EAGLE ALUMNI

Carson Palmer - Arizona Cardinals

Carson PalmerIn 2 years as the starting QB for Santa Margarita Carson lived a fairy tale life. He finished his High School career with 27 school records. He was All-Everything and finished by having his jersey retired after being named the Division V Co-Offensive MVP and 2 straight CIF championships.

In 2019 Carson was named to the Cal-Hi Sports All-Decade Football Team (1990s). In 2021 Carson was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. That year, Cal-Hi Sports also named him the 69th best athlete in State history.

PREP HONORS:

  • 1996: All-Seaview League First-Team selection
  • 1996: All-CIF Southern Section First-Team selection
  • 1996: All-Orange County First-Team selection
  • 1996: Cal-Hi Sports Junior All-State Second-Team Offense
  • 1996: Santa Margarita Catholic Team Offensive Most Valuable Player
  • 1997: No. 1-Ranked Quarterback at the Reebok Football Combine at UCLA in May
  • 1997: Preseason All American candidate
  • 1997: SuperPrep National 50 selection
  • 1997: The Sporting News Top 100 selection
  • 1997: SuperPrep All-American selection
  • 1997: PrepStar “Dream Team” selection
  • 1997: PrepStar All-American selection
  • 1997: USA Today All-USA Honorable Mention selection
  • 1997: SuperPrep All-Far-West selection
  • 1997: PrepStar All-Western Region Super 30 selection
  • 1997: Long Beach Press-Telegram “Best in the West” First-Team selection (Unanimous)
  • 1997: Cal-Hi Sports All-State First-Team Offense selection
  • 1997: All-CIF Southern Section First-Team Offense selection
  • 1997: All-CIF Division V Offensive Co-Most Valuable Player selection
  • 1997: Los Angeles Times All-Orange County First-Team Offense selection
  • 1997: Orange County Register All-Orange County First-Team Offense selection
  • 1997: All-Seaview League Offensive Most Valuable Player selection
  • 1997: Cal-Hi Sports Quarterback of the Year selection
  • 1998: Student Sports Grid-Hoops All-American Second-Team selection
  • 1998: Orange County Register “Athlete of the Year” nominee
  • 2016: All-Time CIF-Southern Section “100 Greatest Athletes”
  • 2017: Cal-Hi Sports All-State Grid-Hoop First-Team / First-Five for 1997-98
  • 2018: Cal-Hi Sports All-Time Greatest State Player Rankings: Quarterback: - No. 7
  • 2018: Cal-Hi Sports Top Brother Quarterback Combos in California History: Carson (USC) & Jordan (UTEP) Palmer - No. 6
  • 2019: Cal-Hi Sports All-Decade Football First-Team Offense - 1990s selection
  • 2020: Cal-Hi Sports Top-50 Football Players We’ve Seen - No. 2
  • 2020: Cal-Hi Sports Top-10 Grid-Hoop Quarterbacks in State History - No. 9
  • 2020: Cal-Hi Sports All-Time All-Southern Section / All-Orange County First-Team - Quarterback
  • 2021: Cal-Hi Sports State’s All-Time 100 Greatest Athletes (Men) - No. 69

After high school, it was off to the University of Southern California where he was a four-year starter (1998, 2000-02). While there, Palmer set or tied 33 Pac-10 and USC total offense and passing records. As a senior in 2002, after a 21-year drought, he became USC’s fifth Heisman Trophy winner (and the first from the West Coast since 1981), as well as Troy's first quarterback winner ever.
In 2002, he led the Trojans to a share of the Pac-10 title and its first eleven-win season since 1979. After leading USC to a regular season record of 10-2 and a ranking of 4th in the nation, Carson was named the CNNSI College Football Player of the year, CNNSI 1st Team All-American, Football Writers Association of America's 1st Team All-American, CBS Sportsline.com 1st Team All-American, ESPN.com 1st Team All-American, Pac-10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year, USC's Most Valuable Player, and also won the prestigious Unitas Golden Arm Award given to the top Sr. Quarterback in the nation.

Palmer was the first overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft, chosen by the Cincinnati Bengals, for whom he played eight seasons. During his tenure in Cincinnati, he helped lead the team to its first winning season and playoff appearance in 15 years and was named to two Pro Bowls. Amid declining success and conflicts with Bengals ownership, Palmer was traded to the Oakland Raiders, where he played two seasons before joining the Arizona Cardinals.

With the Cardinals, Palmer resumed the high level (albeit injury prone) play he had been accustomed to earlier in his career. He enjoyed his most successful year in 2015, aiding the Cardinals in reaching the NFC Championship Game and being named to his third Pro Bowl, in addition to being a Second-Team All-Pro. Palmer retired following the 2017 regular season after spending much of the year on injured reserve.

