Joe Moss
Encyclopedia
Joseph Charles Moss is an American former coach and player. He played college football
at the University of Maryland
and professional football in the National Football League
with the Washington Redskins
. Moss served as head coach for the Toronto Argonauts
and Ottawa Rough-Riders in the Canadian Football League
.
, 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.
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. In 1956, Moss became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Maryland. From 1961 to 1968, Moss was Ben Martin
's chief assistant at the United States Air Force Academy
. From 1969 to 1972 he was the defensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles
. 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.
After one season as the Saskatchewan Roughriders
defensive backs coach, Moss became head coach of the Ottawa Gee-Gees football team. He led Ottawa to the 1980 Vanier Cup
and won the Quebec University Football League
coach of the year award in 1982. 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. His overall record as Rough Riders head coach is 10–19.
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. He has also scouted for the Tiger-Cats.
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
and professional football in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. Moss served as head coach for the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
and Ottawa Rough-Riders in the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
.
Biography
A native of Elkins, West VirginiaElkins, West Virginia
Elkins is a city in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. The community was incorporated in 1890 and named in honor of Stephen Benton Elkins , a U.S. Senator from West Virginia. The population was 7,032 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County...
, Moss played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
and was drafted
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
in the fourteenth round of the 1952 NFL Draft
1952 NFL Draft
The 1952 National Football League Draft was held on January 17, 1952. Picks made by New York Yanks were assigned to the new Dallas Texans.-Player selections:-Round one:* HOF Member of the Professional Football Hall of Fame-Round two:-Round three:...
by the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. He was traded to the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
on July 11, 1952 for Nick Bolkovac
Nick Bolkovac
Nicholas Frank Bolkovac is a former American football offensive and defensive tackle in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played college football at the University of Pittsburgh and was drafted in the 30th round of the 1951 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins....
and a sixth-round draft pick.
After playing one season in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
with the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, Moss joined the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
and was stationed at Bolling Air Force Base
Bolling Air Force Base
Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling is a military installation, located in Southeast Washington, D.C., established on 1 October 2010 in accordance with congressional legislation implementing the recommendations of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
where he played for the base football team. In 1956, Moss became an assistant coach at his alma mater, Maryland. From 1961 to 1968, Moss was Ben Martin
Ben Martin
-External links:...
's chief assistant at the United States Air Force Academy
United States Air Force Academy
The United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
. From 1969 to 1972 he was the defensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
. In 1973, Moss became the Defensive Coordinator for the Toronto Argonauts
Toronto Argonauts
The Toronto Argonauts are a professional Canadian football team competing in the East Division of the Canadian Football League. The Toronto, Ontario based team was founded in 1873 and is one of the oldest existing professional sports teams in North America, after the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta...
of the Canadian Football League
Canadian Football League
The Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
. Moss was promoted to head coach during the 1974 season
1974 CFL season
The 1974 Canadian Football League season is considered to be the 21st season in modern-day Canadian football, although it is officially the 17th Canadian Football League season.-CFL News in 1974:...
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
Russ Jackson
Russell Stanley "Russ" Jackson, OC is a former professional Canadian football quarterback. Jackson spent his entire 12-year professional football career with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League...
, but remained as defensive coordinator.
After one season as the Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
defensive backs coach, Moss became head coach of the Ottawa Gee-Gees football team. He led Ottawa to the 1980 Vanier Cup
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
and won the Quebec University Football League
Quebec University Football League
The Quebec University Football League was the Canadian football conference for Quebec universities who participate in CIS football until the completion of the 2010 football season...
coach of the year award in 1982. Moss returned to the Argonauts as Defensive Coordinator in 1983 and helped coach the team to victory in the 71st Grey Cup
71st Grey Cup
The 71st Grey Cup was the 1983 Canadian Football League championship game that was played at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, between the Toronto Argonauts and the hometown BC Lions...
.
On December 18, 1984, Moss was named head coach of the Ottawa Rough Riders
Ottawa Rough Riders
The Ottawa Rough Riders were a Canadian Football League team based in Ottawa, Ontario, founded in 1876. One of the oldest and longest lived professional sports teams in North America, the Rough Riders won the Grey Cup championship nine times. Their most dominant era was the 1960s and 1970s, a...
. 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. His overall record as Rough Riders head coach is 10–19.
After his firing, Moss served as an assistant with the Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are a Canadian Football League team based in Hamilton, Ontario, founded in 1950 with the merger of the Hamilton Tigers and the Hamilton Wildcats. The Tiger-Cats play their home games at Ivor Wynne Stadium...
, and Ottawa Rough Riders in the CFL, and the New Jersey Red Dogs and Toronto Phantoms
Toronto Phantoms
The Toronto Phantoms was the final name of a team in the Arena Football League, that also operated in New York City and Hartford, Connecticut.-New York CityHawks :The team began in 1997 as the New York CityHawks...
of the Arena Football League. He has also scouted for the Tiger-Cats.