Joseph Charles Moss (April 19, 1930 – January 31, 2023) was an American gridiron football player and coach. He played college football at the University of Maryland and professional football in the National Football League (NFL) with the Washington Redskins. Moss served as head coach for the Toronto Argonauts and Ottawa Rough Riders in the Canadian Football League (CFL).
| No. 72 | |
 Moss as a senior at Maryland | |
| Date of birth | April 19, 1930 |
|---|---|
| Place of birth | Elkins, West Virginia, U.S. |
| Date of death | January 31, 2023 (aged 92) |
| Career information | |
| Position(s) | Offensive tackle |
| US college | Maryland |
| NFL draft | 1952 / round: 14 / pick: 169 (by the Los Angeles Rams) |
| Career history | |
| As coach | |
| 1956–1960 | Maryland (asst.) |
| 1961–1968 | Air Force (asst. HC) |
| 1969–1972 | Philadelphia Eagles (DL) |
| 1973–1974 | Toronto Argonauts (DC) |
| 1974 | Toronto Argonauts |
| 1975–1976 | Toronto Argonauts (DC) |
| 1977 | Saskatchewan Roughriders (DB) |
| 1978–1982 | Ottawa Gee-Gees |
| 1983–1984 | Toronto Argonauts (DC) |
| 1985–1986 | Ottawa Rough Riders |
| 1987–1989 | Toronto Argonauts (DL) |
| 1990–1993 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (DL) |
| 1994–1995 | Toronto Argonauts (DL) |
| 1996 | Ottawa Rough Riders (DC) |
| 1997 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats (DL) |
| 1998–1999 | New Jersey Red Dogs (asst.) |
| 2001 | Toronto Phantoms (DL/OL/ST) |
| As player | |
| 1952 | Washington Redskins |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
| Career stats | |
| |
Biography
editA native of Elkins, West Virginia, Moss played college football at the University of Maryland and was drafted in the fourteenth round of the 1952 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. He was traded to the Washington Redskins on July 11, 1952, for Nick Bolkovac and a sixth-round draft pick.[1]
After playing one season in the National Football League with the Washington Redskins, Moss joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Bolling Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where he played for the base football team.[2] After graduating from University of Maryland as a cadet in the Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force Reserves on February 1, 1953.[3]
In 1956, Moss became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Maryland.[4] From 1961 to 1968, Moss was Ben Martin's chief assistant at the United States Air Force Academy.[5] From 1969 to 1972 he was the defensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles.[6] In 1973, Moss became the defensive coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. Moss was promoted to head coach during the 1974 season after the Argos got off to a 3–4 start. Toronto would go 3–5–1 under Moss and he was replaced as head coach by Russ Jackson, but remained as defensive coordinator.[5]
After one season as the Saskatchewan Roughriders defensive backs coach,[5] Moss became head coach of the Ottawa Gee-Gees football team for one year, 1982. Moss won the Ontario-Quebec University Football League coach of the year award in 1982.[7] Moss returned to the Argonauts as defensive coordinator in 1983 and helped coach the team to victory in the 71st Grey Cup.
On December 18, 1984, Moss was named head coach of the Ottawa Rough Riders. Moss coached the Riders to a 7–9 record and a playoff berth in his first season as head coach. He was fired during his second season after losing ten of eleven games.[8] He recorded a 10–19 mark during his tenure at the helm of the Rough Riders.
After his firing, Moss served as an assistant with the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Ottawa Rough Riders in the CFL, and the New Jersey Red Dogs and Toronto Phantoms of the Arena Football League.[5] He has also scouted for the Tiger-Cats.[9]
Moss retired from the air force reserves as a lieutenant colonel.[10] He died on January 31, 2023, at the age of 92.[11]
References
edit- ^ Rams Trade Joe Moss for Two Redskin Players Archived 2012-10-20 at the Wayback Machine, Los Angeles Times, July 12, 1952.
- ^ Ray Schmidt, Real Airmen, College Football Historical Society Newsletter, Volume V, Number I, page 16, November 1991. Archived version.
- ^ "83 at Maryland U. To Get Air Force Commissions Today", The Sunday Star, Washington, DC, 101st year, number 32, February 1, 1953, page A-39.
- ^ Joe Moss Appointed Aide At College Park[permanent dead link], The Frederick Post, January 26, 1956.
- ^ a b c d Coach Moss Aids Toronto, Our Sports Central, April 25, 2001.
- ^ All-Time Eagles Coaches Archived 2009-01-25 at the Wayback Machine, Philadelphia Eagles, retrieved December 28, 2010.
- ^ Récipiendaires de prix de la LFUQ / QUFL Trophy Winners Archived 2012-02-12 at the Wayback Machine, Quebec University Football League, retrieved December 28, 2010.
- ^ Elsewhere..., Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, September 30, 1986.
- ^ http://ca.geocities.com/mcmastermaraudersmacfootball/scoreboard.htm Archived 2012-07-07 at archive.today
- ^ "Dillon needs time to adjust to CFL", StarPhoenix, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, August 22, 1986, page B8 Sports.
- ^ "Joseph Charles Moss". Sauls Funeral Home. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
- ^ "2024 CFL Guide" (PDF). Canadian Football League. p. 179. Retrieved July 11, 2024.