Mark Carrier is a former American football player who played as a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He was born on April 28, 1968, in Long Beach, California, and attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where he played football and was named the California High School Player of the Year in 1986.
Carrier went on to play college football at the University of Southern California (USC) from 1987 to 1989. He was a standout player for the Trojans, earning All-American honors in 1989 and being named the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year. Carrier finished his college career with 274 tackles, 9 interceptions, and 3 fumble recoveries.
In the 1990 NFL Draft, Carrier was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round with the sixth overall pick. He made an immediate impact in his rookie season, starting all 16 games and recording 10 interceptions, which tied an NFL record for a rookie. Carrier was named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and was selected to the Pro Bowl.
Carrier played for the Bears for three seasons before being traded to the Detroit Lions in 1993. He played for the Lions for four seasons, earning Pro Bowl honors in 1994 and 1995. Carrier then played for the Washington Redskins for two seasons before finishing his career with the Carolina Panthers in 2000.
Throughout his NFL career, Carrier was known for his hard-hitting style of play and his ability to make big plays. He finished his career with 468 tackles, 20 interceptions, 7 forced fumbles, and 5 fumble recoveries. Carrier was also a three-time All-Pro selection and was named to the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team.
After retiring from football, Carrier went on to become a coach. He served as the defensive backs coach for the Baltimore Ravens from 2010 to 2015, helping the team win Super Bowl XLVII in 2013. Carrier then served as the defensive backs coach for the New York Jets from 2017 to 2018 before joining the Carolina Panthers as their defensive backs coach in 2019.
In addition to his football career, Carrier has also been involved in various charitable organizations. He founded the Mark Carrier Celebrity Golf Classic, which raises money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Long Beach, and has also been involved with the United Way and the Special Olympics.
Overall, Mark Carrier had a successful football career, earning numerous accolades and making a significant impact on the field. He has continued to be involved in the sport as a coach and has also made a positive impact off the field through his charitable work.
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