Ducks Star Dante Moore Pleads With Kotek To Keep Oregon’s Virtual Therapy Alive

Oregon Ducks starting quarterback Dante Moore is stepping out of the pocket and into state politics, publicly revealing a battle with depression early in his college career and urging Governor Tina Kotek to protect and expand virtual mental health care across Oregon.

Moore says support from friends, family and clinical care helped him recover, and he used a letter to the governor to push for broader access to the kind of virtual services he credits with getting him through his darkest stretch.

In a March 3 letter to Kotek, Moore wrote that “Early in my college career, I found myself struggling deeply: I was depressed,” and described trying to stay focused on school and football while watching his mother undergo chemotherapy, according to The Athletic. The letter asks the governor to safeguard and expand virtual mental health options that Moore says were crucial to his care.

High-profile player using his platform

Moore’s disclosure comes on the heels of a breakout 2025 season that vaulted him among the nation’s top quarterbacks and onto multiple draft boards. He led Oregon to a College Football Playoff semifinal and was widely projected as a first round pick before opting to return to Eugene instead of entering the 2026 NFL Draft, as reported by Sports Illustrated. That decision gives Moore extra time to lean into the leadership role and off-field advocacy he described in his letter.

What he asked the governor to do

Moore specifically urged Kotek to protect and expand virtual mental health services and said telehealth had been vital to his recovery, according to The Associated Press. In the same letter he challenged teammates and fellow athletes to “lead beyond the field” by using their platforms to support people who feel voiceless.

Policy backdrop in Oregon

Governor Tina Kotek’s administration has made behavioral health a priority, backing legislation and grants aimed at expanding the workforce and access to care. In February, the governor’s office announced $4 million in behavioral health workforce grants to help recruit and retain providers across the state. The governor's office says the investments are intended to boost culturally responsive care and reach rural communities.

Moore’s letter, a public and personal plea from one of the state’s highest profile college athletes, adds a fresh voice to debates over telehealth coverage and behavioral health capacity in Oregon. Whether the governor’s office will move on his specific asks remains to be seen, but Moore told reporters that “that support saved me,” and he urged leaders to expand access so others can get the same help.