Harold Donald Carson (born November 26, 1953) is a former
American football inside linebacker who played his entire professional career for the
NFL's New York Giants . Carson was inducted into the
College Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and the
Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
Early life
Born in
Florence, South Carolina, Carson played at
Wilson High School and later at McClenaghan High School, from which he graduated.
College career
Before his NFL career, Carson played
college football for
Willie Jeffries at
South Carolina State University from 1972–1975, not missing a single game in four years. He became the first
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference player to win consecutive defensive player of the year honors, and assisted the Bulldogs to consecutive conference championships. In 1975, he was a first team selection on the
AFCA College-Division
All-America team and set school records with 117 tackles and 17 sacks. With Carson as their captain, the Bulldogs defense recorded six shutouts in 1975, and held their opponents to just 29 points, an
NCAA record for a ten game season. Carson's Bulldog teammates included former Pittsburgh Steelers safety
Donnie Shell and former Kansas City Royals first baseman
Willie Mays Aikens. In 2002, Carson was enshrined in the
College Football Hall of Fame.
Professional career
After his college career, Carson was
drafted in the fourth round of the
1976 NFL Draft by the Giants. He spent all of his 13 seasons with them, leading the team...
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