Michael Carter

PRO: The Titans signed Michael Carter during the 2026 offseason to add depth to the team's running back corps. The 5-foot-8-inch, 201-pounder comes to Tennessee with 61 games of NFL playing experience during five NFL seasons. Since being a fourth-round pick of the New York Jets in 2021, Carter has started 27 games and logged 1,692 rushing yards with nine rushing scores on 418 attempts. After spending the first three campaigns of his career with the Jets, Carter joined the Arizona Cardinals after being claimed off waivers by the team during the 2023 season.

TITANS TIDBITS:
• Carter was born in Japan, where his father, Tony, played in the X-League. He moved to Navarre, Fla., soon after where he would attened Navarre High School.
• During his time in New York, Carter presented a Brooklyn high school with a donation of $100,000 for new uniforms and equipment. Carter also participated in the Play 60 Flag Football Program, joining Jets teammates in helping run the football camp involving several New York-area middle schools.
• As a senior captain at North Carolina in 2020, head coach Mack Brown said Carter was the first player he called to help lead the team in the wake of George Floyd's killing and social unrest in the nation. The conversations Carter helped lay the foundation for how the team communicated on social injustice during that time. "To be a person that people can come to or that has the ability to influence positively is a big deal to me because it means my peers respect me," Carter told Tarheel Illustrated in 2020.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Navarre, Fla., native was selected by the N.Y. Jets in the fourth round (107th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.
• Waived by the Jets on Nov. 14, 2023.
• Claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 15, 2023.
• Released by the Cardinals on Aug. 27, 2024 and signed to the team's practice squad the next day.
• Activated from the practice squad to the Cardinals' active roster via standard elevation on Dec. 21, 2024.
• Activated from the practice squad to the Cardinals' active roster via standard elevation on Dec. 28, 2024.
• Signed to the Cardinals' active roster from the team's practice squad on Jan. 1, 2025.
• Released by the Cardinals on Aug. 26, 2025 and signed to the team's practice squad the next day.
• Activated from the practice squad to the Cardinals' active roster via standard elevation on Sept. 25, 2025.
• Signed to the Cardinals' active roster from the team's practice squad on Sept. 29, 2025.
• Released by the Cardinals on Oct. 27, 2025 signed to the team's practice squad the next day.
• Activated from the practice squad to the Cardinals' active roster via standard elevation on Nov. 3, 2025.
• Signed to the Cardinals' active roster from the team's practice squad on Nov. 8, 2025.
• Signed by the Titans as an unrestricted free agent on April 1, 2026.

COLLEGE:
• In four seasons at North Carolina (2017-20), rushed 514 times for 3,404 yards, the fourth-highest career total in school history at the time of his departure. Added 656 receiving yards on 82 receptions with 28 total touchdowns (22 rushing, six receiving). His 6.6-rushing yard average was the highest in school history (minimum 50 carries).
• As a senior (2020), started all 11 games at running back and was voted team captain. Was a Paul Hornung Award Finalist, Pro Football Focus All-America first team selection, Associated Press All-America third team selection, All-ACC first team selection and All-ACC All-Purpose third team selection. Carried 156 times for 1,245 rushing yards with nine touchdowns. Notched 25 receptions for 267 receiving yards and two scores through the air. Led the conference with 113.2 rushing yards per game and 8.0 yards per game (UNC program record). His 151.6 all-purpose yard-per-game average was second in the conference. Led the nation with 18 rushes of 20-plus yards. Rushed for a career-high 308 yards on 24 carries at Miami (Fla.), the second-highest game total in school history and the fourth-most of any ACC player in a game.
• As a junior (2019), appeared in 13 games with 12 starts. Recorded a career-high 177 rushing attempts for a team-leading 1,003 yards with three touchdowns. Added 25 receptions for 267 yards with two receiving touchdowns. Contributed on special teams returning 19 kicks for 466 yards. Named All-ACC third team at running back and All-ACC honorable mention at all-purpose. His 1,623 all-purpose yards ranked fourth in the conference.
• As a sophomore (2018), appeared in nine games with three starts at running back. Logged 84 rushes for 597 yards with two rushing touchdowns. Added 25 receptions for 135 yards with a touchdown. Notched two 100-yard rushing performances against Virginia Tech (165 yards) and at Duke (148 yards).
• As a true freshman (2015), appeared in 11 games with two starts at running back. Carried the ball 97 times for 559 rushing yards with a team-leading eight touchdowns on the ground. Added 100 receiving yards and a touchdown on 11 receptions. Made his first career start and finished with 157 rushing yards on 13 carries against Virginia.
• Graduated with a degree in exercise science from North Carolina.

PERSONAL:
• Attended Navarre (Fla.) High School, where he played running back and was named USA Today Florida Offensive Player of the Year and 6A Mr. Football by the Florida Dairy Farmers Association.
• As a senior (2014), totaled 3,345 all-purpose yards, including 2,536 rushing yards with 45 touchdowns. Against rival American Heritage, rushed for 331 yards, recorded 179 return yards with seven total touchdowns. That season, helped Navarre to a 12-2 record and a berth in the state semifinals.
• As a junior (2013), rushed for 526 rushing yards and nine touchdowns before suffering a season-ending injury.
• Son of Suzette Ellington and Tony Carter.
• Follow Carter on Instagram at @mikecarter.
• Born Michael Carter on May 7, 1999 in Okinawa, Japan.