Rickey Jackson wins first Bassmaster Randy Moss Pro Football Hall of Fame Pro-Am on St. Lawrence River
Hall‑of‑Fame Footballers Reel in Bass at Clayton, N.Y.
The first‑ever Bassmaster Randy Moss Pro Football Hall of Fame Pro‑Am concluded Monday on the St. Lawrence River in Clayton, New York, with the surprise champion a former linebacker. Eight National Football League (NFL) Hall‑of‑Famers teamed with eight Bassmaster Elite pros for a single‑day fishing tournament that mixed the roar of football crowds with the quiet of a bass‑filled river.
The event, organized by former NFL star Randy Moss, was designed to give former football stars a chance to experience a sport that had captured his own childhood dreams. “I just wanted to team up, bring the two together, and see if we can put something on for years to come,” Moss told reporters before the launch. “Me being a country boy, just being around water makes me feel at home.”
The Contest
Each of the eight teams fished the same stretch of the St. Lawrence River. At the end of the day the team that hauled in the most weight in pounds and ounces claimed the title and a trophy. A separate award, the Phoenix Boats Big Bass, went to the team that caught the largest smallmouth bass.
Results
1st – Rickey Jackson & John Garrett – 21 lb 10 oz
Former Super Bowl XXIX linebacker Rickey Jackson, a Pahokee, Fla. native who grew up near Lake Okeechobee, paired with two‑time Bassmaster Classic qualifier John Garrett. Jackson compared the win to the biggest stage he knows, saying, “I mean, it’s kind of like winning the Super Bowl.”2nd – Joe Thomas & Jay Przekurat – 21 lb 5 oz
Former Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Joe Thomas nearly matched the champions. “I would say these guys are trembling in their boots because I am by far the most experienced and talented of the bass fishermen here, pros included,” Thomas joked. He added, “It would feel great to snatch that right from Randy Moss because he’s been cheating a little bit.”3rd – Kevin Mawae & Robert Gee – 20 lb 6 oz
Former Seattle Seahawks offensive lineman Kevin Mawae, who lives near Toledo Bend Reservoir, turned down a chance to go pro with the statement, “You don’t have to have a boat, but you gotta make sure you’re friendly with a neighbor who does.”4th – Dave Robinson & Justin Hamner – 17 lb 15 oz
Former Green Bay Packers legend Dave Robinson, who won the first two Super Bowls under Vince Lombardi, partnered with 2024 Bassmaster Classic champion Justin Hamner. Robinson had a “negative two” confidence rating before the tournament but still predicted a win. Hamner reported that Robinson’s creative bait—a strip of beef jerky—failed to catch any fish, but it was a fun experiment.5th – Ronde Barber & Tucker Smith – 16 lb 14 oz
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber’s partner, Tucker Smith, caught 16 lb 14 oz. Barber quipped that Smith would play “nickelback next to me” if they ever returned to football.6th – Robert Brazile & Tyler Williams – 14 lb 3 oz
Robert Brazile, who went by the nickname “Doctor Doom,” and Tyler Williams finished sixth. Brazile said, “The best way to fish is to close your mouth,” a line he attributes to his father.7th – Randy Moss & Easton Fothergill – 13 lb 11 oz
Moss, the event’s host, paired with 2025 Bassmaster Classic champion Easton Fothergill and hauled in 13 lb 11 oz. “This is better than football,” Moss said, echoing Brazile’s sentiment. He added that the tournament had given his Hall‑of‑Fame brothers a chance to “pull them out of the football‑only orbit they usually share once a year.”8th – Megatron & Brandon Palaniuk – 11 lb 13 oz
Former Hall‑of‑Fame player “Megatron” and Elite pro Brandon Palaniuk finished last as a team, yet Palaniuk still walked away with the day’s Phoenix Boats Big Bass award for a 7‑lb smallmouth. “I was just fishing today. I wasn’t catching,” Palaniuk said modestly, but added, “This is truly a one‑of‑a‑kind experience for me.”
Why It Happened
Moss’s vision was to give his football brothers a new way to bond beyond the usual induction‑day ceremonies. The St. Lawrence River in Clayton offered an “easy selling point” for the event, and the combination of football stars and seasoned bass anglers created a unique mix of competition and camaraderie.
Looking Ahead
Moss hinted that next year’s tournament could feature more than the eight teams that competed this year. “If Monday was any indication, Megatron won’t be the only one,” he said. With the buzz around the event and the enthusiastic participation of players who have never cast a line before, the first‑annual Pro‑Am may set the tone for a new tradition in the world of sports‑and‑fishing crossover events.
