David Carr
Encyclopedia
David Duke Carr is an American football
quarterback
for the New York Giants
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Houston Texans
first overall in the 2002 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Fresno State
.
Carr has also played for the Carolina Panthers
and San Francisco 49ers
.
in 1999. While he was quarterback, the Bulldogs went 7-5 and 11-3. In his senior season the team beat Colorado
, Oregon State
, and Wisconsin
, all members of BCS
conferences. There was speculation about whether the Bulldogs would qualify for a BCS bid, something then unprecedented for a 'Mid Major' conference team. They climbed to as high as number 8 in the polls, and Carr was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. During his collegiate career Carr completed 587 of 934 passes for 7,849 yards. He threw 70 touchdowns versus 23 interceptions. Carr collected the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
during his senior year.
On September 1, 2007, the Fresno State Bulldogs retired Carr's #8 jersey in his honor. Current Fresno State football players can still wear a #8 jersey.
, the expansion Houston Texans selected Carr. He would go on to start all but 4 games for the team in its first five years. Carr's professional career began on a productive note. The Texans played their first regular season game on September 8, 2002, defeating the Dallas Cowboys
, 19-10 at Houston's Reliant Stadium
. Houston became just the second expansion team to win their first game. The Texans won four games that season. Due to having a patchwork offensive line in front of him, Carr also became the most sacked quarterback in a single season of the NFL, being sacked 76 times. He also set the NFL record for fumble recoveries in a single season (recovering 12 of his own). With Carr under center the Texans improved in each of the next two years, finishing 5-11 in 2003 and 7-9 in 2004. Carr's 2004 campaign was his best statistically, as he finished with his highest career passer rating and threw for over 3,500 yards.
In 2005, the Texans won only one of their first ten games, finishing the season with a 2-14 record. Plagued by injuries and an ineffective offensive line that limited both the running and passing games, Carr still managed to throw for over 2,500 yards while being sacked 68 times. Despite the dropoff, the Texans exercised an option in Carr's contract that extended him for three years.
The Texans finished the 2006 season at 6-10. For the season, Carr posted a completion percentage of 68.9% (a career high) and tied the single game NFL record of 22 consecutive pass completions (against the Buffalo Bills). However, new Texans general manager Rick Smith decided to go in a different direction at quarterback. Thus, the Texans acquired Matt Schaub
from the Atlanta Falcons
and decided to part ways with Carr.
Carr is considered to be one of the biggest quarterback busts in NFL history since 1980.
Carr was ranked 10th on Fox Sports' list of worst No. 1 overall picks in NFL Draft history.
on April 6, 2007. Following an injury to starting quarterback Jake Delhomme
, Carr was named the starter. He played in six games (started four games) and had three touchdowns and five interceptions, with a 53.7 completion percentage and a passer rating of 58.3. Carr suffered a back injury during the fifth game of the season (a victory vs. the New Orleans Saints
) on a sack by Will Smith, and saw limited action during the remainder of the 2007 season, being replaced by Vinny Testaverde
and Matt Moore
. He was released on February 27, 2008.
, reuniting with former Houston offensive coordinator Chris Palmer. Subsequently, the Giants released former backup quarterback Jared Lorenzen
. Carr backed up Eli Manning
for two seasons. In the 2009 offseason, Carr was re-signed to a one-year, $2 million contract on February 9, 2009. In his two years with the Giants, Carr saw action in seven games and threw three total touchdown passes.
, he served as a back-up to Alex Smith
.
Carr was put into the 49ers Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers
after Smith suffered a shoulder injury. Carr struggled completing only 5 of 13 passes for 67 yards and throwing a crucial interception late in the 4th quarter.
He was released by the 49ers on July 28, 2011.
) is a quarterback at Fresno State
, as Carr was. Lon Boyett, his uncle, played in the NFL with the Raiders and 49ers in the early 1980s.
Carr and his wife Melody have three sons and one daughter.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
for the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
first overall in the 2002 NFL Draft
2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Fresno State
Fresno State Bulldogs football
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
.
Carr has also played for the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
and San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
Early years
Carr attended Stockdale High School in Bakersfield.College career
Carr began as the starting quarterback at Fresno State during the 2000 and 2001 seasons after redshirtingRedshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
in 1999. While he was quarterback, the Bulldogs went 7-5 and 11-3. In his senior season the team beat Colorado
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
, Oregon State
Oregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
, and Wisconsin
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
, all members of BCS
Bowl Championship Series
The Bowl Championship Series is a selection system that creates five bowl match-ups involving ten of the top ranked teams in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , including an opportunity for the top two to compete in the BCS National Championship Game.The BCS relies on a combination of...
conferences. There was speculation about whether the Bulldogs would qualify for a BCS bid, something then unprecedented for a 'Mid Major' conference team. They climbed to as high as number 8 in the polls, and Carr was on the cover of Sports Illustrated. During his collegiate career Carr completed 587 of 934 passes for 7,849 yards. He threw 70 touchdowns versus 23 interceptions. Carr collected the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
The Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award is given annually in the United States to the nation's outstanding senior quarterback in college football. It was established in 1987 by a foundation named for Johnny Unitas , the Hall of Fame quarterback who played his college career at the University of...
during his senior year.
