Michael Carter Bio
Michael Carter (born May 7, 1999) is an American professional football running back in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the North Carolina Tar Heels and was selected by the New York Jets in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Carter has since spent time with the Arizona Cardinals before signing with the Tennessee Titans.
Listed at 5 feet 8 inches and 201 pounds, Carter has built his career on a compact frame that emphasizes balance, quickness, and receiving ability out of the backfield. He has produced more than 1,600 rushing yards and over 1,000 receiving yards across his NFL seasons while contributing in pass protection and on special teams coverage units.
Early Life and Background
Michael Carter was born on May 7, 1999, in Okinawa, Japan, where his father played in the X-League, the top level of American football in Japan. As a toddler, Carter moved with his family to the United States and grew up in Navarre, Florida. He attended Navarre High School, where he developed into one of the most productive running backs in the state of Florida.
During his junior season at Navarre High School, Carter rushed for 526 yards and nine touchdowns before a season-ending injury in the third game cut his year short. He came back strong as a senior, rushing for 2,536 yards and finishing with 3,345 all-purpose yards and 45 total touchdowns. He was named the Florida Offensive Player of the Year by USA Today for his senior performance.
Carter was a sought-after recruit and chose to play college football at North Carolina over scholarship offers from Florida, Louisville, Mississippi State, and Tennessee. His combination of production and athleticism made him a priority target for the Tar Heels coaching staff.
Path to the NFL
Carter arrived at the University of North Carolina in 2017 and immediately saw the field as a true freshman. He rushed for 559 yards on 97 carries with eight touchdowns in his first season, showing he could handle a workload at the collegiate level.
As a sophomore, Carter added 597 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 84 carries, while also catching 25 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown. During his junior year, he surpassed the 1,000-yard rushing mark with 1,003 yards and three touchdowns, adding 21 receptions for 154 yards and two scores. That season he earned third-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) recognition.
Carter’s senior season in 2020 was his most productive. He was named ACC Running Back of the Week after rushing for 214 yards and two touchdowns against Virginia Tech on October 10, 2020. Against Miami, he and fellow Tar Heels running back Javonte Williams combined for 544 rushing yards, the most by two running backs in a single college football game. Carter led the team with 308 rushing yards and two touchdowns in that contest. He finished 2020 with 1,245 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, plus 267 receiving yards and two more scores, and was named a Pro Football Focus first-team All-American. His 3,403 career rushing yards rank fourth in program history at North Carolina.
Michael Carter Career
New York Jets Era (2021–2023)
On May 1, 2021, Michael Carter was selected by the New York Jets with the 107th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed his four-year rookie contract on June 4, 2021, and made his first career start in Week 3 of his rookie season. In Week 4, Carter scored his first career touchdown in a 27–24 win over the Tennessee Titans.
A high ankle sprain in Week 11 sent Carter to injured reserve on November 27, 2021, but he returned in mid-December. He finished his rookie year with 147 carries for 639 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns, plus 36 receptions for 325 receiving yards, ranking fourth among all NFL rookies in rushing yards. In 2022, Carter added two rushing touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins in a Week 5 win and finished the season with 402 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 114 carries, along with 41 receptions for 288 receiving yards. The Jets released Carter on November 14, 2023.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2023–2025)
One day after his release, on November 15, 2023, Carter was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals. He spent the remainder of the 2023 season with Arizona, working primarily as a pass-catching back and contributor on special teams.
Carter was waived by the Cardinals on August 27, 2024, and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. He was promoted to the active roster on January 1, 2025. On August 26, 2025, he was again waived as part of final roster cuts and returned to the practice squad the following day. He was signed back to the active roster on September 29, 2025, released on October 27, and re-signed to the practice squad before being promoted again on November 8, 2025.
Tennessee Titans Era (2026–Present)
On April 1, 2026, Michael Carter signed with the Tennessee Titans. The move gave him a fresh opportunity to compete for a role in the Titans backfield after a year spent bouncing between Arizona’s active roster and practice squad.
Driving Style and Strengths
Carter’s game is built on low center of gravity, lateral quickness, and reliable hands as a receiver out of the backfield. He is most effective on outside zone runs, screen passes, and check-down routes that allow him to use his vision and acceleration in space.
Notable Events and Milestones
Carter’s most celebrated moment came in the 2020 Miami game, where his 308 rushing yards set the tone for a combined 544-yard performance with Javonte Williams, the most ever by two running backs in a single college game. He earned first-team All-ACC and third-team All-American honors that season and finished his North Carolina career fourth in program history in rushing yards.
Michael Carter Career Wins
Michael Carter has compiled 1,692 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns across his NFL career through the 2025 season, along with 145 receptions for 1,038 receiving yards and 1 receiving touchdown. His most productive season came as a rookie with the Jets, when he finished fourth among all NFL rookies in rushing.
New York Jets Highlights
Carter’s top individual performance came in Week 4 of the 2021 season, when he scored his first career touchdown in a 27–24 win over the Tennessee Titans. He added two rushing touchdowns against the Miami Dolphins in a 40–17 Week 5 victory during the 2022 season, finishing that year with 402 rushing yards and 288 receiving yards.
Arizona Cardinals Highlights
Carter appeared primarily on special teams and as a change-of-pace back for Arizona, with regular practice squad and active roster transactions throughout 2024 and 2025. While statistical totals were limited, his work in the passing game and on coverage units kept him on NFL rosters.
Michael Carter Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Michael Carter was born in Okinawa, Japan, where his father played in the X-League, Japan’s top professional American football league. His family’s overseas background gave him an early connection to the sport before he settled in Navarre, Florida.
Personal Life
Carter grew up in Navarre, Florida, and continues to maintain ties to the community that shaped his early football career. He is known by the nickname associated with his first name and has built a following on social media where he shares updates about his training and NFL journey.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was defined by roster movement for Michael Carter. He was waived by the Arizona Cardinals on August 26, 2025, as part of final cuts and re-signed to the practice squad the following day. After working his way back, he was promoted to the active roster on September 29.
His time on the active roster was brief, as he was released on October 27 and re-signed to the practice squad the next day. Carter returned to the active roster on November 8, 2025, and finished the year contributing in a rotational role out of the backfield and on special teams for Arizona.
Looking ahead, Carter signed with the Tennessee Titans on April 1, 2026, opening a new chapter with a team looking to refresh its backfield. His blend of receiving skills and pass-protection experience gives him a clear path to compete for a complementary role behind the Titans’ lead runner.
