Pro football's greatest names are swapping the gridiron for the gunwale. The Pro Football Hall of Fame and B.A.S.S. have announced a partnership headlined by an inaugural celebrity tournament, the Bassmaster Randy Moss Pro Football Hall of Fame Pro-Am, set for Monday, August 31 on the St. Lawrence River at Clayton, New York.
The one-day event will pair Hall of Fame members with Bassmaster Elite Series anglers, each football legend fishing alongside a touring pro. Organisers are building a free fan expo and an afternoon weigh-in around it, opening the docks to spectators who want a close look at both sets of athletes.
The Hall of Famers scheduled to compete read like a defensive coordinator's nightmare: Rondé Barber, Robert Brazile, Cris Carter, Rickey Jackson, Calvin Johnson, Kevin Mawae, Randy Moss, John Randle, Warren Sapp, Joe Thomas and Kellen Winslow.
Moss, enshrined with the Class of 2018, is the front man and the driving force.
"I am excited to launch this event, uniting Hall of Famers and Elite anglers from Bassmaster for an experience that will create memories on and off the water," Moss said.
"Randy is so passionate about fishing, and he and several other Hall of Famers have expressed interest in being part of an event of this type," said Rich Desrosiers, chief communications and content officer at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. "We look forward to building on this inaugural event with even deeper collaboration in the future to bring more excitement to fans of both sports."
For B.A.S.S., the appeal is the overlap between two demanding pursuits. Chief operating officer Phillip Johnson argued that elite anglers and pro footballers share the same core traits — preparation, discipline and the ability to perform under pressure.
"This partnership brings together two iconic organizations that represent excellence at the highest level of competition," Johnson said. "Bringing those athletes together on the St. Lawrence River creates an extraordinary opportunity to engage fans, celebrate the outdoors and create memories that will last a lifetime."
He expects the crossover to run both ways. "Many Hall of Fame players are passionate anglers, and many of our Elite Series competitors are lifelong football fans," Johnson said. "Whether you're a football fan, a fishing fan or both, this will be a special day on one of the greatest fisheries in the world."
The venue is no accident. The St. Lawrence is widely rated among the best smallmouth fisheries anywhere, a regular stop on the Elite Series and a water synonymous with record-setting bags and dramatic final-day finishes. Its reputation has turned Clayton and Jefferson County into one of competitive fishing's marquee destinations.
The collaboration will not stop at the weigh-in. B.A.S.S. will set up at the Hall's Enshrinement Festival in Canton from August 5-9, hosting fan activities and introducing football crowds to bass fishing during the celebration of the Class of 2026. It is a deliberate bid to grow the sport by borrowing one fan base to build another — and, if the inaugural Pro-Am clicks, the two organisations have already signalled they want to do more.