Ahmad Rashād Ahmad Rashād ( born Robert Earl Moore on November 19 , 1949 ) is an American sportscaster ( mostly with NBC Sports ) and former professional football player . An All - America n running back and wide receiver from Oregon known as Bobby Moore , Rashad was the fourth overall pick in the 1972 NFL Draft , drafted by the St . Louis Cardinals . He was the first skill - position player taken , following three linemen . Rashād was converted back to wide receiver while with the Cardinals , where he played for two seasons . He then played for the Buffalo Bills ( 1974 ) , and most notably , the Minnesota Vikings ( 1976 – 1982 ) , where he earned four Pro Bowl selections from 1978 to 1981 . Early life . Born Robert Earl Moore in Portland , Oregon , he graduated from Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma , Washington , in 1967 and accepted a football scholarship to the University of Oregon . He is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity . Football career . Rashād graduated from the University of Oregon , where he played wide receiver as a sophomore in 1969 ; then was moved to running back where he was an All - America n in 1971 — playing with quarterback Dan Fouts . Rashād was named to the College Football Hall of Fame on May 9 , 2007 . During his pro football career , Rashād caught 495 passes for 6 , 831 yards and 44 touchdowns , while also rushing for 52 yards . The standout catch of his career came in a December 1980 game against the Cleveland Browns . Vikings quarterback Tommy Kramer threw a Hail Mary pass to Rashād that resulted in a come - from - behind 28 - 23 victory and a Central Division title for the Vikings . This became known as the Miracle Catch . Rashād also has the distinction of the longest play from scrimmage that didn ' t score a touchdown : 98 yards in a 1972 game against the Rams . Rashād replaced the same receiver , John Gilliam , in both St . Louis and Minnesota . Conversion to Islam . In 1972 , Moore converted to Islam , and changed his name to Ahmad Rashād , which means " Admirable One Led To Truth " in Arabic . His last name comes from his mentor in St . Louis , Rashad Khalifa . Broadcasting and television career . After his football career , he covered NFL and NBA televised contests as a studio anchor and game reporter for NBC and ABC , as well as hosting " NBA Inside Stuff " . He also has hosted the video - clip show " Real TV " in 2000 , the reality show " Celebrity Mole " , the game show " Caesars Challenge " along with co - host Dan Doherty , and " NBA Access with Ahmad Rashad " on the ABC network . He starred in an episode of " Monsters " . Rashād has also guest starred on several TV shows , mainly ones that starred his then wife Phylicia . He used to interview long - time friend Michael Jordan frequently while he was at NBC . Rashad worked on the NFL on NBC with O . J . Simpson . In early 2013 , he became a member of panel on the daily talk - show Morning Drive on the Golf Channel . Hosted Ripleys believe it or not . Personal life . Rashād has been married and divorced four times . In 1969 , he married his first wife Deidre Waters . They had a daughter , Keva , born in 1970 . In addition he has a son , Sean , born out of wedlock in 1970 . In 1976 , he married his second wife , Matilda Johnson . They had two children , daughter Maiyisha ( born in 1976 ) and son Ahmad Jr . ( born in 1978 ) . They divorced in 1979 . In 1985 , Rashād married " Cosby Show " actress Phylicia Ayers - Allen , to whom he proposed on national television during the pregame show of NBC ' s broadcast of the Thanksgiving Day football game between the Detroit Lions and the New York Jets . It was the third marriage for both . Unlike many actresses , she adopted her husband ' s surname ( shortly after the wedding ) , and used it as her professional name ( " Phylicia Rashād " ) ever since . Out of this marriage , he gained a stepson Billy Bowles ( born 1973 ) . After a year of marriage , Ahmad and Phylicia had a daughter , Condola Phylea Rashād ( named after his mother ) . After nearly sixteen years of marriage , Ahmad and Phylicia divorced in 2001 . In 2007 , Rashād wed his fourth wife , Sale Johnson ( ex - wife of Johnson & Johnson billionaire heir , and New York Jets owner , Woody Johnson ) . He gained three step - daughters from this marriage . They had a daughter , then divorced in 2013 .