Mar 16, 2026, 04:07 PM ET
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore said he struggled with mental health issues tied to the pressures of major college football.
Moore shared a letter he wrote to Gov. Tina Kotek that was published by The Oregonian/OregonLive, disclosing he dealt with depression and asking the governor to support mental health services in Oregon.
“Early in my college career, I found myself struggling deeply: I was depressed,” Moore wrote in the March 3 letter. “The pressure and expectations that come with playing quarterback at a high level felt overwhelming at 18. Around that same time, my mother was diagnosed with cancer.
“Watching her endure chemotherapy while I tried to stay focused on school and football challenged me mentally and emotionally. It was heavy in ways that are difficult to put into words.”
Moore’s mother, Jera Bohlen-Moore, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 during his first spring at UCLA and was declared cancer-free in the summer of 2024. Moore has continued to support cancer awareness since transferring to Oregon.
“In my life, what made the difference was support,” he wrote. “Support from my friends, love from my family, and access to the resources I needed to get better. As a young Black man and athlete, reaching out for help can often feel like climbing an uphill battle. It required vulnerability and trust, and I was fortunate to get the care I needed.”
Moore said he wrote to Kotek to seek protection and expansion of virtual mental health services, which he said helped him. He added that mental health has affected him both on and off the field.
“I recently challenged my teammates to lead beyond the field and use our platform to support people who feel voiceless,” Moore wrote. “Leadership is not just about what we do on Saturdays — it is about who we stand up for every day. As a quarterback, I am expected to lead, stay composed, and carry responsibility for my team.
“Learning how to care for my own mental health made me a better leader, teammate, and student. I know what it feels like to struggle in silence. I also know what it feels like to be supported and to come back stronger. That support saved me.”
