Cris Carter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Cris Carter

Carter in 2014
Florida Atlantic Owls
Position:	Executive director of player engagement
Personal information
Born:	(1965-11-25) November 25, 1965 (age 59) Troy, Ohio, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:	208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school:	Middletown (Middletown, Ohio)
College:	Ohio State (1984–1986)
Supplemental draft:	1987 / Round: 4
Career history
As player:
Philadelphia Eagles (1987) Minnesota Vikings (1990) Miami Dolphins (2002)
As coach:
Florida Atlantic (2023) Volunteer coach
As administrator:
Florida Atlantic (2024–present) Executive director of player engagement
Career highlights and awards
Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year (1999) 2× First-team All-Pro (1994, 1999) Second-team All-Pro (1995) 8× Pro Bowl (1993–2000) NFL receptions leader (1994) 3× NFL receiving touchdowns leader (1995, 1997, 1999) NFL 1990s All-Decade Team Minnesota Vikings Ring of Honor Minnesota Vikings No. 80 retired Bart Starr Award (1995) Consensus All-American (1986) 2× First-team All-Big Ten (1985, 1986) Florida Citrus Bowl champion (1985) Cotton Bowl champion (1987)
Career NFL statistics
Receptions: 1,101 Receiving yards: 13,899 Receiving touchdowns: 130
Player stats at PFR
Pro Football Hall of Fame

Cris Carter (born November 25, 1965) is a famous American former professional football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Carter played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Miami Dolphins. Many people consider him one of the best wide receivers ever.

Carter played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Eagles picked him in the 1987 NFL supplemental draft. While with the Eagles, his coach, Buddy Ryan, helped create a famous quote about him: "All he does is catch touchdowns." After facing some personal challenges, Carter joined the Vikings. There, he turned his career around. He became an All-Pro player multiple times and went to eight straight Pro Bowls. When he left the Vikings in 2001, he held many team receiving records. He briefly played for the Dolphins before retiring.

After his NFL career, Carter worked as a sports analyst for TV networks like HBO and ESPN. He also coached at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. In 2013, after being a finalist five times, Cris Carter was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life & Name Change

Cris Carter was born in Troy, Ohio. He spent his early childhood there. Later, he moved to Middletown, Ohio, with his mother and siblings. They lived in a small apartment. He attended Middletown High School. There, he was a star in both football and basketball.

Carter was named Graduel after his grandfather. However, he changed his name to Cris in 7th grade. He admired wide receiver Cris Collinsworth. Carter felt his birth name would not make him famous. His official documents still list his name as Christopher.

College Football Career

Cris Carter was a top athlete in high school. Many colleges wanted him for both basketball and football. He chose to play football at Ohio State University. He joined the Buckeyes under coach Earle Bruce. Carter quickly became a star. He was the first wide receiver from Ohio State to be named an All-America player.

In his first year, Carter set a Rose Bowl record. He caught nine passes for 172 yards. During his junior season, he caught 69 passes. These catches gained 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. He was known for his amazing catches and precise routes. He had great control and footwork near the sidelines.

Before his senior year, Carter faced a problem. He had secretly signed with a sports agent. This was against college rules at the time. Because of this, he was not allowed to play. His absence affected the team. Coach Bruce was fired after a tough season. Despite missing his senior year, Carter left Ohio State with school records. He had 168 receptions, 2,725 yards, and 27 touchdowns. In 2003, he was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Journey

Philadelphia Eagles Years

The Philadelphia Eagles drafted Carter in 1987. He played little in his first year. He caught 5 passes for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns. His first NFL catch was a 22-yard touchdown. In 1988, he became more involved. He caught 39 passes for 761 yards. He also tied for the team lead with 6 touchdowns. In 1989, he led the Eagles with 11 touchdown catches.

After the 1989 preseason, Carter was unexpectedly released. He had some difficulties outside of football. This led to a disagreement with coach Buddy Ryan.

Minnesota Vikings Era

The Minnesota Vikings signed Carter in 1990 for only $100. He did not get many passes in his first season. However, he had a great game against his old team, the Eagles. He caught six passes for 151 yards, including a 78-yard touchdown. In 1991, Carter became the Vikings' main receiver. He led the team with 72 receptions and 962 yards.

