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Football star Dante Moore is leveraging his influence to shine a light on mental health challenges.
The quarterback for Oregon recently shared a heartfelt letter with The Oregonian/OregonLive addressed to Oregon Governor Tina Kotek. In it, he urged the governor to bolster mental health services across the state while opening up about his personal experiences.
“I have encouraged my teammates to lead beyond the gridiron and to use our platform to amplify the voices of those who feel unheard,” Moore expressed. “True leadership transcends what happens on game days; it’s about whom we stand up for every single day. As a quarterback, I must lead, stay calm under pressure, and shoulder the team’s responsibilities.
“Focusing on my mental well-being has enhanced my leadership, made me a better teammate, and improved my academic journey. I understand the pain of silent struggles, but I’ve also felt the strength that comes from being supported. That support was my lifeline.”
Moore’s letter also candidly disclosed his own mental health battles, which intensified as he began his college journey amidst his mother’s fight with cancer.
“Early in my college career, I found myself struggling deeply: I was depressed,” Moore wrote. “The pressure and expectations that come with playing quarterback at a high level felt overwhelming at 18. Around that same time, my mother was diagnosed with cancer.
“Watching her endure chemotherapy while I tried to stay focused on school and football challenged me mentally and emotionally. It was heavy in ways that are difficult to put into words.”
Moore’s mother, Jera Bohlen-Moore, ended up beating her cancer diagnosis and was declared cancer-free in July 2024.
Moore’s letter was sent to the governor on March 3 and he was advocating for protecting and expanding the use of virtual mental health services in the state.
The football player noted that statistics showed suicide as the No. 2 leading cause of death for young adults in Oregon, and over half with depression don’t get treated.
“These are not just statistics; they are frightening realities,” Moore wrote. “They represent students, teammates, and families carrying grief, trauma, and silent struggles without support.”
Moore is coming off a season with the Ducks, where he completed 296 passes for 3,565 yards and 30 touchdowns, helping lead the program to an appearance in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
He forwent entering the NFL draft to return to Oregon in 2026.