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Cris Carter

Retires But Returns To Play



In spring of 2002, unable to find a contract to play with a team that suited him, Carter announced his retirement after 15 seasons with the NFL. Sad to leave the Vikings, he told Bob Sansevere of the Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, "I never thought I'd come to this cold place [Minnesota] and feel sad I'm leaving."



Carter accepted an offer to work as an analyst on the HBO program "Inside the NFL." According to Alex Marvez of the Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, Carter told reporters at an HBO media conference, "[My playing career] has been a tremendous ride, and that ride has come to an end. I wanted to play football, but I had to be in the right situation."

In October of 2002, Carter found the right situation. He came out of retirement to join the Miami Dolphins, whose performance had suffered after a series of wide receivers were injured; the team hoped he would improve their performance. Although he was hesitant to return to play, his friend and former Dolphins quarter-back Dan Marino helped convince him to sign a one-year contract. Marino worked with Carter on "Inside the NFL." In an article on Allsports.com, Carter said that Marino told him, "You just have to do it. You can still play." Carter admitted that he missed playing, and noted that HBO would still pay him even if he did sign with Miami.

Carter joined the team on October 21, and was paired with team members in practice so that he could learn the team's offense. Although some of his new teammates were initially upset because Carter was signed as a starter, not a backup, he got along well with them. In the Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, player James McKnight Alex Marvez, "The camaraderie in this locker room is the best I've ever been around." Carter, who appreciated the help and advice that was given to him by veteran players when he began his career, was happy to tutor young players. "I just think you should help people out no matter what profession you are in," he explained to Marvez. "To me, it's a crime for athletes or anyone else that has a talent or a skill when they don't try to share some of that with other people."

Career Statistics

Receiving Rushing Fumbles
Yr Team REC YDS AVG TD ATT YDS AVG TD FUM LST
MIA: Miami Dolphins; MIN: Minnesota Vikings; PHI: Philadelphia Eagles.
1987 PHI 5 84 16.8 2 0 0 0.0 0 00
1988 PHI 39 761 19.5 6 1 1 1.0 0 00
1989 PHI 45 605 13.4 11 2 16 8.0 0 1 0
1990 MIN 27 413 15.3 3 2 6 3.0 0 00
1991 MIN 72 962 13.4 5 0 0 0.0 0 00
1992 MIN 53 681 12.8 6 5 15 3.0 0 0 0
1993 MIN 86 1071 12.5 9 0 0 0.0 0 00
1994 MIN 22 1256 10.3 7 0 0 0.0 0 41
1995 MIN 122 1371 11.2 17 1 0 0.0 0 0 0
1996 MIN 96 1163 12.1 10 0 0 0.0 0 1 1
1997 MIN 89 1069 12.0 13 0 0 0.0 0 3 1
1998 MIN 78 1011 13.0 12 1 -1 -1.0 0 0 0
1999 MIN 90 1241 13.8 13 0 0 0.0 0 0 0
2000 MIN 96 1274 13.3 9 0 0 0.0 0 31
2001 MIN 68 811 11.9 6 1 4 4.0 0 11
2002 MIA 8 66 8.3 1 0 0 0.0 0 11
TOTAL 1101 13889 12.6 130 13 41 3.2 0 17 6

Awards and Accomplishments

1993-2000 Pro Bowl
1999 Wins NFL Man of the Year Award

Player Bernardo Harris of the Baltimore Ravens told Mike Berardino in the Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service, "Cris is coming in, and a lot of pressure is put on him because he's the veteran guy, he's the name guy. The expectations are going to be so high. If he doesn't do anything, it's a letdown. If he does anything, it's expected." And he added, "He came out of retirement to save the team."

Unfortunately, Carter's return was short-lived. On November 9, 2002, Carter was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with a kidney abnormality and was out of play for the rest of the season. His future in football was in doubt at the end of the 2002 season.

Carter told Sansevere that given the successes of his career, he expected to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday. "I look forward to that day," he said. "It's going to happen. Whenever it happens, I'll be overwhelmed with emotions."

Where Is He Now?

In addition to his football career, Carter still provides game analysis for HBO's "Inside the NFL." He is also active in various charitable causes. Carter is the founder of the Carter-White Charitable Foundation to benefit underprivileged children, as well as the Viking Super Challenge, which challenges students to stay off drugs and remain in school. He also founded the Cris Carter Academic Honor Roll program, which rewards high school athletes who excel both in the classroom and on the playing field. Carter is a member of the board of directors of Builders of Dreams for Youth and the Starlight Foundation. He is married, has two children, Duron and Monterae, and lives with his family in Boca Raton, Florida.

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