USC HONORS:

  • 1998: Only the second true freshman to ever start at quarterback for USC, at the time
  • 2000: USC Marv Goux Award (Varsity team member chosen by the team as having contributed the most during the USC-UCLA game of that season)
  • 2001: Davey O’Brien Award “Watch List”
  • 2002: USC Team Captain
  • 2002: Heisman Trophy winner
  • 2002: Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award (Nation’s top senior quarterback)
  • 2002: Glenn “Pop” Warner Award (Top senior player on the Pacific Coast)
  • 2002: National Quarterback Club National College Quarterback of the Year Award
  • 2002: The Sporting News National Player of the Year
  • 2002: CNNSI.com National Player of the Year
  • 2002: Associated Press, Football Writers, The Sporting News, ESPN.com, CBS.Sportsline.com, CNNSI.com and All-American Football Foundation - First-Team All-American
  • 2002: Pac-10 Co-Offensive Player of the Year and to the
  • 2002: All-Pac-10 First-Team Offense
  • 2002: The Sporting News’ Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year
  • 2002: The Sporting News’ All-Pac-10 First-Team Offense
  • 2002: Finalist for the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award (Best QB in NCAA) (1 of 3)
  • 2002: Finalist for the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award (College Player of the Year) (1 of 5)
  • 2002: Finalist for the Archie Griffin Trophy (National Most Valuable Player)
  • 2002: Finalist for the Sammy Baugh Award (Nation’s top collegiate passer)
  • 2002: USC Mike McKeever Memorial Award (Season Most Valuable Player)
  • 2002: USC Marv Goux Award (Varsity team member chosen by the team as having contributed the most during the USC-UCLA game of that season)
  • 2003: Senior Bowl selection (2002 season)
  • 2003: USC Athletic Hall of Fame selection
  • 2003: USC Football Uniform Number Retired: 3
  • 2003: USC Athletic Hall of Fame selection
  • 2021: College Football Hall of Fame selection

 

USC RECORD BOOK:

Single-Game

  • 425-yard passing yards versus Notre Dame in 2002 is the highest-number ever surrendered by the Irish pass defense in school history
  • Most Passing Yards Single-Game: 448 (6th) (October 26, 2002 @ Oregon)

Season - Includes bowl games

  • Team Passing and Total Offense Leader 1998
  • Team Passing and Total Offense Leader 2000
  • Team Passing and Total Offense Leader 2001
  • Team Passing and Total Offense Leader 2002
  • Single-Season Passing Completions: 309 (2nd) 2002
  • Single-Season Passing Completions: 228 (17th) 2000
  • Single-Season Passing Completions: 221 (19th) 2001
  • Most Single-Season Passes Attempted: 489 (1st) 2002
  • Most Single-Season Passes Intercepted: 18 (Tie-1st) 2000 (w/ Rob Hertel - 1977)
  • Most Single-Season Consecutive 300-Yard Passing Games: 3 (Tied-1st) 2002 (w/ Matt Leinart - 2005 & Kedon Slovis - 2019)
  • Single-Season Total Offense: 3,820 (3rd) 2002
  • Single-Season Total Offense: 2,919 (15th) 2000
  • Single-Season Total Offense: 2,751 (20th) 2001
  • NCAA Passer Rating Champion: 149.1 2002

Career - Includes bowl games

  • Most Career Passing Completions: 927 (2nd) (Based on Completions)
  • Most Career Passes Attempted: 1,569 (1st)
  • Most Career Passes Intercepted: 49 (1st)
  • Career Total Offense - Yards: 11,621 (2nd)
  • Most Career Rushing and Passing Plays: 1,824 (1st)
  • Most Career 200+ Yard Passing Games: 31 (3rd)

 

PAC-12 RECORD BOOK:

Single-Game

  • Longest Pass Play (Touchdown): (Tied-7th) (93 Yards to Kareem Kelly vs. Oregon) 2001

Season

  • Most Single-Season Total Offense - Yards: 3,820 (25th) 2002
  • Most Single-Season Passing Yards: 3,942 (16th) 2002
  • Most Single-Season Touchdown Passes: 33 (Tied-10th) 2002

Career

  • Most Career Total Offense - Yards: 11,621 (8th)
  • Most Career Passing Yards 11,818 (6th)
  • Most Career Touchdown Passes: 72 (22nd)

 

CINCINNATI BENGALS RECORD BOOK: (2003-10)

