Zack Moss Bio
Zack Moss, born Zaccheus Malik Moss, is an American professional football running back who plays in the National Football League. He played college football for the Utah Utes and entered the league after being selected by the Buffalo Bills in the third round of the 2020 NFL draft. Standing 5 ft 10 in and listed at around 220 lb, Moss has built his career on a physical, between-the-tackles rushing style and dependable work as a pass catcher out of the backfield.
Early Life and Background
Zack Moss was born on December 15, 1997, in Hialeah Gardens, Florida, United States. He grew up in South Florida and attended Mater Academy Charter School in Hialeah Gardens before transferring to Hallandale High School in Hallandale Beach for his senior year. The move paired him with future college teammate Tyler Huntley and gave him a platform to showcase his skills as a feature back.
During his senior season at Hallandale, Moss ran for 1,098 yards on 145 carries and scored 17 touchdowns, a workload that made him one of the most productive rushers in the region. Coming out of high school, he originally committed to the University of Miami to play college football, but he later changed his commitment and signed with the University of Utah, a decision that helped shape the next phase of his development.
Path to American Football
Moss arrived at the University of Utah in 2016 and immediately stepped into a contributing role. As a freshman he played in 10 games with three starts and produced 382 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 84 carries. The following season he became a full-time starter, opening 12 of 13 games and rushing for 1,173 yards on 214 carries with 10 touchdowns.
His junior campaign in 2018 was cut short when he suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice after starting the first nine games, but he returned healthy for his senior year. In 2019, Moss rushed for 1,246 yards and 15 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry, becoming the first three-time 1,000-yard rusher in Utah history. He finished his college career as the school’s all-time leader in rushing yards (4,067) and rushing touchdowns (38), while adding 688 receiving yards and three receiving scores.
Zack Moss Career
Early Career (2020–2021)
The Buffalo Bills selected Zack Moss in the third round with the 86th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft, and he signed a four-year, $4.522 million contract on June 15, 2020. He made an immediate impact in Week 1 against the New York Jets, catching a four-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Allen in his debut. His best early showing came in Week 8 against the New England Patriots, when he ran for 81 yards and two touchdowns on 14 carries in a 24–21 victory.
Moss finished his rookie season second on the Bills in rushing with 481 yards and four touchdowns on 112 carries, while adding 14 receptions for 95 yards and a score. After appearing in the wild-card playoff win over the Indianapolis Colts, he suffered an ankle injury that sent him to injured reserve in January 2021. In 2022 he played only five games for Buffalo, rushing for 91 yards and catching seven passes for 27 yards before being dealt midseason.
Buffalo Bills Breakthrough (2020–2022)
Moss’s role with the Bills grew as a complementary back to Devin Singletary, and his toughness quickly became a hallmark. In a 2021 Week 2 win over the Miami Dolphins, played one day after attending his aunt’s funeral, he bounced back from an early fumble to score twice, finishing with 26 rushing yards on eight carries plus two receptions for eight yards in a 35–0 victory. The performance cemented his reputation for short-area power and mental resilience.
On November 1, 2022, Buffalo traded Moss and a conditional 2023 sixth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts for running back Nyheim Hines, ending his time in Buffalo after 28 games and a pair of touchdown catches.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2022–2023)
With starter Jonathan Taylor sidelined by injury, Moss became the Colts’ primary ball carrier beginning with a game against the Los Angeles Chargers. He opened his Colts tenure with 88 rushing yards on 18 carries and a touchdown in a 31–20 win over the Houston Texans, then followed it up with 30 carries for 122 yards and a 17-yard receiving touchdown against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3.
His best single-game rushing performance came in Week 5 against the Tennessee Titans, when he carried 23 times for 165 yards and two touchdowns while adding two catches for 30 yards in a 23–16 win. Moss finished 2023 as Indianapolis’s leading rusher with a career-high 794 rushing yards and five touchdowns on the ground, along with 27 receptions for 192 yards and two receiving scores across 14 games and eight starts. A broken arm suffered in July 2023 delayed his season debut that year.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2024)
On March 11, 2024, Zack Moss signed a two-year contract with the Cincinnati Bengals and was named the team’s starting running back. He opened the season by scoring Cincinnati’s first touchdown of the year in a Week 1 loss to the New England Patriots. He started the year strong, posting 74 carries for 242 yards and two touchdowns across his first eight games.
His 2024 season ended on November 5, when a neck injury sent him to injured reserve and forced him to miss the remainder of the schedule. On July 30, 2025, the Bengals released Moss, closing that chapter of his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
While running backs are not drivers in the traditional sense, Moss’s on-field profile mirrors a power-runner’s mentality. He is at his best on inside-zone and power concepts, where his 220-pound frame and low pad level help him move piles. He is also a trusted outlet receiver, showing soft hands and the willingness to pass-protect on third downs, which has allowed offensive coordinators to keep him on the field in obvious passing situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Moss’s most celebrated college moment came during the 2019 season, when he broke the University of Utah’s all-time rushing record during a Week 7 game against Arizona State. In the NFL, his 165-yard, two-touchdown effort against the Tennessee Titans in 2023 stands as his signature performance, and his emotional two-touchdown game against the Miami Dolphins in 2021 remains a defining example of his perseverance.
Zack Moss Career Wins
Although wins are credited to teams rather than individual running backs, Zack Moss has contributed to numerous victories across the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, and Cincinnati Bengals. His most memorable team results include postseason appearances with the Bills in 2020, the Colts’ late-2022 run while serving as the lead back, and the Bengals’ 2024 season-opening scoring drive against the New England Patriots.
NFL Highlights
Moss entered the NFL with 481 rushing yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, then set a career high with 794 rushing yards and five touchdowns in 2023 with the Colts. His top single-game rushing total of 165 yards came against the Tennessee Titans, while his career-best 122-yard game with a receiving score came against the Baltimore Ravens. Through the 2024 season he had recorded 2,318 career rushing yards and 16 rushing touchdowns, plus 98 receptions for 710 yards and five receiving scores.
Other Wins & Performances
Beyond the NFL, Moss earned Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2019 and was a two-time First-team All-Pac-12 selection, after a Second-team All-Pac-12 nod in 2018. His three 1,000-yard college seasons and 38 career rushing touchdowns at Utah remain school records.
Zack Moss Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Zack Moss comes from one of the more athletically gifted families in professional football. He is the cousin of former NFL wide receivers Santana Moss and Sinorice Moss, and a second cousin of longtime defensive back Patrick Peterson. The family connection to the NFL helped shape his understanding of what it takes to sustain a professional career.
Personal Life
Moss has largely kept his personal life out of the public eye. He has spoken openly about the loss of his aunt, whose funeral he attended the day before his 2021 game against the Miami Dolphins, a moment that underscored the close ties he maintains with his extended family.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Zack Moss became a free agent after the Cincinnati Bengals released him on July 30, 2025. The move opened the door for him to sign with a new team and compete for a feature back role, or a complementary role in a committee approach, depending on the scheme and depth chart he joins.
At 27 years old, Moss still has the production profile of a reliable NFL running back, with more than 2,300 career rushing yards, 16 rushing touchdowns, and proven pass-catching skills out of the backfield. His track record of returning from a broken arm in 2023 and a neck injury in 2024 suggests he can be ready for full participation when training camps open.
The outlook for 2025 will hinge on which offense he lands in and how that scheme uses a power runner with receiving ability. If he secures a defined role, Moss has the résumé to post another 700-plus-yard season and remain a steady contributor on third downs and in short-yardage situations.