Why Kenny Moore II’s pair of pick sixes in Colts’ win were so ‘special’ to him

Kenny Moore II hadn’t scored a touchdown in more than three years, but when the Indianapolis Colts cornerback intercepted Carolina Panthers No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young and returned it 49 yards late in the first half of Sunday’s game. score, he knew exactly how to celebrate. The 28-year-old created “Dougie,” a rap dance that went viral after Cali Swag District released “Teach Me How to Dougie” in 2010.
Moore was in high school at the time and it was his signature party. He brought it back in a 27-13 Colts victory because three of the 72,301 fans in attendance, some of whom thought it was probably just a fun routine, knew it meant a lot more.
“I had to show my sisters and do my Dougies because I did that in high school,” Moore said after helping snap the Colts’ three-game losing streak. “That’s what I did growing up. I did it after (my first) pick six versus Detroit in 2020. You gotta do the Dougie; you gotta salute the hometown. There’s always a lot of people watching back home, including them.”

But Sunday was different. Moore’s twin, Kayla, and his younger sister, Ebony, traveled from Atlanta, and his older sister, Kiki, traveled from Savannah, Ga., to see him play. They were rewarded with a historic performance as Moore became the first Colts player to record two sixes in the same game.
The first broke the game open, giving Indianapolis a 20-3 lead just before halftime. The second, a 66-yard punt return in the fourth quarter, closed the door on a Panthers comeback attempt and extended Indianapolis’ lead to 27–10. This time, when Moore reached the end zone, he fell to his knees, raised his hands to heaven and thanked God. He did not thank God for the history he made. He wasn’t even aware.
He thanked God that he had succeeded at all.
“It’s special where I come from to have one family member or five family members, whatever it is, to see me play the game at this level,” Moore said. “When I run out, touch my chest and point to God, look around the stadium and see my sister, it’s just emotional. It’s deeper than the moment itself. It’s deeper than all that, because we’ve been working for this moment for a long time.”

Moore’s journey has been anything but easy. He wasn’t a five-star in high school. He was not an All-American at a Power 5 college program. He was not a first-round pick in the NFL draft.
Moore attended Division II Valdosta State in his native Georgia, and despite becoming a game-changing player for the Blazers, there were many doubts that he could change games in the NFL. Moore never heard his name called during the 2017 draft, but he continued to chase his dream. That determination earned him a chance to work with the New England Patriots, and even after they waived him, the Colts immediately signed him.
Seven years, one Pro Bowl and one historic performance later, Moore has accomplished something that few others have accomplished.
“I think every moment I’ve had along the way has been a historic performance for me,” Moore said. “It wasn’t just about tonight and what they put in the record books. But going to New England, getting here, being on special teams, getting my foot in the door, working every day to be who I envision myself to be…every year I make my own story. .”

Moore’s dominant performance came at a much-needed time for the Colts’ defense, which has surrendered 114 points over the last three weeks. It didn’t help that Indianapolis’ offense turned in arguably its worst performance of the year on Sunday. The Colts rushed for a season-low 198 yards, went just 4 of 13 for a loss and managed just 3.5 yards per play. They scored just one offensive touchdown in the second quarter, a 10-yard pass from Gardner Minshew to Jonathan Taylor, and a 57-yard field goal later in the frame by Matt Gay.
But the offensive ineffectiveness didn’t matter as Moore did all the heavy lifting after Young broke out on the Colts’ pass rush. DeForest Buckner wreaked havoc as he collected a sack, two QB hits, two tackles for loss and two pass breakups. But even he couldn’t match Moore’s achievements against what Buckner called a “testament” to Moore’s character, grit and toughness.
Last year, for the first time in his career, Moore failed to record at least one interception in a season and his future with the franchise was in doubt. On Sunday, he had two picks in the same game for the first time in his career.
“I think it would be lively if it was at Lucas Oil (Stadium),” Moore said. “So, I’ll try to do it there too.”

Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. admitted that while the Colts’ offense didn’t generate momentum for the first time in three weeks, it didn’t do the defense any favors and needs to be better. But in one game, he was good, as Moore practically served as a two-way player and the Colts’ leading receiver with two TDs.

“I was actually joking with (rookie Josh Downs),” Pittman said with a laugh. “I told him Kenny has as many touchdowns as he does. Luckily, I have three.”

Safety Julian Blackmon also noted that Moore “had more points than the Panthers.” Linebacker Segun Olubi, who had his first career catch in the fourth quarter, was fouled for not following in Moore’s footsteps.
“The way Kenny did it, you get some dandruff,” Olubi said with a laugh. “Everybody says, ‘Why didn’t you win?’ It is, but we just played together. We want to win the losing battle because that helps us win games.”

The Colts, who improved to 4-5 with the win, are now 4-0 in games they have won and 0-5 in ties.