In a letter to Oregon’s governor, Dante Moore opened up about the pressure on him as an 18-year-old freshman starting quarterback at UCLA in 2023. Ben Lonergan / Imagn Images
March 17, 2026 12:06 pm EDT
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore battled depression early in his college career, he revealed in a letter to Gov. Tina Kotek earlier this month, while asking for more mental health services in the state.
The letter, reported by The Oregonian, cited the pressure thrust upon Moore as an 18-year-old freshman starting quarterback at UCLA in 2023. That same year, his mother, Jera Bohlen-Moore, was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Watching her endure chemotherapy while I tried to stay focused on school and football challenged me mentally and emotionally,” Moore wrote, according to The Oregonian. “It was heavy in ways that are difficult to put into words.”
Moore’s mother was declared cancer-free in the summer of 2024. Moore, a Detroit native, first committed to Oregon while in high school. He later switched to UCLA and played as a freshman. After one year, he transferred to Oregon and sat behind Dillon Gabriel.
Moore took over Oregon’s starting job in 2025 and led the Ducks to a College Football Playoff semifinal appearance, losing to eventual national champion Indiana.
Despite being projected to be a first-round 2026 NFL Draft pick, Moore opted to return to the Ducks for another season, and he’s expected to be a top Heisman Trophy contender entering next season.
“In my life, what made the difference was support,” Moore wrote in the letter. “Support from my friends, love from my family, and access to the resources I needed to get better. As a young Black man and athlete, reaching out for help can often feel like climbing an uphill battle.
“It required vulnerability and trust, and I was fortunate to get the care I needed.”
Mar 17, 2026
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