Cris Carter, a fourth round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1987 Supplemental Draft, started his pro career on a high note as his first NFL catch came on a 22-yard touchdown play in a game against St. Louis Cardinals.
Scoring touchdowns turned out to be something for which Carter became known for during his 16-season NFL career. By the time he retired following the 2002 NFL season, Carter had scored 130 touchdowns which ranked second most in NFL history.
Carter's career started slowly as he showed occasional flashes of brilliance during his three seasons with the Eagles but consistent success did not begin until after he joined the Minnesota Vikings in 1990. Over the next 12 seasons in Minnesota, Carter developed into one of the game's most prolific pass receivers. He led the Vikings in receptions for 10 straight seasons (1991-2000) but it was his 1993 season when he raised his play to a new level. That year, he recorded the first of eight straight 1,000-yard seasons and also earned his first of eight consecutive Pro Bowl berths.
The following season, Carter set a then-NFL record for receptions in a season when he hauled in 122 passes for 1,256 yards and scored 7 touchdowns. His finest season came one year later when, in 1995, he registered his second straight 122-catch season and amassed a career-high 1,371 yards and 17 touchdowns. His two-year total of 244 catches was the most in NFL history.
Carter, who held or shared 19 Vikings team records, decided to retire following the 2001 season. However, after injuries decimated the Miami Dolphins' receiving corps in 2002, Carter returned to the field and played five games for the Dolphins that season before he permanently retired.
Known for his durability, Carter played full 16-game seasons in 13 of his 16 years in the NFL. He finished his 234-game career as the NFL's second all-time leading receiver with 1,101 receptions for 13,899 yards. A member of the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s, Carter had 10 or more touchdowns in a season six times and led the NFL in receiving touchdowns three times (1995, 1997, and 1999). He recorded 70 or more catches in a season 10 times and had 100-yard receiving games 42 times during his career.
All-Pro: 1994 (AP, PFWA, SN) • 1999 (AP, PFWA)
All-Pro Second Team: 1995 (AP)
All-NFC: 1994 (UPI, PW) • 1999 (PW)
All-NFC Second Team: 1995 (UPI) • 1996 (UPI)
(8) – 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
(at time of his retirement following 2002 season)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Two-Point Conversions, Season – 3 (1997)
• [2nd] Most Two-Point Conversions, Career – 5
• [2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Career – 1,101
• [2nd] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Career – 130
• [3rd] Most Seasons, 50 or More Receptions – 11
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Pass Receptions, Season – 122 (1994, 1995)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons, 1,000 or More Yards, Receiving – 8
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Seasons Leading League, Receiving Touchdowns – 3 (1995, 1997, 1999)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Season – 17 (1995)
Pro Bowl Records
• [2nd] Most Pass Receptions, Career – 27
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Receiving Touchdowns, Career – 3
• [3rd] Most Receiving Yards, Career – 335
• [Tied for 3nd] Most Touchdowns, Career – 3
Eagles records held by Carter
(Records through the 1989 season, Carter's final season with Philadelphia)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Season – 11 (1989)
Vikings records held by Carter
(Records through the 2001 season, Carter's final season with Minnesota)
• [1st] Most Touchdowns, Career – 110
• [1st] Most Seasons Leading Team, Receptions – 10 (1991-2000)
• [1st] Most Consecutive Seasons Leading Team, Receptions – 10 (1991-2000)
• [1st] Most Receptions, Career – 1,004
• [1st] Most Receptions, Season – 122 (1994, 1995)
• [1st] Most Consecutive Games with a Receptions, Career – 111
• [1st] Most Seasons 50 or More Receptions – 11 (1991-2001)
• [1st] Most Seasons, 1,000 or More Yards Receiving – 8 (1993-2000)
• [1st] Most Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Career – 40
• [1st] Most Yards Receiving, Career – 12,383
• [1st] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Career – 110
• [1st] Most Yards Rushing-Receiving, Career – 11,407
• [1st] Most Combined Net Yards, Career – 12,410
• [Tied for 1st] Most Seasons Leading Team, Touchdowns – 5 (1993, 1995-1997, 1999)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games Scoring a Touchdown – 7 (1999)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Seasons Leading Team, Receiving Yards – 5 (1991-1995)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games 100 or More Yards Receiving – 4 (1999)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Season – 17 (1995)
• [Tied for 1st] Most Consecutive Games, Receiving Touchdown – 7 (1999)
• [2nd] Most Points, Career – 670
• [2nd] Most Receptions, Season – 96 (1996, 2000)
• [2nd] Most Receptions, Game – 14 (at Arizona, Oct. 2, 1994)
• [2nd] Most Consecutive Games Scoring a Receiving Touchdown – 6 (1996-1997; 1998-1999)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns, Season – 17 (1995)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Games Scoring a Touchdown – 6 (1996-1997; 1998-1999)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Game – 3 (vs. Miami, Sept. 25, 1994; vs. Indianapolis, Dec. 21, 1997; at Chicago, Nov. 14, 1999)
• [Tied for 2nd] Most Consecutive Games Season Leading Team, Rushing-Receiving – 3 (1993-1995)
• [Tied for 3rd] Most Receptions, Game – 12 (vs. New Orleans, Nov. 6, 1994; vs. Houston, Oct. 8, 1995; at Arizona, Nov. 12, 1995; vs. New Orleans, Nov. 19, 1995; at San Francisco, Dec. 18, 1995)
• [3rd] Most Yards Receiving, Season – 1,371 (1995)
• [3rd] Most Games 100 or More Yards Receiving, Season – 6 (2000)
• [3rd] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Season – 13 (1997, 1999)
Post-Season Records
• [1st] Most Touchdowns Receiving, Game – 2 (at San Francisco, Jan. 3, 1998)
• [2nd] Most Points Scored, Career – 50
NFL Statistical Championships
Pass Receiving Titles: 1994
NFC Statistical Championships
Pass Receiving Titles: 1994
Team Statistical Championships
Pass Receiving Titles: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Scoring Titles: 1989P, 1997
P Philadelphia Eagles All other titles with Minnesota Vikings
• 1990s All-Decade Team
• 1999 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year
• 1999 Byron "Whizzer" White Award (NFLPA)
| 1987 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
7 |
8 |
0 |
(4th) |
| 1988 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
10 |
6 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1989 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
11 |
5 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 1990 |
Minnesota Vikings |
6 |
10 |
0 |
(5th) |
| 1991 |
Minnesota Vikings |
8 |
8 |
0 |
(3rd) |
| 1992 |
Minnesota Vikings |
11 |
5 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1993 |
Minnesota Vikings |
9 |
7 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 1994 |
Minnesota Vikings |
10 |
6 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1995 |
Minnesota Vikings |
8 |
8 |
0 |
(4th) |
| 1996 |
Minnesota Vikings |
9 |
7 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 1997 |
Minnesota Vikings |
9 |
7 |
0 |
(4th) |
| 1998 |
Minnesota Vikings |
15 |
1 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 1999 |
Minnesota Vikings |
10 |
6 |
0 |
(2nd) |
| 2000 |
Minnesota Vikings |
11 |
5 |
0 |
(1st) |
| 2001 |
Minnesota Vikings |
5 |
11 |
0 |
(4th) |
| 2002 |
Miami Dolphins |
9 |
7 |
0 |
(3rd) |