Smallthoughts: Old School Tuesday…Harold Carmichael

I can only imagine what his career totals would be if he played in today’s NFL with all the rules favoring the offense …with his height and his skills …the receiving records he would have set.

Early in his career, Carmichael showed his significant physical tools but struggled with injuries and being moved between the tight end and wide receiver positions before eventually finding his place as a wide receiver.

He was elected to four Pro Bowls in his NFL career, and led the league in receptions and receiving yards during the 1973 season. He finished third in receiving yards in 1978 with 1,072 and was second in receiving touchdowns in 1979 with 11.

In 1980, he set an NFL record at the time by catching passes in 127 consecutive NFL games. He was also the Eagles’ top receiver of Super Bowl XV, with six catches for 91 yards.

In 1984, he was cut by the Eagles and then by the New York Jets before signing with the Dallas Cowboys. He caught only one pass that season before being cut by the Cowboys and retiring.^[3]

He ended his career with 590 receptions for 8,985 yards with 79 career touchdown catches, along with 64 rushing yards on nine carries. He currently ranks 25th all-time in career touchdown receptions, but he was 7th all-time at the time of his retirement. At 6 foot 8 inches, he is believed to be the tallest wide receiver in the history of the NFL.

Carmichael was selected to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team by voters of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Smallthoughts: Old School Tuesday spotlights…Harold Carmichael.