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 former American football player. He was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Miami Dolphins. Many people think he is 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. His coach, Buddy Ryan, once said, "All he does is catch touchdowns." Carter later left the Eagles due to personal challenges. He then joined the Vikings and became a star. He was named an All-Pro player multiple times and played in eight Pro Bowls. When he left the Vikings, he held many team records. After a short time with the Dolphins, he retired.

Since retiring, Carter has worked as a football analyst for TV networks like HBO and ESPN. He also coaches at a high school. In 2013, he was voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Early Life and Name Change

Cris Carter was born in Troy, Ohio. He spent his early childhood there. Later, he moved to Middletown, Ohio, with his family. He went to Middletown High School. He was a great player in both football and basketball.

His birth name was Graduel, named after his grandfather. But he admired another wide receiver, Cris Collinsworth. So, he decided to change his name to Cris in 7th grade. He felt the name Graduel would not make him famous.

College Football Career

Many colleges wanted Carter for both football and basketball. He chose to play for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He quickly became a top player in his first year. He even set a Rose Bowl record with nine catches for 172 yards.

In his junior year, he caught 69 passes for 1,127 yards. He also scored 11 touchdowns. Carter was known for his amazing hands and precise routes. He could make incredible catches near the sidelines.

Before his senior year, Carter signed a contract that made him unable to play. This meant he missed his final college season. His absence affected the team, and their coach was later fired.

Even though he missed his senior year, Carter set school records. He had 168 catches, 2,725 yards, and 27 touchdowns. In 2003, he was added to the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Journey

Philadelphia Eagles Years

The Philadelphia Eagles picked Carter in the 1987 supplemental draft. In his first year, he played a limited role. He caught 5 passes for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns. His first professional catch was a 22-yard touchdown.

In 1988, he became more involved in the Eagles' offense. 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 surprisingly released by coach Buddy Ryan. Carter later shared that he faced some personal challenges. He said his former coach helped him turn his life around.

Minnesota Vikings Era

The Minnesota Vikings picked up Carter in 1990 for a small amount of money. In his first season, he didn't get many passes. But he did well against his old team, catching six passes for 151 yards. He finished the 1990 season with 27 catches and 3 touchdowns.

In 1991, Carter became the Vikings' main receiver. He led the team with 72 catches and 962 yards. In 1992, the Vikings improved their record to 11–5. Carter remained their top receiver, even though he missed four games.

In 1993, Carter had a breakout season. He caught 86 passes for 1,071 yards and 9 touchdowns. He also played in his first Pro Bowl. The Vikings made the playoffs but lost in the first round.

In 1994, quarterback Warren Moon joined the team. He and Carter quickly connected. Carter set an NFL record with 122 catches that season. He also had 1,256 yards and 7 touchdowns. He earned First-team All-Pro honors.

Carter had his best statistical season in 1995. He caught 122 passes for a career-high 1,371 yards. He also led the NFL with 17 touchdown catches. He received Second-team All-Pro honors.

In 1998, the Vikings drafted Randy Moss. With Moss and Carter, the Vikings had a very strong offense. They finished the regular season with a 15–1 record. Carter caught 78 passes for 1,011 yards and 12 touchdowns. The team made it to the NFC Championship Game. However, they lost a close game in overtime. Carter later said losing that game was his biggest regret.

In 1999, Carter had another excellent season. He caught 90 passes for 1,241 yards and 13 touchdowns. He was named First-team All-Pro. By the end of the 1990s, Carter had 835 catches. This was the second-highest in the NFL, only behind Jerry Rice. He was also named to the NFL's All-Decade team for the 1990s.

In 2000, Carter became only the second player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career catches. He finished the season with 96 catches, 1,274 yards, and 9 touchdowns. He also made his eighth Pro Bowl.

In 2001, the Vikings had a losing season. Carter's production went down. After the season, he left the Vikings. He left as the team's all-time leader in catches (1,004), receiving yards (12,383), and touchdowns (110).

Cris Carter jersey shown at Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio

Miami Dolphins Short Stint

In 2002, Carter joined the Miami Dolphins. He played in his first game as a Dolphin in week 9. He caught three passes for 31 yards. He then had to miss four weeks due to a kidney issue.

Carter returned later in the season. In week 15, he caught a one-handed touchdown pass. However, he also had a key drop in another game that cost his team a touchdown. The Dolphins missed the playoffs that year. Carter retired after the season.

Legacy in Football

When Cris Carter retired, he was second in NFL history for career catches (1,101). He was also second in touchdown catches (130). Only Jerry Rice had more. He is one of only 14 players in NFL history with 1,000 or more catches. He was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.

Many people thought he had the best hands among wide receivers. On February 2, 2013, Carter was officially announced as an inductee into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

NFL Career Statistics

Career Highlights

• One of four players to have at least 120 catches in a season twice.
• Most games with at least 12 catches in a single season (4) in 1995.
• One of three players to have at least 12 catches in two games in a row.
• Most consecutive games with 2 touchdown catches (4).
• Most consecutive seasons with at least 5 touchdown catches (11).
• First player to have a 150-yard receiving game in three different decades.
• Member of the 2013 Hall of Fame Class.

Life After Football

After retiring from playing, Cris Carter became a football analyst. He worked for HBO's Inside the NFL and ESPN. He also works as an assistant coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. His son played wide receiver there.

Carter owns a sports training center in South Florida. He is also an ordained minister. He appeared in the 2005 video game NFL Street 2.

Carter spoke at the NFL rookie symposium several times. In 2014, he gave some advice that was later seen as unhelpful. He apologized on Twitter, saying everyone should take responsibility for their own actions.

In 2015, Carter was chosen to be a coach for a team in the 2015 Pro Bowl. In 2016, he joined Fox Sports as a football analyst. He later co-hosted a morning show called First Things First on Fox Sports 1. He left the show in 2019.

Since 2021, he has been an analyst on Good Morning Football. In 2023, Carter became a volunteer coach for Florida Atlantic. In 2024, he was promoted to executive director of player engagement.

Personal Life

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