Zach Moore (2026) - Concordia-St. Paul Athletic Hall of Fame - Concordia University, St. Paul Athletics

Concordia-St. Paul Athletic Hall of Fame

Zach Moore

Class

2014
Induction

2026
Sport(s)

Football

Zach Moore made history multiple times in his five years at Concordia with his highest-profile achievement on May 10, 2014, when he was selected in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, signing his first professional contract just a few days later. He would start a game as a rookie on Sunday Night Football and was a member of the Super Bowl XLIX Champion Patriots squad that year.

Moore was also a two-time All-American and the first-ever Concordia football player to be named to the AFCA All-America First Team as selected by the Division II football coaches association. He set the program record for career sacks (33.0, now 3rd at CSP), which was ranked ninth in Division II football history when his CSP career came to a close (now 34th). After setting the NSIC sacks record, he ranks

He dominated the Northern Sun throughout his career, earning All-NSIC First Team honors three times while leading the league in sacks twice. His 14 sacks as a junior in 2012 are the second most in a season in school history. That season, he ranked fifth in the country with 1.27 sacks per game and 11th nationally with 1.91 tackles for loss per game.

Although he was recruited by major Division I programs out of Simeon Academy in Chicago and put himself on the national scene with a breakout sophomore season that helped the program reach the Mineral Water Bowl, it was his junior season that had drawn the attention of every NFL organization.

Northern Sun coaches agreed by naming him the NSIC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and changing their offensive schemes to keep him from blowing up their backfields at the expense of offensive production. He was also a preseason All-American, ranked the #5 Division II football prospect by D2Football.com and named to the Senior Bowl watch list.

Despite lower sack totals as a senior (7.0), the Concordia defense took a major step forward with Moore serving as the leader in his role as two-time captain.

In his four seasons on the field, Moore compiled 130 tackles, 45.0 tackles for loss, 33.0 sacks (31 solo), forced six fumbles, had three blocked kicks and four passes defended along with one career interception.

While he was drafted by the Patriots on May 10, Moore was recognized the previous day when he walked with a degree in criminal justice on May 9, 2014. He played in 26 career NFL games for four different franchises, starting two career games. In his final season with the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, he played in all 16 games, earning his second career start and securing a career-high 3.5 sacks during the season. He also saw action for the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys and was a member of the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers organizations.

After retiring from professional football, Moore has become a certified men’s health and fitness coach through the International Sports Science Association (ISSA). He has two daughters and is a part-time youth football coach (11-13U). He has also worked in the community on important issues, including a Dancing with the Stars competition to raise awareness for human trafficking, and has appeared in a New York stage play about mental health for athletes after retirement.

Career Awards/Honors

2014 NFL Draft, 6th round by New England Patriots
2014 NFL Combine invitee
2014 East-West Shrine Game bowl participant
2014 NFLPA Bowl Game invitee
2014 Cliff Harris Award Division II Defensive Player of the Year finalist
Two-time All-American: 2012 AFCA First Team & 2013 D2Football.com Second Team
Three-time All-NSIC First Team
Three-time All-Region selection (2011 Second Team, 2012 First Team, 2013 Second Team)

CSP Records