Dante Moore gave an exclusive interview to the "Roots and Rides" podcast, and his honest reflections on his 2026 season and his decision to return to Oregon reflect his growth and readiness.
"You never want to go off emotions when you're making big decisions," Moore said, revealing he grew up an Ohio State fan, born in East Cleveland, raised in Detroit, Michigan. His favorite player growing up was Braxton Miller, the Buckeye quarterback.
The host asked the Heisman Trophy candidate and future NFL draft pick if the attention and NIL made it harder to focus on his development.
"Money has never been something that will take me out of my focus of what I want in life," he said. "Of course I had the decision this year to go to the NFL and get $55 million but it's crazy, a lot of money for sure." Moore threw his head back and smiled.
"I just feel like at the end of the day I don't play the game for the money part. I play for my younger self, the people that doubted me and didn't believe I could be where I am, to get better as a quarterback as well, to maximize my game and leave a legacy behind, possibly get a gold jacket one day."
The gold jacket refers to the NFL Hall of Fame, the highest individual achievement in football.
The interviewer asked the Oregon quarterback what the program gave him that he didn't get in his freshman year at UCLA.
"I'd say the peace, the positivity. I wouldn't even say the game of football. I would say Oregon, the city of Eugene, with being here is just amazing. It's just the ability to be out in nature, being out in a small town that people love you and care for you and just the respect and resources that you get for being here."
"It takes a lot and we appreciate them as athletes here and that makes us play even harder for the fans."
At Thurston Elementary, Moore and Bear Alexander chat with kids, answer questions
On Monday Moore and defensive tackle Bear Alexander visited Thurston Elementary School as part of the "Bigger than Ball" outreach program. Moore read from his children's book and the two shared a positive message with the kids.
"Be great to your teachers, be great to your principals, push your chairs in and stay in line," Moore said.
In football and in life, it's the little things executed with consistency and commitment that make the difference. On Facebook, the official page of Thurston Elementary wrote, "The Cheetahs were inspired to dream big and stay kind."
Moore introduced his teammate, a giant in a roomful of children still in their single digits. "He's one teammate that I appreciate and love to death. As you can tell he's way stronger and bigger than me."
The children laugh, put at ease by his humility.
"He wears Number 1 on defense. He's a defensive player. But I want you guys to hear him talk for a little bit."
Moore hands the microphone to Alexander. "Just introduce yourself and just talk to them," he says.
I want to personally thank the kids and my brother Dante for Allowing me to use his platform and share and small piece of my story #BiggerThanBall 🦆💚 pic.twitter.com/y7x3GKfWC4
— Bear Alexander (@BearAlexander_) June 5, 2026
The overarching impression of Moore in his third year with the Ducks remains how comfortable he is in his own skin, with the leadership role and the weight of being in the limelight. He has perspective, peace, a support system. And he knows that all of those things are bigger than football.
Listening to him talk and answer questions, you can't help but be reminded of another Oregon quarterback, Marcus Mariota. Both wear the mantle of leadership with gratitude and grace.
That makes it much easier to handle the pressure, to have grace under fire.
You get the feeling Moore is just going to let it rip this year. He is free to play free.
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