Cory Murphy
A wide receiver whose breathtaking combination of size, speed, and grace produced some of the most electrifying plays in NFL history.
Born 1978 (age 48)·Canadian ice hockey player·Birthday: February 13·Generation X
Biography
Randy Moss caught 17 touchdown passes as a rookie for the Minnesota Vikings, an immediate seismic event in the NFL. Emerging from small-town West Virginia, his otherworldly talent was apparent at Marshall University, where he shattered records. Moss played with a rare, almost casual brilliance; his long strides ate up turf, and his ability to pluck the ball at its highest point, often over multiple defenders, became his signature. While his career had complex chapters marked by intense scrutiny, his on-field impact was undeniable. In 2007 with the New England Patriots, he caught a record 23 touchdown passes from Tom Brady, a pinnacle of offensive synergy. Moss changed how defenses were schemed, often requiring two or three players to account for his deep-threat presence alone.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Cory was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cory Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Cory's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Holds the NFL record for most touchdown receptions in a rookie season (17 in 1998).
- Set the single-season record for touchdown receptions (23) with the New England Patriots in 2007.
- Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 2018.
- Selected to the NFL's 2000s All-Decade Team and the 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Did You Know?
He was a standout high school basketball player in West Virginia, earning all-state honors.
Moss famously played a single game for a minor league baseball team, the St. Paul Saints, as a promotional stunt.
He once pretended to moon the Green Bay Packers crowd during a playoff game, a gesture that resulted in a fine.
His nickname "The Freak" was given to him by teammates due to his extraordinary athletic abilities.
“"Just straight cash, homey."”
