Former Wisconsin running back Brent Moss, who led the Badgers to their first Rose Bowl victory in 1994, died on Sunday at the age of 50. His death was reported by Jason Arndt of the Burlington Standard Press, but the cause of death has not been revealed yet.
A Stellar College Career
Moss was a standout player for the Badgers from 1991 to 1994, rushing for 3,428 yards and 34 touchdowns in his career. He was the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year and the recipient of the Silver Football as the conference’s most valuable player in 1993, when he ran for 1,637 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also earned All-American honors that year.
Moss capped his junior season with a memorable performance in the Rose Bowl, where he ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns to help Wisconsin beat UCLA 21-16. He was named the game’s MVP and became a part of Wisconsin history as the Badgers won their first ever Rose Bowl.
A Troubled Post-College Life
Moss seemed destined for a great senior season and a possible NFL career, but his life took a turn for the worse in November 1994, when he was arrested for possession of crack cocaine and suspended by head coach Barry Alvarez. He finished the season with 833 yards and eight touchdowns, but his draft stock plummeted.
He went undrafted in 1995, but signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent. He was cut by the Dolphins and then joined the St. Louis Rams, where he played in six games and rushed for 90 yards. He was released by the Rams in 1996 and never played in the NFL again.
He tried to revive his career in other leagues, such as NFL Europe, Arena Football League, and XFL, but he never found success. He also struggled with drug addiction and legal troubles, and was arrested several times for various offenses. In 2017, he was sentenced to a year in prison and one-year extended supervision for cocaine possession.
A Legacy Remembered
Despite his personal problems, Moss was remembered by his former teammates and coaches as a great player and a good person. Steve Stark, a former offensive lineman who played with Moss at Wisconsin, wrote on Twitter: “Brent was a great teammate, a good guy, and a big part of the turnaround of the Badger football program. RIP brother.”
Barry Alvarez, who coached Moss at Wisconsin and is now the athletic director of the university, also issued a statement on Moss’ death: “We are saddened to hear about Brent’s passing. He was a key member of our first Rose Bowl championship team and had some great accomplishments on the field. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this difficult time.”
Moss is survived by his son Brent Jr., who also played football at Wisconsin as a linebacker from 2012 to 2015.
