Carson Palmer is a former American football quarterback who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. He was born on December 27, 1979, in Fresno, California, and attended the University of Southern California (USC) where he played college football for the USC Trojans.
Palmer was selected as the first overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent the first eight seasons of his career with the Bengals, where he established himself as one of the league's top quarterbacks. In 2005, he led the Bengals to their first playoff appearance in 15 years and was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career.
After a trade to the Oakland Raiders in 2011, Palmer spent two seasons with the team before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals in 2013. It was with the Cardinals that Palmer had some of the best seasons of his career. In 2015, he led the team to the NFC Championship game and was named to the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career.
Throughout his career, Palmer was known for his strong arm and accuracy as a passer. He finished his career with 46,247 passing yards, 294 touchdowns, and a passer rating of 87.9. He also had a reputation for being a leader on and off the field, and was respected by his teammates and coaches.
Injuries were a recurring issue for Palmer throughout his career. He suffered a torn ACL in 2006, which caused him to miss most of the season. He also suffered a broken arm in 2017, which ultimately led to his decision to retire from the NFL at the end of the season.
Despite the injuries, Palmer had a successful career in the NFL and is considered one of the best quarterbacks of his generation. He was named to the Pro Bowl three times and was a two-time Second-Team All-Pro selection. He also won the Heisman Trophy in 2002 while playing for USC.
Since retiring from the NFL, Palmer has remained involved in football as a broadcaster and analyst. He has also been active in philanthropy, founding the Carson Palmer Foundation which supports children's charities and programs.
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