec. 1.
"I'm battling something. I need all the prayer warriors. God bless you all, and thanks for the prayers," said Moss.
Moss shared that he had a Whipple procedure during his treatment. Dr. Nguyen Tran, an oncologist at the Mayo Clinic, says that's a procedure only offered in about 20%-30% of cases, and usually only offered if cancer is localized enough to warrant the procedure.
"It's essentially trying to remove part of the pancreas, the head of the pancreas, which wraps around the small bowel. And so the small bowel also has to be removed, which contains that distal part of the bowel duct," Dr. Tran said. "And so that is a very extensive surgery to follow that part, to remove and then reconnect the blood vessels, the small pieces of, you know, the anatomy in there and so a very complicated procedure."
During his Instagram Live, Moss also pushed for action, urging people to get checked.
"Getting scans, getting blood work done, it's not just for males, females, it's for everyone, you know," Moss said. "Definitely, especially Black men."
That message is one that's already resonating. John Hunter admits he was one of the people Moss is talking about.
"I was one of them, them Black men," Hunter, who lives in Maplewood, said. "Come to find out I was walking around and had cancer, so yeah, I was one of them guys."
Hunter is in remission from prostate cancer. He says with a platform as big as Moss has, he's hoping other people decide to take action.
"I think that it would bring a lot of people to make a move," he said. "Because like I said, it's, man. It's scary."
Hunter isn't the only one who's urging action after Moss's comments. Pastor Joseph Webb also had a battle with cancer.
"I was very, very sick. And one point I thought I wasn't coming out of there. That's how sick I was," Webb said.
"That word psychologically, it really makes a difference," he added. "I've been telling young men, I said, go get checked."
Moss spent seven seasons with the Vikings before being traded to the Oakland Raiders in 2005. He spent a handful of years in New England before returning to Minnesota for a short stint in 2010 but only played four games before going to Tennessee. He ended his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers.
Moss played in 113 games with Minnesota and is second in franchise history in receiving yards (9,316) and receiving touchdowns (92). He was inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in 2018 and has been an analyst for ESPN since 2016.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.