Former All Pro Wide Receiver to Speak at 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl Mayor’s Luncheon

Mobile, Ala – One of the most prolific pass receivers in NFL history, Cris Carter played for the Philadelphia Eagles (1987-89), Minnesota Vikings (1990-2001) and Miami Dolphins (2002) during his 16 professional seasons. He finished his career as the NFL’s second all-time leading receiver with 1,101 receptions for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns, which ranked second-most in NFL history. A member of the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1990s, Carter led the NFL in receiving three times (1995, ’97 and ’99) and he led the league with 122 receptions in 1994. The eight-time Pro Bowl selection also recorded 42 100-yard receiving games during his career and had 10 or more touchdowns in a season six times. Carter has been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame three straight years (2008-10).

Carter entered the NFL as a fourth round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1987 supplemental draft. He signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 1990 and his career took off. Over the next 12 years, Carter led the Vikings in receptions 10 straight seasons (1991-2000) and recorded eight consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. His top year as a pro was 1995 when he finished with 122 catches, a career-high 1,371 yards and 17 touchdowns. When he retired in 2001, Carter held or shared 19 Vikings team records. The franchise later retired his No. 80. He was also named the Walter Payton Man of the Year in 1999 for his volunteer and charity work.

Carter was a first-team All-America (1986) and two-time All-Big Ten player at Ohio State University. He finished his collegiate career as the Buckeyes’ all-time leader in receptions (168) and touchdown catches (27). He also set single-season marks in 1986 for touchdown catches (11) and receiving yards (1,127), in addition to leading the Big Ten with 69 catches. He ranks second in OSU history with 2,725 yards receiving, and he set the Rose Bowl receiving record as a freshman with 172 yards. In 2000, Carter was named to the Ohio State Football All-Century Team and in 2003 he was inducted into the Ohio State Varsity O Hall of Fame.

Duron Carter, the 6-foot-4, 210-pound son of Cris Carter is a red-shirt junior for the University of Alabama. A junior college transfer and former Ohio State player, Duron Carter spent one season at Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and caught 44 passes for 690 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Cris Carter joined ESPN in April 2008 as an NFL studio analyst. He appears on Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Countdown, NFL Live, and SportsCenter. He also contributes to ESPN’s NFL Draft and Super Bowl coverage and makes regular appearances on ESPN Radio.

The GoDaddy.com Bowl Mayor’s Luncheon will be held on Friday, January 6th at 12:00 pm at the Mobile Convention Center. Tickets for this event are $30. Tables of ten are $300.

For tickets to this event or to learn more about the 2012 GoDaddy.com Bowl or other Bowl Week events, visit www.GoDaddybowl.com or call 251-635-0011.