Lenny Moore

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Lore & Background

Moore's professional journey began when he was selected ninth overall by the Baltimore Colts in the 1956 NFL draft. He quickly established himself as one of the league's most well-rounded runners and receivers, winning the NFL Rookie of the Year award that same season. In 1958, he caught a career-high 50 passes for 938 yards and seven touchdowns, helping the Colts secure their first NFL championship. He repeated this success in 1959 with 47 receptions for 846 yards and six touchdowns as the team won back-to-back titles. A pivotal moment occurred during a 1962 preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Forbes Field when Moore was seriously injured tackling out of bounds; he recalled hitting an exposed spike that cracked his kneecap in two, ending his consecutive starts streak at 73 games and costing him half the season. He rebounded magnificently in 1964, scoring 20 touchdowns to lead the league despite playing with complications from appendicitis, earning NFL Most Valuable Player honors.

In Their Own Story

The 1964 season stands as a testament to Moore's resilience and toughness. After losing his starting job in 1963 due to injury, he returned with his greatest overall season, scoring 20 touchdowns and guiding the Colts to a 12–2 record. Remarkably, he achieved this while battling appendicitis complications throughout most of the year. His offensive prowess was marked by an NFL-record streak: Moore scored a touchdown in 17 consecutive appearances starting in 1963 through the entire 1964 season, ending in 1965. This record stood for 40 years until LaDainian Tomlinson equaled it in 2005. Beyond his statistics, Moore navigated significant racial challenges during his career. As one of the few African American players on many rosters, he faced segregation off the field, unable to always eat at the same restaurants or stay in the same hotels as his white teammates. Despite this, he described his bond with his Baltimore teammates as being "like glue" on the field, even if they went separate ways once the game ended.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Moore's career, it is essential to note his unique dual-threat capability; he was equally dangerous lining up in the backfield or split wide. He averaged at least seven yards per carry in three different seasons and maintained a career average of 4.8 yards per carry. His receiving consistency was unmatched for his era, recording 40 or more catches for five consecutive years starting in 1957, with an annual career average of 30 receptions out of the backfield. Moore retired after the 1967 season with 111 total touchdowns and 11,213 total yards from scrimmage over 143 games. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and a five-time All-NFL team member. His jersey number 24 was retired by Baltimore, and his legacy includes being named to the NFL's 50th Anniversary Team in 1969 and the NFL's 1950s All Decade Team. He is currently the only player in NFL history with at least 40 receiving touchdowns and 40 rushing touchdowns.

Did You Know?

• Moore scored a touchdown in an NFL-record 17 consecutive appearances from 1963 through 1965.
• He is the only player in NFL history to have at least 40 rushing touchdowns and 40 receiving touchdowns.
• In 2008, Moore was inducted into the East-West Shrine Game Hall of Fame.
• Moore faced racial segregation during his career, unable to always eat or stay with white teammates off the field.
• He retired from the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services in 2010 after 26 years of service working with at-risk youth.