ATLANTA — After NFL legend Randy Moss announced he was battling cancer, fans, players and teammates have offered their show of support.

Moss recently appeared on Instagram Live and introduced himself as a cancer survivor and thanked his “prayer warriors” for their support.

Moss said a cancerous mass was found in his bile duct, between his pancreas and liver. He said he had surgery to put a stent in his liver on Thanksgiving and then underwent a six-hour procedure about a week ago to remove the cancer. He said he was hospitalized for six days and released on Friday.

“I didn’t think I would ever be in a position like this, as healthy as I thought I was,” Moss said.

Moss said he will undergo radiation and chemotherapy.

New England Patriots Fan Club of Atlanta Administrator John Gray said he was grateful to watch Moss become an instant fan favorite in New England after being traded by the previous Oakland Raiders.

“At first, I thought it was worth the fourth round pick gamble for Moss’ HOF talent, despite a few lackluster, disgruntled previous years with the Minnesota Vikings and the Oakland Raiders.”

Gray recalled Moss having trouble getting on the field during the 2007 training camp and rumors swirled that he would be cut.

“Obviously, in game once Moss dispelled rumors, he became a favorite target with 9 catches, 183 yards and three touchdowns. Moss quickly became a fan favorite. He embraced being a Patriot and fans embraced him back,” Gray said.

Moss is No. 2 in NFL history with 156 touchdown receptions and had an NFL-record 23 TD receptions in 2007 for the Patriots.

Gray said, “2007 was a magical season. The Patriots had the best NFL regular season with one of the best offenses in history. Moss and Welker became the quick fix historic duo that Brady and the offense badly needed since losing Deion Branch. Thanks to his time with the Patriots, Moss was elected into Canton on first ballot in 2018.”

Moss is among a list of greats who made a big impact, but never won a Super Bowl in New England.

While Gray believes former Patriots coach Bill Belichick chased Moss away for expecting to be rewarded for his performances on the field, he says fans understood Moss’ frustrations.

After being traded to the Vikings during the 2010 season, Moss later had a stint with the Tennessee Titans and San Francisco 49ers before retiring in 2013.

“Now, I’m praying for Moss to be able to defeat his biggest opponent and enjoy many victorious years ahead,” Gray said. “Thank you for 2007 and the many years of greatness on and off the field.”

Prominent New England sports reporter Karen Guregian has covered every Patriots game during the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady era and has covered the Patriots as a beat reporter since 2007 for the Boston Herald and Masslive.

She was particularly fond of Moss during his Patriots stint between 2007-2010.

“Randy Moss was the quintessential game-breaking receiver during his time in the NFL,” said Guregian. “No one had his skill set. Between his ability to run, track balls, reel them in - making difficult catches look easy, Moss was unmatched. His talent was jaw-dropping. Young receivers coming up all wanted to be like him.”

Guregian added that her initial reaction to Miss joining the Patriots in 2007 was that Tom Brady would love the move.

”Given the difficulties he had with the Raiders, I had some trepidation, but I figured he might be rejuvenated getting to play with Tom,” she said.

Guregian fondly recalled the Brady-to-Moss connection was unlike anything she ever seen. “Brady and Moss were magic. I watched Joe Montana and Jerry Rice, but this was different. I saw these guys every day, every game during that record-setting season. It’s one of the highlights of my career.“

Brady tore his ACL during the first week of 2008 and missed the rest of 2008. When he returned in 2009, but it wasn’t quite the same.

Video shared by a Patriots fan who runs the page PatsPerfect shows fans giving Moss a warm ovation at Gillette Stadium during Tom Brady’s Patriots Hall of Fame induction in June.

Guregian says the standing ovation he received was truly special to watch.

“I knew Patriots Nation loved and appreciated Moss when he was here, but didn’t understand how much until Tom Brady’s Hall of Fame ceremony,” she said. “The standing ovation Moss received, and his reaction to it, was one of the best - if not the best - moments from that night. Moss was moved to tears over an ovation that just didn’t stop. He was blown away, and it was hard not to be blown away with him.”

Moss was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame several years ago after playing 14 seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (1998-2004, 2010), Oakland Raiders (2005-06), New England Patriots (2007-10), Tennessee Titans (2010) and San Francisco 49ers (2012).

He branded special gear for fans that says “Let’s Moss Cancer” available to purchase on his website.