Carlos Fowler facts for kids

Carlos Antonio Fowler (born August 30, 1972) is a former American professional football player. He was a lineman who played for nine seasons. Most of his career was in the Arena Football League (AFL). He played for teams like the Texas Terror/Houston ThunderBears, Nashville Kats, and Los Angeles Avengers.

Before turning professional, Carlos played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He was a key player for the Wisconsin Badgers team that won the 1994 Rose Bowl. After college, he briefly played for the Denver Broncos in the National Football League (NFL) preseason. He also spent time in the Canadian Football League (CFL).

Carlos Fowler started his AFL career in 1997. As a rookie with the Texas Terror, he was named AFL Lineman of the Year. He also earned first-team All-Arena honors. Later, he helped the Nashville Kats reach ArenaBowl XIV in 2000. He also helped the Los Angeles Avengers make the playoffs three times in the early 2000s.

Early Life and High School Football

Carlos Antonio Fowler was born on August 30, 1972, in Cleveland, Ohio. Before starting high school, he moved to Pontiac, Illinois. There, he attended Pontiac Township High School.

Carlos was a talented football player in high school. He played on both the offensive and defensive line. He earned a "letter" in football for all four years. This means he was a top player on the team. He was also recognized as an all-state player. In 1989, during his senior year, he helped his team reach the state playoffs for the first time ever. Besides football, Carlos also participated in track and basketball. He graduated from high school in 1990.

College Football Career

Carlos Fowler received a special athletic scholarship to play college football. He chose to play for the Wisconsin Badgers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He played for the Badgers from 1990 to 1993.

As a freshman in 1990, he started three games as a defensive tackle. From 1991 to 1993, Carlos started every game for Wisconsin. In his senior year (1993), he made 49 tackles and three sacks. The Badgers had a great season, winning 10 games. Overall, he played in 41 college games, starting 33 of them. He recorded a total of 223 tackles.

Carlos broke his wrist during the 1994 Rose Bowl game. Even with the injury, he still managed to get a sack and force a fumble. Because of his broken wrist, he could not play in the Senior Bowl or Hula Bowl, which are important games for college players hoping to go pro. Carlos studied marketing and advertising in college.

Professional Football Journey

After college, Carlos Fowler tried out for the NFL in 1993. He still had a cast on his wrist from his injury. In April 1993, he signed with the Denver Broncos. He had a strong start in the preseason, making six tackles in his first game. He was even promoted to the starting lineup for the next game. However, the Broncos released him on August 23, 1994.

Playing in the CFL

On August 30, 1994, Carlos signed with the Toronto Argonauts in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He played in five games for them in 1994. He recorded six tackles. The Argonauts wanted him to sign a longer contract, but Carlos hoped to play in the NFL.

In 1995, he played in six games for the Argonauts. He made 19 tackles and four sacks. Later that year, he was released. Carlos then joined the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in October 1995. He played in their final regular season game and a playoff game. In May 1996, the Tiger-Cats released him. He then briefly joined the Ottawa Rough Riders and later returned to the Toronto Argonauts' practice team.

Success in the Arena Football League

Carlos Fowler began his Arena Football League (AFL) career in 1996. He played one game for the Texas Terror. In 1997, he played in all 14 games for the Terror. He had an amazing season, recording 11.5 sacks. This was the most sacks in the league that year. He also had ten tackles for loss, which was an AFL record.

Because of his outstanding performance, Carlos was named first-team All-Arena. He also won the AFL Lineman of the Year award in 1997. In the AFL, players often played both offense and defense due to "ironman rules." The Texas Terror team later became the Houston ThunderBears in 1998.

NFL Europe and Return to AFL

In 1998, Carlos played for the England Monarchs in NFL Europe. He played as a defensive end. He made 30 tackles and three sacks. After his season in Europe, he returned to the Houston ThunderBears. He played in seven games for them in 1998. The ThunderBears made the playoffs but lost to the Arizona Rattlers.

In 1999, Carlos started the season playing for the Houston Outlaws. This was a team in the short-lived Regional Football League (RFL). He was named first-team All-RFL as a defensive tackle. After the RFL season, he went back to the ThunderBears. He played in three games for them in 1999.

Later AFL Teams

In November 1999, Carlos was traded to the Arizona Rattlers. Then, in March 2000, he was traded to the Nashville Kats. He played in all 14 games for the Kats in 2000. The Kats had a good season, finishing with nine wins. They made it all the way to ArenaBowl XIV, the championship game. However, they lost a close game to the Orlando Predators.

Carlos signed with the Los Angeles Avengers of the AFL in January 2001. He played in 13 games for them in 2001. He re-signed with the Avengers in 2002. He played in 13 games that year. The Avengers made the playoffs but lost in the first round.

He continued to play for the Avengers in 2003 and 2004. He played in all 16 games in both seasons. The Avengers made the playoffs in both 2003 and 2004. They lost in the first round each time. Carlos was a consistent player for the Avengers during these years. He was released by the team in October 2005.