Single-Game

  • Highest Single-Game Pass Completion Percentage: 84.21 (4th) (November 25, 2007 vs. Tennessee)
  • Highest Single-Game Pass Completion Percentage: 83.33 (Tied-5th) (October 25, 2009 vs. Chicago)
  • Most Single-Game Touchdown Passes: 6 (1st) (September 16, 2007 vs. Cleveland)
  • Most Single-Game Touchdown Passes: 4 (1st) (November 28, 2004 vs. Cleveland)

Season

  • Highest Single-Season Average Pass Completions per Team Game (23.31) (2nd) 2007
  • Highest Single-Season Average Pass Completions per Team Game (22.36) (5th) 2010
  • Highest Single-Season Pass Completion Percentage: 67.78 (2nd) 2005
  • Highest Single-Season Pass Completion Percentage: 64.87 (5th) 2007
  • Highest Single-Season Average Passing Yards per Team Game: 258.19 (4th) 2007
  • Highest Single-Season Average Passing Yards per Team Game: 252.19 (5th) 2006
  • Most Single-Season Passing Completions: 373 (1st) 2007
  • Most Single-Season Passing Attempts: 586 2010 (1st) (tied with Andy Dalton)
  • First Bengals Quarterback to Pass for 4,000+ Yards (2x - 2006 & 2007)
  • Most Single-Season 300+ Yard Passing Games: 5 (Tied-1st) 2007 (tied with Boomer Esiason, 1987 & Andy Dalton, 2013)
  • Most Consecutive Games with Passer Rating 100+: 9 (1st)
  • Most Single-Season Game-Winning Drives: 5 (1st) (tied with Jeff Blake)
  • FedEx Air Player of the Year 2005
  • Pro Bowl selections: 2 (2005 & 2006)
  • AFC Player of the Year (2005)
  • Ed Block Courage Award (2006)
  • NFL Alumni Quarterback of the Year (2005)
  • Pro Bowl Most Valuable Player (2006)
  • AFC Pass Completions Leader: 345 (2005)
  • NFL Completion Percentage Leader: 67.5 (2005)
  • NFL Passing Touchdowns Leader: 32 (2005)

Career

  • Highest Career Pass Completion Percentage: 62.92 (1st)
  • Highest Career Average Gain: 7.05 (4th)
  • All-Time Passing Leader: 86.9 (2nd)
  • Pro Bowl selections: 2 (2005 & 2006)
  • Highest Postseason Career Pass Completion Percentage: 51.35 (6th)
  • Highest Postseason Career Average Gain: 5.73 (3rd)
  • Longest Postseason Pass Play: 66 Yards (1st) (to Chris Henry January 8, 2006 vs. Pittsburgh AFCWCP)Most Career 400+ Yard Passing Games: 3 (1st)

 

OAKLAND RAIDERS RECORD BOOK: (2011-12)

Single-Game

  • Most Passes Attempted - Single-Game: 61 (2nd) (November 4, 2012 vs. Tampa Bay)
  • Most Passes Completed - Single-Game: 39 (3rd) (November 4, 2012 vs. Tampa Bay)
  • Most Passing Yards - Single-Game: 417 (Tied-5th) (January 1, 2012 vs. San Diego)
  • Highest Average Gain - Single-Game: 14.95 (1st) (November 10, 2011 @ San Diego)

Season

  • Most Single-Season Passes Attempted: 565 (Tied-3rd) 2012
  • Most Single-Season Passing Yards: 4,018 (4th) 2012
  • Most Single-Season Games with 300+ Passing Yards: 6 (Tied-2nd) 2012
  • Most Single-Season Games with 300+ Passing Yards: 4 (Tied-4th) 2011
  • Most Single-Season Consecutive Games with 300+ Passing Yards: 3 (Tied-2nd) (November 4-18, 2012)
  • Highest Single-Season Average Gain: 8.39 (5th) 2011
  • Lowest Single-Season Percentage of Passes Intercepted: 3.36 (5th)
  • Team Passing Leader: 2011
  • Team Passing Leader: 2012

Career

  • Highest Career Passer Rating: 83.5 (3rd)
  • Highest Career Pass Completion Percentage: 60.9 (3rd)
  • Most Seasons 3,000+ Passing Yards: 1 (Tied-5th) 2012
  • Most Games with 300+ Passing Yards: 10 (Tied-4th)
  • Highest Career Average Gain: 7.58 (2nd)

 

ARIZONA CARDINALS RECORD BOOK: (2013-17)

