Carl Pickens facts for kids

Carl McNally Pickens, born on March 23, 1970, is a former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL) for teams like the Cincinnati Bengals and Tennessee Titans. Carl also played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers, where he was recognized as an All-American in 1991.

Early Life and High School Sports

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.

During his time in high school, Carl was a star in multiple sports. He played both free safety and wide receiver in football. He caught 71 passes and scored 24 touchdowns in his senior year. He also intercepted 15 passes over three seasons. Carl was even named a Parade magazine All-American. Besides football, he was also excellent at basketball. He averaged 27 points per game, which caught the attention of many colleges.

College Football Career

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

Later, Carl switched to playing wide receiver. He became a very successful receiver for the Volunteers. He caught 109 passes for 1,875 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. As a junior, he was named to the College Football All-America Team. Carl decided not to play his senior year. In 2023, Carl Pickens was honored by being inducted into the Tennessee Athletics Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Journey

Carl Pickens was chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft. He was the 31st player picked overall.

Playing for the Cincinnati Bengals

Carl made his NFL debut in 1992. In his first season, he was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also made the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In 1993, he had his first game with over 100 receiving yards. He also scored multiple touchdowns in a game for the first time.

The 1994 season was a big year for Carl. He had 11 receptions for 188 yards and three touchdowns in one game. He finished that season with 71 catches, 1,127 yards, and 11 touchdowns.

In 1995, Carl had an amazing start to the season. He scored a touchdown in five straight games. He also set new Bengals records for catches in a season with 99 and touchdowns with 17. He gained 1,234 receiving yards that year. He broke his own record in 1996 by catching 100 passes. From 1994 to 1995, Carl was the first NFL player to have at least five catches and a touchdown in eight games in a row.

Carl continued to have strong seasons with the Bengals. In 1996, he had 100 catches, 1,180 yards, and 12 touchdowns. He had another great game in 1998, catching 13 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown. This earned him the AFC Offensive Player of the Week award.

Over his nine seasons in the NFL, Carl Pickens had 540 catches for 7,129 yards. He also scored 63 touchdowns. His 63 touchdown catches were a team record for the Bengals for many years.

Carl Pickens is also known for something called the "Carl Pickens Clause." This was a special part of his contract with the Bengals. It meant he could lose some of his bonus money if he said bad things about the team in public. This type of clause has been used in other player contracts since then.

Time with the Tennessee Titans

In 2000, Carl Pickens signed a one-year contract with the Tennessee Titans. This was his first time playing on a winning team. He also made his first playoff appearance with the Titans. He finished the regular season with 10 catches for 242 yards.

Brief Stint with the Dallas Cowboys

Carl Pickens signed with the Dallas Cowboys in April 2001. However, he announced his retirement from football in May of that year.

Carl Pickens' NFL Career Stats

Carl Pickens played 129 games in his NFL career. He started 117 of those games.

• He had 540 receptions (catches).
• He gained 7,129 receiving yards.
• He scored 63 receiving touchdowns.
• He also had 307 yards and one touchdown from punt returns.