Cris Carter

Team Number:	80
Birth Date:	11/25/1965
Height:	6'3''
Weight:	208lbs.
Position:	Wide Receiver

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UPDATE: Cris Carter spent a season with the Miami Dophins in 2001-2002 and then retired. Today he is an NFL analyst for Yahoo sports and high school football coach of his son's team.

Cris Carter was born November 25, 1965 in Troy, Ohio. Cris attended Middletown High School in Middletown, Ohio and went on to play football with Ohio State University. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 4th round of the 1987 NFL supplemental draft. He played wide receiver for the Eagles from 1987-89 and then with the Minnesota Vikings from 1990-2001. He ended his career playing a few games with the Miami Dolphins in 2002 before quietly retiring.

Cris Carter saw limited action during his rookie season with the Eagles catching just 5 passes for 84 yards and 2 touchdowns. His first professional catch was a 22 yard touchdown vs. the St. Louis Cardinals. He got more involved in the Philly offense in 1988 catching 39 passes for 761 yards and tying for the team lead with 6 scoring receptions. In 1989, he became the teams' primary red zone receiver, leading the Philadelphia Eagles with 11 TD catches, 3rd in the NFC, while hauling in 45 passes for 605 yards. Cris Carter ended up having a falling out with Eagles coach Buddy Ryan and was cut following the 1989 season.

The Minnesota Vikings claimed the troubled wide receiver on September 4, 1990 for the modest price of $100. Stuck behind Hassan Jones and resident star receiver, Anthony Carter (no relation), Cris Carter didn't see many passes come his way during his first season with the Minnesota Vikings. Cris Carter finished the 1990 season with 27 receptions for 413 yards and 3 touchdowns. In 1991, Cris Carter stepped forward as Minnesota's top pass catcher. He led the team with 72 receptions, 962 yards, and 5 touchdowns.

In 1992, Rich Gannon and Sean Salisbury played musical chairs at QB, but Cris Carter remained the teams’ primary aerial weapon. Cris led the team with 53 receptions, 681 yards, and 6 touchdowns despite missing the final four games of the season with a broken collar bone. In 1993 veteran QB Jim McMahon acted as the teams' primary signal caller and Cris Carter had a stellar season. He posted a career high 86 receptions and 1,071 yards, while catching 9 touchdowns. With the solid numbers, Cris Carter was invited to appear in his first Pro Bowl.

Veteran QB Warren Moon was acquired before the 1994 season and immediately developed a rapport with Carter. The veteran helped Cris set the NFL single season record for receptions with 122. Carter also led the team with 1,256 yards and 7 touchdowns. Carter teamed up with Moon again in 1995 to post his finest statistical season. He caught 122 passes for a career high 1,371 yards and led the NFL with 17 touchdown receptions.

Midway through the 1996 season Brad Johnson took over at QB for the Vikings. Cris Carter didn't miss a beat, catching 96 passes for 1,163 yards and 10 touchdowns. Cris Carter continued to be the focal point of the Vikings' offense in 1997. He was named to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl, leading the NFL with 13 TD receptions while pacing the team with 89 catches and 1069 yards. In 1998, Cris Carter caught 78 passes for 1,011 yards and 12 touchdowns. Cris Carter finished the decade of the '90s with 835 receptions, second only to Jerry Rice's 860, and was named to the NFL's All Decade team.

In 2000 Cris Carter had another great year posting 96 receptions, 1,274 yards and 9 touchdowns. On November 30th, Cris Carter became only the second player in NFL history to reach the 1,000 career catches plateau when he caught a 4 yard touchdown pass against Detroit. A dark cloud hovered over the Vikings in 2001 and Cris Carter's production dipped to its lowest point since 1992. He posted a mere 73 catches for 871 yards and his streak of eight straight Pro Bowls came to an end.

Following the season, Cris Carter saw no hopes for a Super Bowl ring with the Vikings so he exercised an out clause in his contract that ended his career in Minnesota. He left the Minnesota Vikings team as their all time leader in, among other things, receptions - 1,004, receiving yards - 12,383, and touchdowns - 110. He had a career total of 13,833 receiving yards and had 8 consecutive years of 1000+ yards receiving. The Vikings retired his #80 jersey to honor his outstanding achievements.

Cris Carter is currently one of the hosts of HBO's “Inside the NFL.” He is also a faculty member and coach at St. Thomas Aquinas High School, and an ordained minister. His record setting stats and his on field leadership make Cris Carter a modern day Minnesota Vikings great.