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Video: Randy Moss Returns to ESPN for Super Bowl 59 Coverage After Surgery for Cancer

Julia Stumbaugh

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 11: ESPN NFL Analyst Randy Moss during the ESPN Monday Night Football Countdown TV show on the field before the start of the NFL football game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins on December 11, 2017, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL. (Photo by Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss, who stepped away from the network in December amid cancer treatment, returned to ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown on Sunday morning ahead of Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

NFL on ESPN @ESPNNFL

WELCOME BACK RANDY 👏 <br><br>Lots of emotions celebrating the return of Randy Moss to Countdown ❤️ <a href="https://t.co/CFi1mu0yl6">pic.twitter.com/CFi1mu0yl6</a>

ESPN PR @ESPNPR

"It is so great to have you back." – Tom Brady<br><br>Bill Belichick, Kevin Garnett and Justin Jefferson, among others, join Brady in welcoming back Randy Moss <a href="https://t.co/ZwUhvgsOTT">pic.twitter.com/ZwUhvgsOTT</a>

Moss underwent a six-hour procedure to remove a cancerous mass in his bile duct in December, per Zach Allen of the Associated Press. He last appeared on Sunday NFL Countdown on Dec. 1.

Moss recently made a virtual appearance at the 2025 NFL Honors, where he presented Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow with the Comeback Player of the Year award.

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JB9.<br><br>Tune into <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NFLHonors?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NFLHonors</a> on FOX/NFLN <a href="https://t.co/PQtJQAaUsU">pic.twitter.com/PQtJQAaUsU</a>

Moss said in the Dec. 1 episode of Sunday NFL Countdown that he was "battling something internally." He revealed his cancer diagnosis in a video the following week.

The former star wideout said in the video that he would undergo radiation and chemotherapy treatment following the procedure, and urged viewers to undergo their own cancer screenings.

ESPN said in a Dec. 16 statement that Moss had been "an invaluable member of the team, consistently elevating Countdown with his insight and passion."

"He has ESPN's full support, and we look forward to welcoming him back when he is ready," the network said.

That return will come when ESPN begins Super Bowl coverage Sunday morning before the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles kick off the game at 6:30 p.m. ET.

Moss joined ESPN as an analyst on both Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown ahead of Monday Night Football. He previously served as an NFL analyst for Fox Sports prior to joining the network.

Moss established himself as one of the best receivers of all time through 14 NFL seasons. Several of the standards he set before retiring in 2012 still stand today, including the records for single-season touchdowns (23) and rookie season touchdowns (17.)