Maurice Carthon facts for kids

Maurice Carthon (born April 24, 1961) is a former American football player and coach. He played as a fullback for 11 seasons. He was part of both the United States Football League (USFL) and the National Football League (NFL). After playing, he became a coach. He even served as the offensive coordinator for three NFL teams.

Early Life and Sports

Maurice Carthon grew up in Osceola, Arkansas. He went to Osceola High School. There, he was a star in both football and basketball.

In football, he played tight end. He was named an All-Conference player twice. In basketball, he was named the state's Most Valuable Player in his senior year.

College Football Career

Carthon earned a football scholarship to Arkansas State University. His coach there was Larry Lacewell. Carthon was a top player for Arkansas State. He was chosen twice for the All-Southland Conference team.

In his senior year, he was the team's captain. He also led the team in rushing yards with 682. He finished his college career with 1,583 rushing yards. He also had 26 catches and seven touchdowns.

Carthon was later honored for his college achievements. In 1991, he joined the Arkansas State Hall of Honor. In 2002, he was added to the Arkansas State Ring of Honor. He was also named to the Southland Conference 1980s All-Decade team. In 2005, he was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Professional Football Journey

Playing in the USFL

Maurice Carthon began his pro career in the United States Football League (USFL). The New Jersey Generals picked him in the 1983 USFL Draft. As a rookie, he ran for 334 yards and scored three touchdowns.

In 1984, Carthon had an amazing season. He started all 18 games. He rushed for 1,042 yards and scored 11 touchdowns. His teammate, Herschel Walker, also ran for over 1,300 yards that season. This was a rare event in pro football. It was only the third time two teammates each rushed for over 1,000 yards in the same season.

Carthon played one more season with the Generals in 1985. He gained 726 rushing yards and scored six touchdowns.

Joining the New York Giants

In 1985, Carthon signed with the New York Giants in the NFL. He had a very busy year. He played in many games for both the USFL and NFL teams.

With the Giants, Carthon wore the number 44. He was known as a strong fullback and an excellent blocker. He was also very tough. He missed only one game out of 76 during his time with the Giants.

Carthon helped the Giants win two Super Bowl championships. They won Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV. His best season was in 1986. He was the team's second-leading rusher with 260 yards. He also helped his teammate, Joe Morris, rush for a team record 1,516 yards.

Carthon retired after the 1992 season. He finished his playing career with 950 rushing yards. He also had 90 catches for 745 yards and three touchdowns.

Coaching Career Highlights

After his playing days, Maurice Carthon became a football coach. He worked for several NFL teams.

He was known as a "Parcells Guy." This means he often coached under Bill Parcells, a famous NFL coach. Carthon coached with Parcells for the New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Dallas Cowboys.

Carthon served as an offensive coordinator for several teams. This role means he was in charge of the team's offense. He held this position for the Detroit Lions, Dallas Cowboys, and Cleveland Browns.

In 2009, the Kansas City Chiefs hired Carthon. He served as their assistant head coach. He stayed with the Chiefs until 2012. He has not coached since then.

Personal Life

Maurice Carthon's son, Ran Carthon, also played professional football. Ran was a running back for the Indianapolis Colts. Later, he became the general manager for the Tennessee Titans.