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Randy Moss, Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell bond over shared love of fishing and football
by Austin Perry · Fox NewsRandy Moss loves football.
You probably didn't need an OutKick OutDoors article to tell you that, but what you might not know about the Vikings Hall of Fame wide receiver is that he is an avid fisherman as well.
Moss even has his own Pro-Am Bassmaster fishing tournament that our very own Amber Harding was lucky enough to attend, as well as a fishing show on YouTube called "Chasing 10."
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The man is a fishing fiend, and on the latest episode of his show, he had former teammate and current Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell join him on the water to discuss their bond and shared love for both sports.
It's easy to forget these elite athletes aren't cyborgs and that they have hobbies outside of football, and Moss and O'Connell are no exception.
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"I fell in love with it. Grew up with it," Moss replied when asked if he always loved to fish. "I grew up in the banks of West Virginia fishing. My brother fished. My best friend, his brother fished. A lot of people from my community fished."
You can tell Moss loves being on the water, it's almost like his second home (or third, if you count the football field).
For the man they affectionately refer to as KOC in the Twin Cities, he inherited his love of fishing from his father, as most boys do, though in contrast to Moss's freshwater upbringing, O'Connell cut his teeth on saltwater fishing.
"My dad didn’t golf. He didn’t do a whole lot, but … we fished on the ocean," he reminisces. "I can remember 12-hour trips, man, out there with some of those big old waves, and I’m out there just having the time of my life out there fishing with him."
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And now, he says, his sons are inheriting that love from the same man who passed it onto their dad.
"Now he lives out in San Diego now. So now he’s taking my boys out... That's what life is."
"Making memories," Moss replies.
The two former NFL players talked about more than just bait and tackle.
The pair discussed the challenges of professional football, the pressures of the week-to-week grind in the league, how hard they handle losing, and more.
O'Connell and Moss didn't catch a single fish that day out on the water (otherwise they'd call is "catching"), but if you asked them, I'm sure they'd tell you it was a perfect morning regardless.
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Just being out on the water with a good friend, laughing and trading stories is what makes a fishing trip special.
We could all learn a thing or two from Moss and KOC's time on the lake.
It doesn't have to be a perfect day, and you don't need to come home with a cooler full of fish.
Just make some time to get out on the water and leave your stress and responsibilities on the shore for a few hours.
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Your soul will thank you for it.
Austin Perry is a writer for OutKick.