Rickey Jackson Wins 1st Randy Moss Hall of Fame Pro-Am at 21-10

Q: Why is an NFL legend known as Dr. Doom trading gridiron tackles for a quiet fishing boat on the St. Lawrence River today?

Robert Brazile is on the St. Lawrence River today because he is competing in the inaugural Bassmaster Randy Moss Pro Football Hall of Fame Pro-Am, a one-day event that pairs Pro Football Hall of Famers with Bassmaster Elite Series anglers. Brazile is teamed with Elite pro Tyler Williams in Clayton, New York. For Brazile, the trip is more than a novelty appearance. He has said the event lets him enjoy a sport he genuinely likes, reconnect with fellow NFL greats and continue the public, community-facing role he has embraced since finally reaching the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2018 after a 30-year wait. The setting also fits the life Brazile says he now prefers. Living quietly in Alabama, he has described a disciplined early-morning routine built around exercise, family time and staying active. Fishing matches that slower pace while still giving the former linebacker a competitive outlet. The event itself is designed to blend football and fishing cultures. Organized through a partnership between the Pro Football Hall of Fame and B.A.S.S., it brings Hall of Famers including Randy Moss, Ray Lewis, Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas and Ronde Barber onto one of the world’s top smallmouth fisheries. Fans also get a public weigh-in, expo and autograph access. So “Dr. Doom” is trading tackles for a boat today because this tournament combines competition, camaraderie, fan engagement and the quieter outdoor life he now values.

Q: What secret strategy could give Dr. Doom the ultimate edge in a high-stakes fishing tournament where his wife is the real expert?

Brazile’s best “secret strategy” would be to borrow from the real expert at home and let his Bassmaster pro, Tyler Williams, handle the high-level tournament chess. That means leaning into what Brazile already says he likes — live bait-style simplicity, patience and “keep it closed” discipline — while adapting to a St. Lawrence River event that is really about clear-water smallmouth, current, rock structure and precise boat control. On this fishery, recent Elite competition showed just how demanding and productive it can be, with huge smallmouth weights requiring exact presentations and efficient catch management. If Brazile wants an edge, the smartest move is not trying to out-tech the field on instinct alone. It is arriving with a quiet, low-error plan: listen more than talk, trust Williams on location and lure decisions, keep the deck organized for long runs, and focus on execution when bites come. On the St. Lawrence, missed fish and wasted time can matter as much as finding them. The playful wild card is obvious: if his wife is truly the better angler, her best advice may be his hidden advantage. Whether that is reading subtle bites, staying patient in tough stretches or resisting the urge to overcomplicate things, her influence could be more valuable than any gadget. So the real edge for “Dr. Doom” is a combination of humility, discipline and expert coaching — plus whatever fishing wisdom he has picked up at home from the person he admits catches more than he does.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 31

Rickey Jackson and Bassmaster pro John Garrett won the inaugural event on New York’s St. Lawrence River with 21 pounds, 10 ounces.
Joe Thomas and Jay Przekurat finished second at 21-5, just 5 ounces back, after Thomas spent tournament week loudly predicting he would beat host Randy Moss.
Kevin Mawae took third at 20-6, while Moss and 2025 Bassmaster Classic champion Easton Fothergill placed seventh at 13-11; Calvin Johnson finished eighth but landed the day’s 7-pound Big Bass.
Eight Hall of Famers were paired with eight Bassmaster Elite pros for the one-day tournament, which Moss created to bring fellow inductees into the fishing world he has loved for about two decades.
Moss said he wants the Pro-Am to continue for years, and reactions around the dock suggested the field could grow beyond eight teams next year.