Santana Moss
A lightning-fast wide receiver whose game-changing speed and clutch performances defined a decade of Washington football with explosive plays.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American football player·Birthday: June 1·Generation X
Biography
Santana Moss carried the electrifying legacy of the University of Miami's 'The U' straight into the NFL, a compact receiver whose blistering speed made him a constant deep threat. Drafted by the New York Jets, he showed flashes of brilliance but truly became a star after being traded to Washington in 2005. It was there that he authored his signature moment: on a Monday night in Dallas, Moss caught two long touchdown passes in the final minutes to snatch a victory, instantly cementing his place in franchise lore. For ten seasons, he was the most dangerous weapon in often-struggling offenses, consistently producing big numbers despite frequent changes at quarterback. While he never possessed the prototypical size of a number-one receiver, his precise route-running, reliable hands, and explosive after-the-catch ability made him a defensive coordinator's nightmare and a fan favorite for his ability to turn any play into a touchdown.
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.
Santana was born in 1979, 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 Santana Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Santana's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Recorded a career-high and franchise-record 1,483 receiving yards in 2005, earning All-Pro honors.
- His famous 2005 Monday Night Football performance against Dallas featured two fourth-quarter touchdowns of 39 and 70 yards to win the game.
- Finished his career as Washington's all-time leader in receiving touchdowns (47) and second in receiving yards (10,167).
Did You Know?
He was a champion track athlete in college, winning the NCAA indoor 200-meter title in 1999.
His older brother, Sinorice Moss, also played wide receiver in the NFL.
He and former Jets teammate Laveranues Coles were traded for each other in the 2005 deal that sent Moss to Washington.
“You can't measure heart with a stopwatch.”
