Dante Moore is using his football star power to help those struggling with mental health issues.
The Oregon quarterback shared a letter he sent to the governor of Oregon with The Oregonian/OregonLive, in which he advocated for Gov. Tina Kotek to support mental health services in the state and detailed his own struggles.
“I recently challenged my teammates to lead beyond the field and use our platform to support people who feel voiceless,” Moore wrote. “Leadership is not just about what we do on Saturdays — it is about who we stand up for every day. As a quarterback, I am expected to lead, stay composed, and carry responsibility for my team.
“Learning how to care for my own mental health made me a better leader, teammate, and student. I know what it feels like to struggle in silence. I also know what it feels like to be supported and to come back stronger. That support saved me.”
As part of his letter, Moore revealed his own struggles with mental health while beginning his college career and watching his mother go through a battle 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.
