University of Oregon quarterback Dante Moore is advocating for better mental health services in his state, and he’s opening up about his own experiences to make his point.
Moore, 20, who has played the last two seasons in Eugene since transferring from UCLA, wrote a letter to Oregon governor Tina Kotek, in which he revealed the pressures of high-major football, combined with struggles in his family, left him feeling overwhelmed.
“Early in my college career, I found myself struggling deeply: I was depressed,” he wrote in the letter, dated March 3, 2026. “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.”
He continued, “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, went through chemotherapy while the quarterback was a freshman in 2023, before being declared cancer-free a year later. He credits the people and resources around him for helping him through that time — the same resources, he said, that he is advocating for now.
“In my life, what made the difference was support,” Moore wrote. “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.”
Moore also turned his words into action, saying that because he has a massive platform as a Big Ten quarterback, he and his teammates can use that to give a voice to “people who feel voiceless.”
“Leadership is not just about what we do on Saturdays,” he explained. “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.”
Moore added, “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.”
The redshirt sophomore quarterback just finished his second season with the Ducks and third overall in college football, having by far the most success of his career. He threw for more than 3,500 yards in 2026 with 30 touchdown passes as the Ducks made it to the College Football Playoff semifinals.