In 1992, Dennis Green became the new head coach. The Vikings improved to an 11–5 record. Carter led the team with 53 receptions and 681 yards. He missed the last four games due to a broken collarbone. The Vikings lost in the playoffs that year.

In 1993, Carter had a breakout season. He caught 86 passes for 1,071 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also made his first Pro Bowl. The Vikings made the playoffs but lost in the first round. In 1994, Warren Moon became the quarterback. Carter set an NFL record with 122 receptions. He also had 1,256 yards and 7 touchdowns. This earned him First-team All-Pro honors.

In 1995, Carter had his best season. He caught 122 passes for 1,371 yards. He led the NFL with 17 touchdown receptions. He received Second-team All-Pro honors. In 1996, he continued to shine. He caught 96 passes for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns. He made his fourth straight Pro Bowl.

In 1997, Carter led the NFL with 13 touchdown receptions. He also had 89 catches and 1,069 yards. He made his fifth straight Pro Bowl. The Vikings won a playoff game with a last-minute comeback.

Cris Carter's jersey at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio

In 1998, the Vikings drafted Randy Moss. The team became a powerful offense. They scored a record 556 points. Carter caught 78 passes for 1,011 yards and 12 touchdowns. He made the Pro Bowl for the fifth time. The Vikings had a 15–1 record. They were favorites to reach the Super Bowl. However, they lost a close game in the NFC Championship. Carter later said this loss was his biggest regret.

In 1999, Carter had another great season. He caught 90 passes for 1,241 yards. He also led the NFL with 13 touchdowns. The Vikings won their first playoff game. They then lost to the St. Louis Rams. Carter finished the 1990s with 835 receptions. This was second only to Jerry Rice. He was named to the NFL's All-Decade team.

In 2000, the Vikings won their division. Carter had 96 receptions, 1,274 yards, and 9 touchdowns. He made his eighth Pro Bowl. On November 30, Carter became the second player in NFL history to reach 1,000 receptions. In 2001, the Vikings had a losing season. Carter's production dropped. After the season, he left the Vikings. He was their all-time leader in receptions (1,004), receiving yards (12,383), and touchdowns (110).

Miami Dolphins Short Stint

In 2002, Carter looked for a new team. He joined HBO as an analyst. But in October, the Miami Dolphins signed him. He played his first game as a Dolphin in Week 9. He caught three passes for 31 yards. He then had a kidney issue and missed four weeks.

Carter returned in Week 14. In Week 15, he caught a one-handed touchdown pass. The Dolphins won that game. However, he made a key drop in a later game. The Dolphins missed the playoffs. Carter retired after the season.

Cris Carter's Legacy

When he retired, Carter was second in NFL history for receptions (1,101) and touchdowns (130). Only Jerry Rice had more. He is one of 14 players with over 1,000 receptions. He was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. Many people consider him to have some of the best hands in football history.

After being a finalist several times, Cris Carter was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 2, 2013.

NFL Career Statistics

Life After Football

After retiring from the NFL, Cris Carter became a sports analyst. He worked for HBO's Inside the NFL and ESPN. He was also an NFL analyst for Yahoo Sports. Carter is also a faculty member and assistant coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. His son played wide receiver there. He owns Cris Carter's FAST Program, a sports training center. He is also an ordained minister.

Carter spoke at NFL rookie symposiums. In 2014, he gave some advice that was later seen as unhelpful. He suggested players find someone to take the blame if they got into trouble. This comment was later revealed in a magazine story. The NFL removed the video of his speech. They stated his comment did not represent their program's message. Carter apologized on Twitter, saying it was bad advice. He stressed that everyone should take responsibility for their own actions.

In 2015, Carter was chosen as a coach for the 2015 Pro Bowl. In 2016, he joined Fox Sports as a football analyst. In 2017, he started co-hosting First Things First on Fox Sports 1. His time on the show ended in 2019. Since 2021, he has been an analyst for Good Morning Football. In 2023, Carter became a volunteer coach for Florida Atlantic. He was later promoted to executive director of player engagement.

Personal Life

Cris Carter is a Christian. He has two children. His daughter, Monterae, works in philanthropy. His son, Duron Carter, also played wide receiver. Duron played at Ohio State and in the Canadian Football League. Cris is the younger brother of former NBA player and coach Butch Carter.