NFL tight end Foster Moreau announced Wednesday that he will be stepping away from football after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer tied to the immune system. Moreau, who recently became a free agent, learned that he had cancer during a medical exam conducted by the New Orleans Saints.
“During a routine physical conducted by the Saint’s medical team down in New Orleans, I’ve come to learn that I have Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and will be stepping away from football at this time to fight a new opponent: Cancer,” Moreau said in a tweet.
Moreau, a New Orleans native, came into the league in 2019 after four seasons at LSU, where he caught the attention of NFL scouts after being invited to the Senior Bowl in his final season. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fourth round of that year’s NFL Draft and earned a starting role in his rookie season. Though he served primarily as a blocking tight end, he also caught five touchdowns on 21 receptions.
After four years with the Raiders, one in Oakland and three in Las Vegas, Moreau entered free agency in 2023 with 1,107 career receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. Discussions of a potential return to New Orleans were cut short by his cancer diagnosis.
“I’m grateful for the support and thankful for people who have stood firm with me,” Moreau went on to say. “There hasn’t been a single step I’ve taken without hundreds of people lighting the path before me, and I will continue to seek their guidance.”
Quarterback Derek Carr, Moreau’s former teammate who recently signed with the Saints, was one of many supporters to offer well wishes to Moreau, who did not provide a timetable for when he might be able to return to football. Hodgkin’s lymphoma has a very high survival rate, however, as there are a number of treatments available to those who are diagnosed early.
