Cris Carter

Lore & Background

Carter played college football for Ohio State and was selected by the Eagles in the fourth round of the 1987 NFL supplemental draft. He was let go by the Eagles in 1989 due to off-the-field issues. He was signed by the Vikings and turned his career around, becoming a two-time first-team and one-time second-team All-Pro and playing in eight consecutive Pro Bowls. He held most of the Vikings' career receiving records when he left. He was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 2, 2013.

Reader's Guide

Carter was born in Troy, Ohio, and moved to Middletown, Ohio, where he attended Middletown High School. He dropped his birth name Graduel and unofficially changed his name to Cris after wide receiver Cris Collinsworth. He attended Ohio State University and became a consensus All-American after his junior season. He left Ohio State holding school records for receptions (168), yards (2,725), and touchdowns (27). In the NFL, he set the single-season receptions record with 122 in 1994. After retiring, he worked on HBO's Inside the NFL, ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown, and Yahoo Sports. He also works as an assistant coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. He began co-hosting First Things First on FS1 in 2017 and was terminated in 2019. He resides in Boca Raton, Florida. He is the brother of former NBA player and coach Butch Carter.

Did You Know?

• Carter's first professional catch was a 22-yard touchdown vs. the St. Louis Cardinals.
• He was claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Vikings on September 4, 1990, for only $100.