Shyheim Carter Bio
Shyheim Carter is an American professional football safety for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide and entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New York Jets in 2020. Over the course of his career, he has also been a member of the Atlanta Falcons, the Houston Texans, and the Tennessee Titans.
Listed at 5 feet 10 inches and 194 pounds, Carter has built his reputation on football intelligence, versatility across the secondary, and steady special teams play. He is recognized as one of the more experienced defensive backs at the UFL level after moving between NFL active rosters and practice squads for several seasons.
Early Life and Background
Shyheim Carter was born on December 15, 1997, in Kentwood, Louisiana. He grew up in the same small community where he would later become a high school star, attending Kentwood High School and developing into one of the most heavily recruited defensive prospects in the state.
At Kentwood High School, Carter played both quarterback and cornerback, showing the rare two-way ability that helped him rise up recruiting rankings. He was ranked as a four-star recruit and was considered one of the top prospects in Louisiana, earning first-team all-state honors as both a junior and a senior. He was also selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game.
During his final two high school seasons, Carter was named the Class 1A Offensive MVP. As a senior, he led Kentwood to a state championship in 2015 after throwing for 2,443 yards, running for 1,648 yards, and intercepting five passes on defense. ESPN ranked him as the 40th-best player nationally, the 6th-best cornerback, and the 4th-best player in the state. After a brief de-commitment, he reaffirmed his pledge to play college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
Path to American Football
Carter’s path to professional football ran through one of the most respected programs in college football. He arrived at Alabama in 2016 as a true freshman and appeared in nine games while adjusting to the Crimson Tide defense. He later said that he initially doubted his ability to learn Alabama’s playbook, but by his senior year he was regarded as one of the most knowledgeable players on the roster.
Through steady development, Carter earned a starting role in 2018 at the STAR nickelback position and became a reliable contributor in the secondary. His combination of football IQ, coverage skills, and run support made him a valuable piece of Alabama’s defensive rotations. That foundation in a championship-level program prepared him for the jump to the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
Shyheim Carter Career
Early Career (2020)
After going unselected in the 2020 NFL draft, Shyheim Carter was signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent. His contract included $72,000 in guarantees, the second-highest figure among the Jets’ undrafted class that year, reflecting the team’s belief in his upside. He spent part of the summer on the reserve/COVID-19 list before being activated in mid-August.
Carter was waived by the Jets in early September 2020 but quickly landed with another organization. On October 20, 2020, he was signed to the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons, where he spent the rest of the season before being waived in December.
Houston Texans (2021)
On May 17, 2021, Carter signed with the Houston Texans after a successful minicamp tryout. He was waived at the end of August and immediately re-signed to the practice squad the next day, showing that the Texans valued his versatility and special teams potential.
His time in Houston ended in October 2021, but the stint kept him on NFL radar and paved the way for his longest professional stop. Earlier in 2021, Carter had also briefly worked as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Alabama, gaining coaching experience before returning to a playing role.
Tennessee Titans (2021-2023)
Carter joined the Tennessee Titans practice squad in late December 2021 and signed a reserve/future contract in January 2022. He spent the next two seasons moving between the practice squad and the active roster, consistently showing the kind of dependability that keeps a defensive back employed in a competitive league.
In 2023, Carter was elevated to the active roster for the Titans’ Week 4 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, making his NFL regular-season debut and posting a tackle on 22 combined snaps. He was signed to the active roster in mid-October before moving back to the practice squad, and he finished the season with a reserve/future contract in January 2024. He was later waived in August 2024. Across his NFL career, Carter recorded 3 total tackles.
Birmingham Stallions Era (2025-Present)
On January 14, 2025, Carter signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League, continuing his professional career at the spring football level. The move gave him an opportunity to play a featured defensive role for one of the league’s most established franchises.
Carter brings NFL-level experience, defensive scheme familiarity, and special teams value to a Stallions defense built on speed and physicality. His path through multiple NFL practice squads has shaped him into a mature, assignment-sound safety.
Driving Style and Strengths
Carter’s strengths as a defensive back include football intelligence, positional versatility across the secondary, and reliable open-field tackling. His background as a high school quarterback helps him diagnose offensive concepts pre-snap, and his time in the STAR nickelback role at Alabama gave him comfort in both coverage and run support situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Carter’s most notable milestones include leading Kentwood High School to a 2015 state championship in Louisiana, recording 101 tackles across his Alabama career, and making his NFL regular-season debut with the Tennessee Titans in 2023. His signing with the Birmingham Stallions in 2025 marked his first sustained opportunity as a regular defensive contributor in a professional league.
Shyheim Carter Career Wins
Shyheim Carter’s career has been built less on individual award totals and more on consistent availability, steady improvement, and championship experience at multiple levels. His résumé includes a Louisiana Class 1A state championship at Kentwood High School, deep runs with the Alabama Crimson Tide, and continued professional opportunities earned through perseverance in the NFL and UFL.
Alabama Highlights
Carter appeared in 50 games across his Alabama career, starting 23 of them at the STAR nickelback position. He finished his tenure with 101 tackles, 6.0 tackles for loss, 21 pass breakups, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. His 2018 season, when he became a full-time starter and recorded two interceptions returned for touchdowns, is widely viewed as the turning point of his college career.
Shyheim Carter Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Shyheim Carter’s immediate family is limited. He grew up in Kentwood, Louisiana, and his parents’ names and occupations have not been publicly verified through reliable sources.
Personal Life
Carter keeps much of his personal life private. There is no publicly verified information regarding a spouse, partner, or children. He is known to be active on social media, where fans can follow his ongoing professional career with the Birmingham Stallions.
2025 Season Performance
Shyheim Carter’s 2025 season centers on his role with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League. After years of NFL practice squad movement, he arrived in Birmingham with a chance to establish himself as a regular in the secondary and on special teams for one of the spring league’s flagship franchises.
His veteran presence, paired with his comfort in multiple defensive roles, gives the Stallions flexibility in their secondary rotations. Carter’s football intelligence, refined at Alabama and through several NFL offseasons, is expected to be a stabilizing factor for a defense that prides itself on communication and pre-snap disguise.
Outlook for the season is positive, as Carter combines the technique of a long-developed defensive back with the hunger of a player still chasing a long-term professional home. His 2025 campaign represents both a fresh start and a continuation of a journey that began on a small Louisiana high school field.