Cris Carter

Verified Timeline

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 Eagles coach Buddy Ryan in 1989 due to off-the-field issues. The Vikings claimed him off waivers on September 4, 1990, for only $100. He turned his life and 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 team career receiving records when he left the Vikings after 2001. He briefly played for the Dolphins in 2002 before retiring. After six years and five finalist selections, he was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on February 2, 2013.

In Their Own Story

The narrative of Cris Carter in Minnesota is defined by resilience and record-breaking consistency. Following his release from Philadelphia, he rebuilt his career week by week. In 1993, under quarterback Jim McMahon, he achieved a breakout season with career highs at the time: 86 receptions, 1,071 yards, and 9 touchdowns. The arrival of Warren Moon in 1994 changed everything; Carter set the NFL single-season reception record with 122 catches, though he later lost that specific record to Herman Moore the following year. In 1995, Carter reached his statistical apex, catching 122 passes for 1,371 yards and leading the league with 17 touchdowns, earning Second-team All-Pro honors. The team's offense became a juggernaut in 1998 when they drafted Randy Moss; despite sharing targets, Carter caught 78 passes for 1,011 yards and 12 touchdowns as the Vikings achieved a 15–1 record. Throughout his tenure, he appeared in eight straight Pro Bowls and carried the team through multiple playoff runs, including a miraculous last-minute comeback victory against the Giants in 1997.

Reader's Guide

Carter was born in Troy, Ohio, and attended Heywood Elementary there before moving to Middletown, Ohio. He attended Middletown High School and starred in football and basketball. He dropped his birth name Graduel and unofficially changed his name to Cris after wide receiver Cris Collinsworth. He accepted an offer to attend Ohio State University from head coach Earle Bruce. He became a consensus All-American after his junior season. He set a Rose Bowl record with nine receptions for 172 yards as a freshman. In his junior season, he caught 69 passes for 1,127 yards and 11 touchdowns. Prior to his senior season, he secretly signed with agent Norby Walters; when discovered, he was ruled ineligible. He left Ohio State holding the school record for receptions (168), gaining 2,725 yards and 27 touchdowns. He was selected to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team in 2000 and inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame in 2003.

Did You Know?

• Carter's first professional catch was a 22-yard touchdown vs. the St. Louis Cardinals.
• He set the NFL single-season record for receptions with 122 in 1994, a mark broken in 1995 by Herman Moore.
• Carter worked on HBO's Inside the NFL, ESPN's Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown, and online at Yahoo Sports after retiring.
• He began co-hosting First Things First on FS1 in 2017 but was terminated following a suspension and investigation in 2019.
• Carter is the brother of former NBA player and coach Butch Carter.