Single-Game

  • Most Passing Yards - Single-Game: 421 (9th) (October 8, 2015 @ Pittsburgh)
  • Longest Pass Play: 80 Yards (Tied-12th) (to J.J. Nelson December 24, 2016 @ Seattle)
  • Most Single-Game Touchdown Passes: 4 (Tied-3rd) (November 22, 2015 vs. Cincinnati)
  • Highest Single-Game Completion Percentage: 84.4 (2nd) (December 8, 2013 vs., St. Louis)
  • Most Single-Game Pass Attempts: 41 (Tied-3rd) (January 16, 2016 vs. Green Bay)
  • Most Passes Intercepted: 4 (1st) (January 24, 2016 @ Carolina)

Season

  • Most Single-Season Passing Yards: 4,671 (1st) 2015
  • Most Single-Season Passing Yards: 4,274 (4th) 2013
  • Most Single-Season Passing Yards: 4,233 (5th) 2016
  • Most Single-Season Touchdown Passes: 35 2015
  • Most Single-Season Yards per Pass Attempt: 8.7 (1st) 2015
  • Most Single-Season Passing Yards per Game: 291.9 (1st) 2015
  • Most Single-Season 300+ Yard Passing Games: 10 (1st) 2015
  • Lowest Single-Season Percentage of Passes Intercepted: 1.3 (1st) 2014
  • Highest Single-Season Passer Rating: 104.6 (1st) 2015
  • Highest Single-Season Passer Rating: 95.6 (3rd) 2014
  • Team Passing Leader: 2013
  • Team Passing Leader: 2015
  • Team Passing Leader: 2016
  • Team Passing Leader: 2017
  • Single-Season Franchise Win Record for Quarterback Starts 13 (1st)
  • Pro Bowl selections: 1 (2015)
  • FedEx Air Player of the Year (2015)
  • All-Pro Second-Team selection (2015)
  • The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year (2015)
  • NFC Passing Touchdowns Co-Leader: 35 (2015)
  • NFL Total Quarterback Rating Leader: 104.6 (2015)

Career

  • Most Career Pass Attempts: 2,197 (4th)
  • Most Career Pass Completions: 1,373 (4th)
  • Most Career Yards per Pass Attempt: 7.67 (1st)
  • Most Career Passing Yards per Game: 279.3 (1st)
  • Most Consecutive Seasons with 4,000+ Passing Yards: 2 (1st) 2015 & 2016
  • Most Seasons with 4,000+ Passing Yards: 3 (1st)
  • Most Career 400+ Yard Passing Games: 3 (1st)
  • Most Career 300+ Yard Passing Games: 22 (1st)
  • Most Consecutive Games Throwing Touchdown Pass: 18 (3rd) (Games 4-16 in 2013 & Game 1, 5-8 in 2014)
  • Most Wins as Starting Quarterback: 38 (2nd)
  • Highest Winning-Percentage for Starting Quarterback: 64.2 (1st)
  • 2019: Cardinals “Ring of Honor” selection

 

NFL RECORD BOOK: Through 2020 season

Career

  • Most Career Passes Completed: 3,941 (12th)
  • Most Career Passing Yards: 46,247 (14th)
  • Most Career Touchdown Passes: 294 (13th)

National Football League Honors

  • Most Touchdown Passes - NFC: 35 (Tied-1st) (w/ Cam Newton & Eli Manning) 2015
  • Most Touchdown Passes - AFC: 32 (1st) 2005

National Football League Awards and Highlights

  • Most Consecutive Games with 100+ Passer Rating: 9
  • First quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000+ yards with three different franchises: Cincinnati, Oakland and Arizona

PHOENIX CARDINALS
- Photo Gallery
- Carson chooses Cardinals
- Wikipedia

OAKLAND RAIDERS
- Photo Gallery

CINCINNATI BENGALS
- Photo Gallery

NFL DRAFT
- Photo Gallery
- Carson Palmer Draft Profile

HEISMAN TROPHY
- Photo Gallery
- Palmer wins Heisman
- Palmer wins Heisman & Everything

USC
- Photo Gallery
- Dad sacrificed so Palmer could be #1
- Carson Palmer USC & PAC-10 Records
- A Thrower from the start
- Carson Palmer Growing up
- OC Coaches Jubilant
- Home Grown Talent
- Finally finding stardom
- The Star QBs are coming on
- Carson Palmer CNN (QuickTime 5.6MB)
- Palmer thinks new offense is a perfect fit
- USC QB
- 2000 USC Bio
- Trojans have found their man
- Battle of LA
- Q & A with Carson Palmer 1
- Q & A with Carson Palmer 2
- Q & A with Carson Palmer 3
- Q & A with Carson Palmer 4
- Carson's USC Stats as of 2001

SMCHS
- Carson Palmer's SoCal Legacy
- Carson's 1997 Bio page
- Carson's 1996 Photo page
- Cal-Hi Sports All-Decade Football Team