Carl Pickens facts for kids

Carl McNally Pickens, born on March 23, 1970, is a former professional football player. He was a talented wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Carl played for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Tennessee Titans. Before joining the NFL, he played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers. In 1991, he was recognized as a first-team All-American, which is a huge honor.

Early Life and High School Football

Carl Pickens grew up in Murphy, North Carolina. This is a small town located in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. He went to Murphy High School. There, he was a star player in both football and basketball.

In football, Carl played as a free safety and wide receiver. He was amazing at catching the ball. In his senior year, he caught 24 touchdowns! He also returned punts and kickoffs, showing his speed and agility. His skills earned him a spot on the Parade magazine All-American team.

Carl was also a fantastic basketball player. He averaged 27 points per game. Many colleges wanted him to play for their basketball teams.

College Football Career at Tennessee

Carl Pickens chose to play college football for the University of Tennessee. He played there from 1989 to 1991. He started his college career as a safety. As a freshman, he was named a Freshman All-American. He was also selected for the All-SEC team.

Later, Carl switched to playing wide receiver. This was a great move for him. He caught 109 passes during his college career. He gained 1,875 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. In his junior year, he was named to the College Football All-America Team. This is a big award for college players. Carl decided not to return for his senior year. He was ready for the NFL.

Here are his college receiving stats:

• 1989: 7 catches for 81 yards with 2 touchdowns
• 1990: 53 catches for 917 yards with 6 touchdowns
• 1991: 49 catches for 877 yards with 5 touchdowns

In 2023, Carl Pickens was honored. He was inducted into the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Career

Carl Pickens was chosen in the 1992 NFL Draft. The Cincinnati Bengals picked him in the second round. He was the 31st player chosen overall.

Playing for the Cincinnati Bengals

Carl made his NFL debut in 1992. It was against the Seahawks in Week 1. In his first season, he showed his talent. He was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. This award is given to the best offensive player in their first year. He also made the PFWA All-Rookie Team.

In 1993, Carl continued to improve. He had his first game with over 100 receiving yards. This was against the Oilers. He also scored two touchdowns in a single game for the first time.

The 1994 season was a huge year for Carl. He had 11 catches for 188 yards in one game. He also scored three touchdowns in that game. He finished the season with 1,127 receiving yards. He also had 11 touchdowns.

Carl had an amazing 1995 season. He scored a touchdown in five straight games. He set a Bengals record with 99 catches in one season. He also set a record with 17 touchdown catches. He gained 1,234 receiving yards that year. He even broke his own record in 1996 with 100 catches! From 1994 to 1995, Carl made NFL history. He was the first player to have at least five catches and a touchdown in eight straight games.

In 1996, Carl had another fantastic game. He caught 11 passes for 176 yards. He also scored three touchdowns against the Falcons. He earned the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award for this game. He finished the season with 100 catches, 1,180 yards, and 12 touchdowns.

Carl continued to play well in 1998. He had 13 catches for 204 yards in a win against the Steelers. He earned another AFC Offensive Player of the Week award. He ended the 1998 season with over 1,000 receiving yards.

Over his nine NFL seasons, Carl Pickens had 540 catches. He gained 7,129 receiving yards. He also scored 63 touchdowns. His 63 touchdown catches were a Bengals team record for many years. Chad Johnson later broke this record in 2010.

Carl Pickens is also known for something called the "Carl Pickens Clause." This was a special rule the Bengals added to his contract. It meant he would lose some money if he said bad things about the team in public. Other teams have used similar rules in their player contracts since then.

Time with the Tennessee Titans

In 2000, Carl Pickens signed with the Tennessee Titans. This was his first time playing for a winning team. He also made his first playoff appearance with the Titans. He played in nine games and had 10 catches for 242 yards.

Brief Time with the Dallas Cowboys

Carl Pickens signed with the Dallas Cowboys in 2001. However, he decided to retire from football shortly after.

NFL Career Statistics

Carl Pickens had a great career in the NFL. Here are some of his statistics: