Harry Carson’s 13-year stint with the New York Football Giants is one of the longest tenures in club history. The indestructible former linebacker served as Team Captain for 10 seasons, including the 1986 season, when the Giants defeated the Denver Broncos 39-20 in Super Bowl XXI. The number-1 rated inside linebacker in NFL history, according to Pro Football Weekly, Harry was named to the All-Rookie Team after his first NFL season. He subsequently was named to the All-NFL team seven times, the All-NFC Team eight times and NFC Linebacker of the Year twice. He also played in the NFC-AFC Pro Bowl nine times.
Harry Carson graduated from Holmes Elementary School (now Lester and McLaurin Elementary schools), Poynor Junior High School (now Moore and Williams Middle schools) and McCleneghan High School (now South Florence) before heading to South Carolina State. While earning his BS degree in education, the two-time captain never missed a game during his four seasons as defensive lineman. Among his many collegiate awards, Carson received honors for the Kodak All-American football team, and won awards for the highest academic average among black college All-Americans.
After retiring from professional football in 1988, Carson co-hosted CNN’s “NFL Preview” and was a special correspondent for playoff and Super Bowl on ABC-TV’s “Good Morning America.” He is a member of the New York Football Giants pre-season broadcasting team and a regular season analyst for Giants Game Plan.
Today, Carson is president and CEO of Harry Carson, Inc., a sports consulting and promotions company, and a partner in the New Jersey Red-Dogs arena football team and Carson-Wilson racing. He also serves as a consultant with MONY’s Sports Financial Services, helping other athletes achieve their objectives on and off the field.
He is affiliated with such organizations as The United Way, the Boys Club, the Young Father’s Program, the Literacy Council of New Jersey and the Tomorrow’s Children Fund. He is a member of the NCAA Honors Committee and serves on the board of directors of the New York State Special Olympics and The United Way of New York City.
Among his many honors, Carson has been inducted into the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame, the South Carolina State University Athletic Hall of Fame, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Hall of Fame and the Sports Hall of Fame of New Jersey. He has been recognized as the South Carolina College Athlete of the Millennium by The State newspaper and has been presented the Order of the Palmetto, the highest honor given to a native of South Carolina.
McGraw-Hill has published Carson’s autobiography “Point of Attack” and he has had acting roles on “The Guiding Light”, “One Life to Live” and “Loving.” In his spare time, Carson enjoys golf, bass fishing, auto racing and target shooting.
