Oregon QB Dante Moore Calls for Mental Health Support

When you're 18 years old, leading a major college football team, and watching your mother go through chemotherapy, asking for help takes real courage.

Oregon quarterback Dante Moore did exactly that. In a powerful letter to Governor Tina Kotek this month, he opened up about struggling with depression early in his college career and urged state leaders to protect mental health services.

"The pressure and expectations that come with playing quarterback at a high level felt overwhelming at 18," Moore wrote. His mother, Jera Bohlen-Moore, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 during his freshman year at UCLA.

Moore described trying to balance football, school, and watching his mother endure treatment as "heavy in ways that are difficult to put into words." She was declared cancer-free in summer 2024.

But Moore didn't just share his story. He turned his struggle into action.

He specifically asked the governor to protect and expand virtual mental health services in Oregon, the same resources that helped him recover. As a young Black male athlete, Moore acknowledged that seeking help "can often feel like climbing an uphill battle."

Why This Inspires

Moore's leadership extends far beyond Saturday game days. He recently challenged his entire team to use their platform for people who feel voiceless.

"Learning how to care for my own mental health made me a better leader, teammate, and student," he wrote. His message is clear: taking care of yourself isn't weakness; it's what makes you stronger for others.

Virtual mental health services gave Moore access to support when he needed it most. Now he's fighting to make sure other young people in Oregon have the same opportunity.

Moore continues supporting cancer awareness initiatives while speaking openly about mental health. His willingness to be vulnerable as a high-profile athlete helps break down stigmas that prevent many young men, especially Black athletes, from seeking help.

The support Moore received didn't just help him survive a difficult season; it shaped him into the kind of leader who lifts others up.