Sterling Moore (born February 3, 1990) is an American former professional football cornerback and coach who is a defensive assistant for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Southern Methodist University.

Sterling Moore
refer to caption
Moore with the Buffalo Bills in 2016
No. 29, 30, 26, 24
Position:Defensive assistant
Personal information
Born: (1990-02-03) February 3, 1990 (age 34)
Antioch, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Weight:200 lb (91 kg)
Career information
High school:Deer Valley
(Antioch, California)
College:Southern Methodist
Undrafted:2011
Career history
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:186
Forced fumbles:6
Fumble recoveries:3
Pass deflections:40
Interceptions:6
Defensive touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Moore attended Deer Valley High School, where he played as a wide receiver and defensive back. He also practiced basketball.

He moved on to Laney College, where he became a starter at cornerback, appearing in 10 games as a freshman, while making 30 tackles, five interceptions, 9 passes defensed and one forced fumble. The next year, he received All-JUCO honors.

After his sophomore season, he transferred to Southern Methodist University. He finished his college career after appearing in 19 games, while posting 59 tackles, 2 interceptions, 18 passes defensed, 2 sacks and one fumble recovery.

Professional career

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Oakland Raiders

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On July 28, 2011, he was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on September 3 and re-signed the next day to the practice squad.[1] He was released on September 26.

New England Patriots

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On October 5, 2011, he was signed by the New England Patriots to their practice squad.[2] On October 15, he was signed to the active roster and made his NFL debut against the New York Jets on November 13, starting every snap at safety for the Patriots.[3]

On December 10, 2011, Moore was released by New England. On December 14, 2011, he was re-signed to the Patriots practice squad and on December 23, 2011, he was promoted to the active roster. On January 1, 2012, in Week 17 of the 2011–12 NFL season, Moore recorded two interceptions against the Buffalo Bills, returning one for a touchdown. Late in the AFC Championship against the Baltimore Ravens, as the Ravens were driving toward a potential game clinching touchdown, Moore struck Lee Evans' arm on a pass to the end zone, almost certainly preventing a touchdown that could have sent the Ravens to Super Bowl XLVI.[4] After the incomplete pass, Billy Cundiff missed a game-tying field goal as the Patriots went on to win 23–20, earning for Moore an AFC Championship ring.[5]

On October 31, 2012, he was waived and re-signed to the Patriots practice squad two days later.[6]

Dallas Cowboys

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On November 30, 2012, he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys from the New England Patriots practice squad to replace an injured Orlando Scandrick.[7] He played in the last five games of the season mostly in passing situations.

Moore was released on August 31, 2013, in favor of rookie fourth round draft choice B. W. Webb.[8] The team brought him back on November 25, to play as the fourth corner in passing situations.[9]

In 2014, after being mostly relegated to a reserve role during his career, he was named the team's nickel back during Orlando Scandrick's suspension and kept the role after Morris Claiborne suffered a season ending knee injury. He played in 16 games (7 starts), registered 49 tackles and led all Cowboys defensive backs with 14 passes defensed.[10]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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On March 19, 2015, Moore signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[11] He was used as the nickel cornerback in the first four games of the season, before being passed on the depth chart by Alterraun Verner and moved to a backup role.

He was named the starting left cornerback in the seventh game of the season and had eight starts, before coming from the bench in the season finale. He registered 45 tackles, one interception, 6 passes defended, and 3 forced fumbles.

Buffalo Bills

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Moore signed with the Buffalo Bills on April 5, 2016. On September 2, he was released as part of final roster cuts.[12]

New Orleans Saints

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On September 6, 2016, Moore was signed by the New Orleans Saints to replace the recently released Cortland Finnegan.[13] He played in 13 games with 12 starts for the Saints, recording career-highs with 56 tackles, 13 passes defensed along with two interceptions.

