When you think of Minnesota Vikings wide receivers of the 1990s, the first one that immediately comes to mind is probably Randy Moss, which makes sense, considering he’s one of the best pass catchers in NFL history. But he overshadows another excellent receiver on those ’90s Vikings teams: Cris Carter.
The Vikings might be the most associated team with Carter because it’s where he broke out and became a superstar. All eight of his 1,000-yard seasons came in purple and gold.
Across 16 seasons, Carter caught 1,101 balls for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns. He also made eight Pro Bowls and two All-Pro teams. His biggest accomplishment, though, might be when he won the 1999 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. All of these achievements (and many more) built an impressive resume that enshrined him into the Hall of Fame in 2013.
Carter spent his first three seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles; however, he was nowhere near the receiver there he was in Minnesota. More so, something that’s often forgotten, there was the wild single season he spent with the Miami Dolphins in the final season of his career. That’s where our story begins.
Cris Carter Time with the Dolphins
At the start of the 2002 season, it seemed like Carter’s NFL career was over. Despite all the success he had in Minnesota, the Vikings exercised their team opt-out after the 2001 season, forcing Carter into free agency at 37 years old.
There were some teams interested in the former Pro Bowler, but they couldn’t agree on a contract. At that point, Carter left the field and joined Inside the NFL as an analyst. Many believed they’d seen the last of him.
Lo and behold, Carter was given a chance to revitalize his career halfway through the ’02 season. The Dolphins lured Carter away from the studio and back to the football field after suffering several injuries to their receiving corps.
2002 Season
Carter’s first week in Miami was eventful — but for all the wrong reasons. He made his Dolphins debut in Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers, looking lost on the field and only catching 3 balls for 31 yards and losing a fumble in a 24-10 loss.
Then more headlines came off the field. The following week, Carter was taken to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with a kidney ailment. He missed the next four weeks.
Carter eventually returned to the team in a Week 14 matchup against the Chicago Bears. He was healthy, but it was hard for him to find his role. He was only targeted twice, with 1 reception for 8 yards. Things got a little better the following week against the Oakland Raiders when he logged 3 receptions for 12 yards and a touchdown.
Cris Carter’s legacy in Miami was ultimately defined in Week 17 against the New England Patriots. The Dolphins were 9-6 and a game up on both the Patriots and Jets. The goal was simple: win to clinch the AFC East. Losing, however, meant missing the playoffs for the first time since 1996.
Carter ended up dropping a touchdown costing the Dolphins a big score. It proved costly as Miami lost 27-24, ending their season. Carter finished the year with a measly 8 receptions, 66 yards, and 1 touchdown. Following the devastating loss, Carter officially retired for good.
Brian Germinaro is a sportswriter for Belly Up Sports. Follow him on Twitter/X for more stories and Belly Up Sports for your go-to sports coverage. Feature image credit: Elsa
