Joe Buck’s Reaction to Randy Moss’s 2005 Celebration Goes Viral Again

Twenty years ago, on a cold day in Green Bay, Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss delivered one of the most talked-about touchdown celebrations in NFL history. Subsequently, Joe Buck had one of the most talked-about reactions in NFL history. Fast forward to today, and the celebration has been reborn, going viral across social media platforms.

Two heated rivals, the Vikings and the Green Bay Packers, went head-to-head in the 2005 NFC Wild Card game. Up by a score with 10 minutes remaining in the game, Minnesota had the ball on Green Bay’s 34-yard line. Daunte Culpepper lobbed it up for a deep touchdown, and caught by none other than the reliable Moss. Following his score, Moss turned toward the famously fervent Packers fans and mimicked an act of mooning.

As color commentator Cris Collinsworth aptly put it, Moss “shoots the moon” at the gasping Cheeseheads in the stands before getting love from his teammates. Depending on your sensitivity to the harmless gesture, it’s off-putting, hilarious, or somewhere in between. While Collinsworth saw the fun in it, for analyst Joe Buck, it was the former. “This is a disgusting act by Randy Moss,” Buck said, appalled. “It’s unfortunate that we had that on our air live.”

On the 20th anniversary of the moment, 33rd Team’s Ari Meirov shared the clip on social media (it was 2005, after all), sparking a fresh wave of commentary. Fans roasted the veteran announcer, with one user writing, “Classic Joe Buck being soft.” Another added, “Bro was acting like he actually pulled his pants down lol like, calm down man.” A third joked, “At least he didn’t do the finger guns *gasp*.”

Two decades later, in an era of the sensational going viral in nanoseconds, Buck’s genuine shock feels old-fashioned — and hilariously blown out of proportion. Moss’ “moon” remains legendary, and Buck’s reaction? Equally unforgettable.

Moss has been a staple on “Sunday NFL Countdown” since 2016, but he is currently on leave after being diagnosed with cancer. Moss told fans that he recently had a Whipple procedure, which “involves removing the head of the pancreas, the first part of the small intestine, the gallbladder, and the bile duct,” according to the Mayo Clinic. “The Whipple procedure is also called a pancreaticoduodenectomy. It’s often used to treat pancreatic cancer that hasn’t spread beyond the pancreas.”

On Instagram Live, Moss spoke to fans and said he is now a cancer survivor. In addition to the recent procedure, Moss is also undergoing chemotherapy. “All the prayers, the well wishes, I really felt that, my family felt that,” Moss said on IG Live. “As soon as I get healthy to get back out with guys, I will be on set… Hopefully, I can be with you guys soon. My goal is to get back on television with my team.”

On the Dec. 1 episode of “NFL Sunday Countdown,” Moss revealed that he was “battling something internally” and explained he would be wearing glasses throughout the show (since fans pointed out that his eyes looked a bit yellow the week before). In a display of solidarity, Moss’ “Sunday NFL Countdown” colleagues also wore glasses.

Before the Vikings’ Week 15 game against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football, Moss’ former teammates Cris Carter and Jake Reed honored him during the pregame coin toss. After Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson scored a touchdown in the first quarter, he celebrated by making a heart gesture and shouting out the Vikings legend. “We love you, Randy,” Jefferson said. “That’s for you!”

A 1998 first-round pick by the Vikings, Moss was electric from the start. He led the league with a record-setting 17 touchdown catches in his first NFL season, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and finishing third in MVP voting. Moss ranked first in touchdown receptions twice more with the Vikings, earning five total Pro Bowl nods in Minnesota.

Moss is a Hall of Famer who totaled 156 receiving TDs (second in NFL history) and 15,292 receiving yards (fourth in NFL history). He is a six-time Pro Bowler, five-time receiving TDs leader, and four-time All-Pro. He was selected to the NFL’s 2000s All-Decade Team and NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. In PFN’s recent ranking of the greatest wide receivers of all time, Moss was ranked No. 2 behind only Jerry Rice.