On March 23, 2017, Moore re-signed with the Saints.[14]

With the emergence of their younger cornerbacks, the Saints released Moore on October 25, 2017.[15] He was re-signed on November 20, 2017.[16] He was released again on December 14, 2017.[17] He was re-signed on December 21, 2017.[18]

Detroit Lions

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On August 20, 2018, Moore signed with the Detroit Lions.[19] He was released on August 31, 2018.[20]

Arizona Hotshots

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Moore was signed by the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football on January 17, 2019.[21] The league ceased operations in April 2019.[22]

In October 2019, Moore was selected by the Seattle Dragons in the 10th round during phase 4 of the 2020 XFL draft.[23]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2011 NWE 6 3 7 6 1 0.0 0 2 26 1 21 2 0 0 0 0
2012 NWE 8 0 13 12 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 14 0
DAL 5 0 9 6 3 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0
2013 DAL 5 0 5 5 0 0.0 0 1 21 0 21 3 0 0 0 0
2014 DAL 16 7 46 35 11 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 12 1 2 17 0
2015 TAM 16 9 45 37 8 0.0 3 1 18 0 18 6 3 0 0 0
2016 NOR 13 12 56 44 12 0.0 1 2 8 0 8 13 0 0 0 0
2017 NOR 6 0 5 5 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0
75 31 186 150 36 0.0 5 6 73 1 21 40 6 3 31 0

Playoffs

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Cmb Solo Ast Sck TFL Int Yds TD Lng PD FF FR Yds TD
2011 NWE 3 0 7 6 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0
2014 DAL 2 2 4 4 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2017 NOR 2 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
7 2 11 10 1 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0

Coaching career

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New Orleans Saints

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In March 2022, Moore joined the New Orleans Saints coaching staff as a defensive assistant.[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Oakland Raiders cutdown analysis". September 4, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  2. ^ "Patriots bring a Raider back from Oakland". October 5, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  3. ^ "No Moore nerves for this rookie". November 17, 2011. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  4. ^ "Moore's slap saves Patriots' season". January 23, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  5. ^ "Patriots Receive AFC Championship Rings From Owner Robert Kraft". June 14, 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  6. ^ "Sterling Moore leaves for Cowboys". December 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  7. ^ "Cowboys add SMU-ex Sterling Moore". December 2012. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  8. ^ "Johnson Placed on IR; Tanney, Armstrong, Moore Among Cuts". Archived from the original on July 25, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  9. ^ "Cowboys sign CB Sterling Moore". November 25, 2013. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  10. ^ "Cowboys free-agent debate: Sterling Moore". February 10, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  11. ^ "Bucs Add CB Moore in Free Agency". Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  12. ^ Brown, Chris (September 2, 2016). "Vets Felton and Lawson headline Bills cut to 53". BuffaloBills.com.
  13. ^ "Saints add Sterling Moore". September 6, 2016. Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  14. ^ "Saints Re-Sign CB Sterling Moore and DE Darryl Tapp To One-Year Contracts". NewOrleansSaints.com. March 23, 2017. Archived from the original on December 4, 2017.
  15. ^ Alper, Josh (October 25, 2017). "Saints releasing Sterling Moore". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  16. ^ Gantt, Darin (November 20, 2017). "Saints bringing back cornerback Sterling Moore". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  17. ^ "Saints claim linebacker Jonathan Freeny, waive Sterling Moore: source". NOLA.com. December 14, 2017.
  18. ^ Teope, Herbie (December 21, 2017). "Saints bring back cornerback Sterling Moore: source". NOLA.com.
  19. ^ "Lions sign free agents CB Dexter McDougle, CB Sterling Moore and OL Beau Nunn". DetroitLions.com. August 20, 2018.
  20. ^ "Lions announce roster". DetroitLions.com. August 31, 2018.
  21. ^ "Arizona Hotshots Week One Game Time Changed". oursportscentral.com. February 2, 2019. Retrieved February 12, 2019.
  22. ^ Rothstein, Michael; Wickersham, Seth (June 13, 2019). "Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  23. ^ Bender, Bill (October 21, 2019). "XFL Draft picks 2019: Complete results, rosters, players for new football league". Sporting News. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  24. ^ Samuels, Doug (March 10, 2022). "The Scoop - Thursday March 10, 2022". footballscoop.com. Football Scoop. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
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