Oregon star Dante Moore writes letter to governor advocating for access to mental health services

Oregon Ducks prima backmost Dante Moore is not conscionable looking to make an effect connected nan field, but disconnected it arsenic well.

Moore, 20, wrote a missive to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek connected March 3 advocating for accrued entree to intelligence wellness services successful nan state. Moore opened up astir his struggles pinch slump successful nan letter.

"Early successful my assemblage career, I recovered myself struggling deeply: I was depressed," Moore wrote successful nan letter, which he shared pinch The Oregonian. "The unit and expectations that travel pinch playing backmost astatine a precocious level felt overwhelming astatine 18. Around that aforesaid time, my mother was diagnosed pinch cancer.

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Oregon Ducks backmost Dante Moore (5) warms up anterior to nan 2025 Orange Bowl and quarterfinal crippled of nan College Football Playoff against nan Texas Tech Red Raiders astatine Hard Rock Stadium successful Miami Gardens, Florida, connected Jan. 1, 2026. (Sam Navarro/Imagn Images)

"Watching her strengthen chemotherapy while I tried to enactment focused connected schoolhouse and shot challenged maine mentally and emotionally. It was dense successful ways that are difficult to put into words."

Moore’s mother, Jera Bohlen-Moore, was diagnosed pinch bosom crab during Moore’s first play at UCLA, successful nan outpouring of 2023. She was declared cancer-free successful nan summertime of 2024, erstwhile Moore transferred to Oregon.

The Ducks prima backmost said really difficult it tin beryllium to scope retired for support.

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Oregon backmost Dante Moore (5) passes against Indiana during nan 2nd half of nan Peach Bowl NCAA assemblage shot playoff semifinal successful Atlanta, Georgia, connected Jan. 9, 2026. (Brynn Anderson/AP Photo)

"In my life, what made nan quality was support," Moore wrote. "Support from my friends, emotion from my family, and entree to nan resources I needed to get better. As a young Black man and athlete, reaching retired for thief tin often consciousness for illustration climbing an uphill battle. It required vulnerability and trust, and I was fortunate to get nan attraction I needed."

Moore cited galore statistics, including that termination is nan No. 2 starring origin of decease for young adults successful Oregon. The backmost said he challenged his teammates to go amended leaders.

"I precocious challenged my teammates to lead beyond nan section and usage our level to support group who consciousness voiceless," Moore wrote. "Leadership is not conscionable astir what we do connected Saturdays — it is astir who we guidelines up for each day. As a quarterback, I americium expected to lead, enactment composed, and transportation work for my team.

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Oregon Ducks backmost Dante Moore (5) looks to walk against nan Indiana Hoosiers successful nan first half of nan Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, a College Football Playoff semifinal, astatine Mercedes-Benz Stadium successful Atlanta, Georgia, connected Jan. 9, 2026. (Brett Davis/Imagn Images)

"Learning really to attraction for my ain intelligence wellness made maine a amended leader, teammate, and student. I cognize what it feels for illustration to struggle successful silence. I besides cognize what it feels for illustration to beryllium supported and to travel backmost stronger. That support saved me."

Last play was Moore’s first play arsenic a starter astatine Oregon, and he thrived. He completed 71.8% of his passes for 3,565 yards pinch 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions while moving for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Moore helped lead nan Ducks to a 13-2 grounds and was wide mocked arsenic a apical action successful nan NFL Draft earlier he opted to return to school.

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