On September 1, 2007, the Fresno State Bulldogs retired Carr's #8 jersey in his honor. Current Fresno State football players can still wear a #8 jersey.
Statistics
| Year | Comp | Att | Comp % | Passing | TD | INT | Carries | Rushing | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 5 | 11 | 45.5 | 53 | 0 | 1 | 5 | −21 | 0 |
| 1998 | 22 | 41 | 53.7 | 228 | 1 | 1 | 13 | −31 | 0 |
| 2000 | 216 | 349 | 61.9 | 2,729 | 23 | 12 | 74 | 83 | 4 |
| 2001 | 343 | 532 | 64.5 | 4,830 | 46 | 9 | 93 | 74 | 5 |
Houston Texans
With the first overall pick of 2002 NFL Draft2002 NFL Draft
The 2002 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. The draft is known officially as the "NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting" and has been conducted annually since 1936. The draft took place April 20–21, 2002 at the theater at...
, the expansion Houston Texans selected Carr. He would go on to start all but 4 games for the team in its first five years. Carr's professional career began on a productive note. The Texans played their first regular season game on September 8, 2002, defeating the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, 19-10 at Houston's Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium
Reliant Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium, in Houston, Texas, USA. Reliant Stadium has a seating capacity of 71,500, a total square footage of with of natural grass playing surface....
. Houston became just the second expansion team to win their first game. The Texans won four games that season. Due to having a patchwork offensive line in front of him, Carr also became the most sacked quarterback in a single season of the NFL, being sacked 76 times. He also set the NFL record for fumble recoveries in a single season (recovering 12 of his own). With Carr under center the Texans improved in each of the next two years, finishing 5-11 in 2003 and 7-9 in 2004. Carr's 2004 campaign was his best statistically, as he finished with his highest career passer rating and threw for over 3,500 yards.
In 2005, the Texans won only one of their first ten games, finishing the season with a 2-14 record. Plagued by injuries and an ineffective offensive line that limited both the running and passing games, Carr still managed to throw for over 2,500 yards while being sacked 68 times. Despite the dropoff, the Texans exercised an option in Carr's contract that extended him for three years.
The Texans finished the 2006 season at 6-10. For the season, Carr posted a completion percentage of 68.9% (a career high) and tied the single game NFL record of 22 consecutive pass completions (against the Buffalo Bills). However, new Texans general manager Rick Smith decided to go in a different direction at quarterback. Thus, the Texans acquired Matt Schaub
Matt Schaub
Matthew Rutledge Schaub is the starting quarterback for the Houston Texans. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He played college football at Virginia.-College career:...
from the Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and decided to part ways with Carr.
Carr is considered to be one of the biggest quarterback busts in NFL history since 1980.
Carr was ranked 10th on Fox Sports' list of worst No. 1 overall picks in NFL Draft history.
Carolina Panthers
Carr agreed to terms with the Carolina PanthersCarolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
on April 6, 2007. Following an injury to starting quarterback Jake Delhomme
Jake Delhomme
Jake Christopher Delhomme is an American football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. Delhomme played college football at Louisiana-Lafayette before being signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 1997...
, Carr was named the starter. He played in six games (started four games) and had three touchdowns and five interceptions, with a 53.7 completion percentage and a passer rating of 58.3. Carr suffered a back injury during the fifth game of the season (a victory vs. the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
) on a sack by Will Smith, and saw limited action during the remainder of the 2007 season, being replaced by Vinny Testaverde
Vinny Testaverde
Vincent Frank Testaverde is a former NFL quarterback. Testaverde last played for the Carolina Panthers and had previously played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys and New England Patriots. Testaverde holds the NFL record for having...
and Matt Moore
Matt Moore (American football)
Matthew Erickson Moore is an American Football quarterback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League.He played college football at UCLA and Oregon State...
. He was released on February 27, 2008.
New York Giants
On March 12, 2008, Carr signed a one-year contract with the New York GiantsNew York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, reuniting with former Houston offensive coordinator Chris Palmer. Subsequently, the Giants released former backup quarterback Jared Lorenzen
Jared Lorenzen
Jared Raymond Lorenzen is a former professional football quarterback, who is currently the commissioner of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. He most recently played for the Northern Kentucky River Monsters. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
. Carr backed up Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
for two seasons. In the 2009 offseason, Carr was re-signed to a one-year, $2 million contract on February 9, 2009. In his two years with the Giants, Carr saw action in seven games and threw three total touchdown passes.
