John Carlson (football)
Encyclopedia
John David "Catch" Carlson, Jr. (born May 12, 1984, in St. Cloud, Minnesota
, U.S.) is an American football
tight end
for the Seattle Seahawks
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Notre Dame
.
player, he was all-state Minnesota in his Senior year. He played in the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
alongside fellow Notre Dame Fighting Irish players Brady Quinn
, Ryan Harris
, and Tom Zbikowski
. As a basketball
player, Carlson was voted to the preseason McDonald's All-American list. During his senior year, John Carlson managed to shatter three backboards
. Carlson was also an all-state tennis
player. His dad is also the basketball and tennis coach for the Litchfield Dragons.
at Notre Dame, where he was a two-year starter at tight end. He was named captain in his junior and senior seasons. He recorded 100 receptions, 1,093 receiving yards and 8 total touchdowns in his career. He also lived in St. Edward's Hall
, the second-oldest residence hall on campus.
. On July 26, he signed a $4.52 million contract including $2.5 million guaranteed.
He scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Charlie Frye
in week 6 of the 2008 NFL season in a 17-27 loss to Green Bay
.
In a season marred by injuries for the Seahawks, particularly at wide receiver
, Carlson proved to be a reliable target throughout the season, and led the team in receptions (55) and receiving yards (627) for the 2008 season, a feat not accomplished in franchise history by a rookie since Hall of Fame WR Steve Largent
.
Carlson had a notable performance in the Seahawks' 2010 playoffs: in a matchup against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints he had two touchdown catches. In the following divisional matchup against the Chicago Bears he received a concussion after jumping and being hit in the air and landing on his helmet after receiving a pass near the sideline in snowy Soldier Field
.
St. Cloud, Minnesota
St. Cloud is a city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region. The population was 65,842 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Stearns County...
, U.S.) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
for the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round of the 2008 NFL Draft
2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Notre Dame
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football
Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team is the football team of the University of Notre Dame. The team is currently coached by Brian Kelly.Notre Dame competes as an Independent at the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision level, and is a founding member of the Bowl Championship Series coalition. It is an...
.
Early years
He was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, however his family moved to Litchfield right after his birth. Carlson graduated from Litchfield High School which competes in the Wright County Conference. As a footballHigh school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
player, he was all-state Minnesota in his Senior year. He played in the 2003 U.S. Army All-American Bowl
U.S. Army All-American Bowl
The U.S. Army All-American Bowl is a high school football all-star game held in early January in San Antonio, Texas. Currently played in the Alamodome, the game brings 90 of the nation's top high school football players in an East versus West matchup. In addition to the Bowl game, there is the U.S...
alongside fellow Notre Dame Fighting Irish players Brady Quinn
Brady Quinn
Brayden Tyler "Brady" Quinn is an American football quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League. Quinn was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame.-Early Years:Brayden Tyler "Brady" Quinn was born on...
, Ryan Harris
Ryan Harris (American football)
Ryan Emerson Wilcox Harris is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame....
, and Tom Zbikowski
Tom Zbikowski
Thomas Michael Zbikowski is an American football safety for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League, and an occasional professional boxer. He was drafted by the Ravens in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft...
. As a basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
player, Carlson was voted to the preseason McDonald's All-American list. During his senior year, John Carlson managed to shatter three backboards
Backboard shattering
A backboard shattering is an accident or stunt in basketball. It occurs when a player slam dunks the ball hard enough to break the fiberglass of the backboard. The stunt has caused games to be canceled or delayed, serious injuries to occur and expensive costs of clean up and replacement...
. Carlson was also an all-state tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player. His dad is also the basketball and tennis coach for the Litchfield Dragons.
College career
Carlson played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Notre Dame, where he was a two-year starter at tight end. He was named captain in his junior and senior seasons. He recorded 100 receptions, 1,093 receiving yards and 8 total touchdowns in his career. He also lived in St. Edward's Hall
St. Edward's Hall (University of Notre Dame)
St. Edward's Hall is one of the thirty undergraduate residence halls on the campus of the University of Notre Dame and one of fifteen male dormitories. Saint Edward's Hall is located directly east of Main Building and is directly west of Zahm Hall. Saint Edward's Hall houses 162 undergraduate...
, the second-oldest residence hall on campus.
Professional career
Carlson was drafted by the Seahawks in the second round (38th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft2008 NFL Draft
The 2008 NFL Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 26 and April 27, 2008. For the 29th consecutive year, ESPN televised the draft; the NFL Network also broadcast the event, its third year doing so...
. On July 26, he signed a $4.52 million contract including $2.5 million guaranteed.
He scored his first NFL touchdown on a pass from Charlie Frye
Charlie Frye
Charles Frye, , is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Akron.-Early years:...
in week 6 of the 2008 NFL season in a 17-27 loss to Green Bay
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.
In a season marred by injuries for the Seahawks, particularly at wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
, Carlson proved to be a reliable target throughout the season, and led the team in receptions (55) and receiving yards (627) for the 2008 season, a feat not accomplished in franchise history by a rookie since Hall of Fame WR Steve Largent
Steve Largent
Steven Michael "Steve" Largent is a retired American football player, enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and a former U.S. Congressman, having served in the U.S. House of Representatives for Oklahoma from 1994 until 2002...
.
Carlson had a notable performance in the Seahawks' 2010 playoffs: in a matchup against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints he had two touchdown catches. In the following divisional matchup against the Chicago Bears he received a concussion after jumping and being hit in the air and landing on his helmet after receiving a pass near the sideline in snowy Soldier Field
Soldier Field
Soldier Field is located on Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, Illinois, United States, in the Near South Side. It is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears...
.
Receiving statistics
| Year | Team | G | GS | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 9 | 55 | 627 | 11.4 | 33 | 5 |
| 2009 | Seattle Seahawks | 16 | 16 | 51 | 574 | 11.3 | 42 | 7 |
| 2010 | Seattle Seahawks | 11 | 11 | 26 | 257 | 9.9 | 3 | |
| Career totals | Combined totals | 33 | 28 | 109 | 1,237 | 11.3 | 42 | 15 |