It took him six years, but former Ohio State wide receiver Cris Carter has finally been elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of the 2013 class.
Carter, who played for OSU from 1984-1986, will be the 10th Buckeye to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, behind Dick LeBeau (2010), Paul Warfield (1993), Bill Willis (1977), Dante Lavelli (1975), Lou Groza (1974) and Jim Parker (1973), coaches Sid Gillman (1983) and Paul Brown (1967) and contributor Ed Sabol (2011) for his work with NFL Films.
The standout wide receiver ranks second in OSU history for career receptions (168) and touchdowns (27) and fourth in receiving yards (2,725). Carter’s record five consecutive 100-plus yard games still stands today.
In his 16-year NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins, Carter amassed 1,101 receptions for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns, which rank fourth, ninth and fourth, respectively, in NFL history.
Carter is part of the NFL’s All-Decade team of the 1990s, being selected to eight consecutive Pro Bowls from 1994-2001, as well as being named an all-pro in 1994 and 1999.
Upon hearing the news, Carter broke down in tears of joy during an interview with ESPN.
“This is the happiest day of my life,” he said. “When people said, ‘Aw, you know, it really doesn’t matter, you’re a Hall of Famer in my eyes,’ I said, ‘It’s more important that I’m a Hall of Famer in the Hall’s eyes.’ And I really, really wanted this.”
Carter’s son, Duron Carter, played for OSU during the 2009-10 season, but he was ruled academically ineligible at the end of the season. He sat out the 2010 Rose Bowl and all of the spring practices before withdrawaling from OSU in June 2010 to attend community college in Kansas. He never returned to OSU.
Rounding out the rest of the 2013 class will be guard/tackle Larry Allen, defensive tackle Curley Culp, tackle Jonathan Ogden, coach Bill Parcells, linebacker Dave Robinson and defensive tackle Warren Sapp.
Carter will be formally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 3 at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio.