Ex-Dolphins Moore, Henne back here with Chiefs
Matt Moore would have been perfectly content remaining ostensibly retired, spending his time with his wife and three young daughters in a Los Angeles suburb and coaching quarterbacks at Hart High School in Santa Clarita.
But then Chiefs coach Andy Reid called at 5:30 a.m. on a late August morning five months ago. And everything changed. Kansas City had just lost another former Dolphins quarterback, Chad Henne,
to an ankle injury in preseason and needed a backup to Pat Mahomes.
And Reid put the fullcourt press on Moore, who had bypassed a few opportunities to play since last suiting up for the Dolphins in 2017. “I did not [believe I would play again],” Moore said Monday night at Marlins Park, site of the NFL’s Super Bowl media event. “I was home [with children ages 2, 5 and 8] and happy with that situation. It was good.
“And then coach Reid called and I gave it some serious thought and a couple hours later, I was gone [to Kansas City]. He didn’t have to say much. His reputation, obviously the Chiefs organization, it just felt like something I had to do.”
Henne is back now, activated from the injured list on Nov. 2, meaning two former Dolphins quarterbacks - at least one of which was on the Dolphins roster every year from 2008 through 2017 - will be backing up
Mahomes on Sunday. Moore generally has been the No. 2 quarterback since Henne returned, but
Henne filled that role for the AFC Championship because Moore missed a practice due to illness.
For seven seasons,
Moore was this era’s Dolphins version of Don Strock, coming off the bench to lead Miami to a few comeback wins and earning the respect of teammates with his toughness, preparation and gunslinger mentality.
Because of Ryan Tannehill’s season-ending knee injury late in 2016, Moore is also a footnote in Dolphins history - the starting quarterback during the franchise’s only playoff game in the last decade. During that 30-12 Steelers victory, Steelers linebacker Bud Dupree leveled him with a vicious hit, but Moore missed only one play.
When Tannehill sustained a season-ending knee injury in August of 2017, Adam Gase bypassed Moore as the starter, signing Jay Cutler. Moore started two games that season and the Dolphins decided to move on after the season.
His final Dolphins career numbers: 27 games, 17 starts (8-9 record in those games), 4298 yards passing, 29 touchdowns, 19 interceptions and an 86 rating.
Before the Chiefs called, “we had three or four inquiries [over the previous 18 months], but it was difficult to get too enthused because your client didn’t seem enthused,” said Moore’s agent, Lynn Lashbrook. “He had money put away.”
Moore left such a strong impression on the Dolphins front office that general manager Chris Grier brought him on board in 2018 as a scout in training.
But Lashbrook said Moore declined an offer to join the team as a full-time scout last year because it would have required too much time away from his family.
“Chris gave me some projects to do,” Moore said. “I had a good time doing it and learned a lot. I didn’t want to be away that much” to do it full-time.
When Mahomes went down in a game against Denver this season, Moore came off the bench and played well in a win. He started the next two weeks — a loss against Green Bay and win against Minnesota — and threw three touchdowns, no interceptions and produced a 106 passer rating.
The Chiefs are using the Dolphins training facility this week, and Moore said “being there today practicing brought back a lot of good memories. I had a really good time here.”
Henne said: “This is like a second home to me, where it all started.”
As a second-round pick, Henne’s four-year Dolphins career (2008-11) was a disappointment: 13-18 as a starter, with 31 touchdowns, 37 interceptions and a 75.7 rating. But he has lasted 11 years in the league, including five with Jacksonville and the past two with the Chiefs. “I’m just happy I’m still in it,” he said.
And happy to be teammates with Moore; their time in Miami overlapped only one season, in 2011, but they kept in touch, speaking several times a year.
“It’s crazy,” Henne said. “I get injured and somehow Matt scoots in. We’re great buddies.”
Moore said simply: “I love Chad. It has just been really cool. Who would have thought?”
Barry Jackson: 305-376-3491, @flasportsbuzz