In 2017, as the seventh round was winding down, Carroll wasn’t sure if Carson would end up in Seattle, but he was thrilled when it did.
“I was holding on to Chris Carson,” Carroll said after that draft. “… I really love this guy because he’s so physical and strong the way he ran. You haven’t heard much about him, he hasn’t run the ball much, but when he does, he makes a great statement of his style and style that we really want. I fell in love with how tough it is and how aggressive it is.”
That toughness and aggressiveness carried over to the NFL level, leading to Carson winning the starting job as a rookie, only to suffer a season-ending leg injury four games into the postseason.
Carson bounced back from that injury in a big way in 2018, rushing for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns, making him Seattle’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Marshawn Lynch four years earlier. In 2019, Carson became the sixth player in team history to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons when he ran for 1,230 yards and seven touchdowns. A more successful offense in 2020 limited Carson to 681 yards, but he averaged a career-best 4.8 yards per carry and scored nine total touchdowns, matching his career high.
Former Seahawks linebacker CJ Wright described Carson as “a guy who really sets the tone for this team. Since Marshawn left, it feels good to have someone with that style who can run between the tackles, catch the ball out of the backfield, get those short third-and-1s, keep those drives moving. He’s a great football player… When the guy runs over the DB, it definitely gets you excited. I love playing with him, he’s a great teammate, just comes to work, puts his head down and just gets 1,000 yards.”
Last month, Carroll said, “He was one of my favorite Seahawks. I liked what he defended and what he brought… He’s a very special player and a very special competitor and person.”
Add Comment