David Moore
David James Moore is an American professional football wide receiver for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the East Central Tigers and was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft. Over the course of his career, Moore has also spent time with the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Early Life and Background
David James Moore was born on January 15, 1995, in Gainesville, Texas. He grew up in the same North Texas community that helped shape his early interest in football, a sport that became central to his childhood and teenage years.
Moore attended Gainesville High School, where he played wide receiver for the school’s football program. As a senior, he recorded forty receptions for 700 yards and twelve touchdowns, numbers that demonstrated his playmaking ability and drew attention from college scouts. His production at the high school level laid the groundwork for his transition to the next stage of his football career.
Path to American Football
After completing high school, Moore chose to play college football at East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma, a Division II program. Competing at the Division II level provided Moore with an opportunity to refine his route-running, hands, and overall understanding of the wide receiver position.
His performances at East Central eventually drew the attention of NFL scouts, and Moore declared for the 2017 NFL draft. His journey from a small-town Texas high school to a Division II college and ultimately the NFL reflects a steady progression built on consistent production.
David Moore Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Moore was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2017 NFL draft, 226th overall. Two weeks after the draft, on May 12, 2017, the Seahawks signed him to a four-year, $2.48 million contract that included a signing bonus of $87,365. Moore was waived on September 2 and assigned to the practice squad the following day, before being promoted to the active roster on November 22, 2017.
During the 2018 season, Moore began to establish himself as a contributing member of the Seahawks’ offense. Against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 4, he recorded his first two professional receptions for 39 yards. The following week against the Los Angeles Rams, he caught three passes for 38 yards and his first two professional receiving touchdowns. He added touchdown receptions against the Oakland Raiders and Detroit Lions in Weeks 6 and 8, and recorded his first 100-yard game with 103 yards and a touchdown against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12. He finished 2018 with 26 receptions for 445 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns.
Seattle Seahawks Breakthrough (2017–2020)
Moore’s most productive stretch in Seattle came during the 2018 and 2019 seasons. After a developmental 2017 campaign, he earned an expanded role in the Seahawks’ offense in 2018, producing the kind of touchdown totals that suggested a long-term fit with the team. In 2019, he finished with 17 receptions for 301 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns, continuing to contribute as a rotational receiver.
Moore re-signed with Seattle on a one-year contract on April 22, 2020. During the Seahawks’ Week 2 game against the New England Patriots in 2020, he caught an improbable 38-yard touchdown along the sideline. The catch probability was rated at 6.3 percent, the lowest such mark since Tyler Lockett’s toe-drag reception against the Rams in 2019.
Journeyman Years (2021–2023)
On March 18, 2021, Moore signed a two-year, $4.75 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, beginning a stretch in which he would move between several teams. He was released by Carolina on September 1, 2021, and signed to the Las Vegas Raiders’ practice squad on September 6, 2021. On September 28, 2021, he was signed by the Denver Broncos off the Raiders’ practice squad, released on October 19, and re-signed to the practice squad before being released again on November 9.
On December 30, 2021, Moore was signed to the Green Bay Packers practice squad and elevated to the active roster on January 1, 2022, ahead of a Week 17 game against the Minnesota Vikings. On April 21, 2022, he signed a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears, but was placed on injured reserve on August 21 after suffering a leg injury in practice, and was released by Chicago on September 17. On May 15, 2023, Moore signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was released on August 29, and re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted to the active roster on December 13. In 2023, he recorded five receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown, including a score in the Buccaneers’ 32–9 Wild Card Round win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
Carolina Panthers Era (2021, 2024–Present)
Moore returned to the Carolina Panthers on March 19, 2024, signing a one-year deal. In the 2024 season, he produced 32 receptions for 351 yards and three touchdowns, re-establishing himself as a steady contributor within Carolina’s offensive scheme.
On March 18, 2025, Moore re-signed with the Panthers on a one-year contract. He recorded one catch in Carolina’s first four games before suffering a significant elbow dislocation in Week 4 against the New England Patriots. Moore was placed on injured reserve on September 30, 2025.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among the defining moments of Moore’s career is his sideline touchdown catch against the New England Patriots in 2020, which carried a 6.3 percent catch probability, the lowest such figure tracked for a Seahawks reception since 2019. His first 100-yard receiving game came against the Carolina Panthers in Week 12 of the 2018 season, and his Wild Card Round touchdown against the Eagles with Tampa Bay in 2023 added a notable postseason highlight to his resume.
David Moore Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available information about David James Moore’s immediate family and personal background is limited. He was raised in Gainesville, Texas, the community that shaped his early introduction to football.
2025 Season Performance
Moore entered the 2025 season with the Carolina Panthers after re-signing on a one-year contract on March 18, 2025. His role in the early portion of the season was modest, as he recorded one reception across Carolina’s first four games.
His season was interrupted in Week 4 against the New England Patriots, when he suffered a significant elbow dislocation that led to his placement on injured reserve on September 30, 2025. The injury effectively paused his on-field contribution for the remainder of the campaign.
Looking ahead, Moore’s recovery and potential return from injured reserve will shape his outlook for the remainder of 2025, with his experience as a reliable depth receiver continuing to be a key part of his value to the Panthers.