San Francisco 49ers
On March 7, 2010, Carr agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ersSan Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, he served as a back-up to Alex Smith
Alex Smith
Alexander Douglas Smith is a professional American football player and starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League. Smith was drafted with the 1st-overall pick in the 1st round of the 2005 NFL Draft by San Francisco from the University of Utah...
.
Carr was put into the 49ers Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
after Smith suffered a shoulder injury. Carr struggled completing only 5 of 13 passes for 67 yards and throwing a crucial interception late in the 4th quarter.
He was released by the 49ers on July 28, 2011.
Statistics
| Year | |G | |Passing | |Rushing | |Sacked | |Fumbles | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Att | Comp | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | Int | Rtg | Att | Yds | Avg | TD | Sack | YdsL | Fum | FumL | ||||
| 2002 2002 NFL season The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each... | HOU Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
16 | 16 | 444 | 233 | 52.5 | 2424 | 5.8 | 9 | 15 | 62.8 | 59 | 282 | 4.8 | 3 | 76 | 411 | 21 | 7 |
| 2003 2003 NFL season -Milestones:The following teams and players set all-time NFL records during the season:-Team:-Individual:-Awards:-External Links:**-References:*NFL Record and Fact Book *... | HOU Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
12 | 11 | 295 | 167 | 56.6 | 2013 | 6.8 | 9 | 13 | 69.5 | 27 | 151 | 5.6 | 2 | 15 | 90 | 4 | 0 |
| 2004 2004 NFL season The 2004 NFL season was the 85th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 9, 2004 to January 2, 2005... | HOU Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
16 | 16 | 466 | 285 | 61.2 | 3531 | 7.6 | 16 | 14 | 83.5 | 73 | 299 | 4.1 | 0 | 49 | 301 | 10 | 2 |
| 2005 2005 NFL season The 2005 NFL season was the 86th regular season of the National Football League.With the New England Patriots as the defending league champions, regular season play was held from September 8, 2005 to January 1, 2006... | HOU Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
16 | 16 | 423 | 256 | 60.5 | 2488 | 5.9 | 14 | 11 | 77.2 | 56 | 308 | 5.5 | 1 | 68 | 424 | 17 | 6 |
| 2006 2006 NFL season The 2006 NFL season was the 87th regular season of the National Football League.Regular season play was held from September 7 to December 31, 2006... | HOU Houston Texans The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League... |
16 | 16 | 442 | 302 | 68.3 | 2767 | 6.3 | 11 | 12 | 82.1 | 53 | 195 | 3.7 | 2 | 41 | 240 | 16 | 7 |
| 2007 2007 NFL season The 2007 NFL season was the 88th regular season of the National Football League.Regular-season play was held from September 6 to December 30.... | CAR Carolina Panthers The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion... |
6 | 4 | 136 | 73 | 53.7 | 635 | 4.7 | 3 | 5 | 58.3 | 17 | 59 | 3.5 | 0 | 13 | 74 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 2008 NFL season The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League, themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida on February 1, 2009, with the Pittsburgh Steelers coming out victorious over the... | NYG New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
3 | 0 | 12 | 9 | 75.0 | 115 | 9.6 | 2 | 0 | 144.1 | 8 | 10 | 1.3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 2009 NFL season The 2009 NFL season was the 90th regular season of the National Football League.The preseason started with the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on August 9, 2009, and the regular season began September 10. The season ended with Super Bowl XLIV, the league's championship game, on February 7, 2010 at... | NYG New York Giants The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League... |
4 | 0 | 24 | 15 | 62.5 | 172 | 7.2 | 1 | 0 | 97.9 | 9 | 27 | 3.0 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 2010 NFL season The 2010 NFL season was the 91st regular season of the National Football League.The regular season began with the NFL Kickoff game on NBC on Thursday, September 9, at the Louisiana Superdome as the New Orleans Saints, Super Bowl XLIV champions, defeated the Minnesota Vikings 14–9.Tom Brady,... | SF San Francisco 49ers The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and... |
1 | 0 | 13 | 5 | 38.5 | 67 | 5.2 | 0 | 1 | 23.6 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 89 | 79 | 2264 | 1351 | 59.7 | 14433 | 6.4 | 65 | 71 | 74.9 | 302 | 1331 | 4.4 | 9 | 266 | 1558 | 70 | 22 | |
Personal
Carr is the son of Rodger and Sheryl Carr. He has two brothers, one of whom (DerekDerek Carr (American football)
Derek Dallas Carr is an American football quarterback for the Fresno State Bulldogs. He is the younger brother of former number one overall pick David Carr.-Biography:...
) is a quarterback at Fresno State
Fresno State Bulldogs football
The Fresno State Bulldogs football team represents California State University, Fresno in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The green “V” on the Bulldogs' helmets, uniforms, field symbolize California Central Valley, specifically the San Joaquin Valley, the agricultural valley from which they...
, as Carr was. Lon Boyett, his uncle, played in the NFL with the Raiders and 49ers in the early 1980s.
Carr and his wife Melody have three sons and one daughter.