For decades, college football Saturdays meant one thing to me: very little. I was always an
NFL guy—locked into draft boards, Sunday finishes, and professional storylines. But that
changed when my two nephews, C.J. Carr and Tommy Carr, stepped onto the collegiate
stage. Now, every weekend is personal. Every snap carries weight. And every cheer comes from a proud uncle whose Saturdays have been completely transformed.
FROM SALINE TO THE SPOTLIGHT — CJ CARR’S RISE AT NOTRE DAME
C.J. Carr, the redshirt freshman quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, has quickly
established himself as one of college football’s most compelling young talents. At 6-foot-3
and 210 pounds, Carr has already completed 195 of 293 passes for 2,741 yards and 24
touchdowns, posting a 66.6% completion rate with just six interceptions—remarkable
production for a redshirt freshman guiding an elite program.
Nearly every Saturday, Carr has delivered moments that captivate Irish fans. With multiple
300-yard performances, he’s become a steady and trusted leader of the offense. Analysts
have taken notice, with several ranking him among the nation’s top quarterbacks based on
efficiency and performance against Power Five competition.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman has repeatedly praised Carr’s poise, decision-
making, and command of the huddle—qualities echoed by national media throughout the
season.
TOMMY CARR: THE NEXT CHAPTER AT MICHIGAN
While C.J. is carving out his legacy in South Bend, his younger brother Tommy Carr is
preparing to continue the family tradition at the University of Michigan.
In his senior season at Saline High School, Tommy completed 176 of 254 passes for 2,797
yards and 37 touchdowns, with just five interceptions, while also adding 300 rushing yards
and eight scores on the ground. Recruiting analysts consistently point to Tommy’s arm strength, timing, football IQ, andleadership—traits that project him as a future Power Five starter with legitimate NFL upside.
“I’ve been a Michigan fan all my life. This is the dream scenario,” Tommy said when
announcing his decision to flip his commitment from Miami (OH) to the Wolverines,
emphasizing how meaningful it was to join the hometown program he grew up supporting.
A FAMILY ROOTED IN MICHIGAN FOOTBALL
The Carr name is synonymous with college football tradition. Their father, Jason Carr, was a
quarterback at Michigan in the early 1990s. Their grandfather, Lloyd Carr, led the
Wolverines to a national championship in 1997 and multiple Big Ten titles.
Their maternal grandfather, Tom Curtis, was an All-American safety at Michigan and still
holds interception records.
STRENGTH BEYOND THE FIELD — LOSS, LOVE, AND PURPOSE
Football is only part of the Carr family story.
C.J. and Tommy endured unimaginable heartbreak at a young age when their younger
brother Chad passed away at just five years old after a battle with DIPG.
Their mother, Tammi Carr, transformed grief into action by founding the ChadTough
Foundation, dedicated to funding pediatric brain cancer research and supporting families
facing similar battles. That loss reshaped C.J.’s perspective far beyond football. In a personal essay for The Players’ Tribune, he reflected on the impact of watching his younger brother fight with remarkable courage. “After watching him be so tough, my context of what is truly hard is very different,” C.J. wrote, describing how Chad’s strength continues to shape how he approaches both life and the game.
NIL, DRAFT BUZZ, AND NATIONAL RESPECT
NFL scouts already view C.J. Carr as a future first-round quarterback prospect when his
time comes, citing arm talent, composure, and football intelligence.
Off the field, his NIL work has become a blueprint for purpose-driven branding—proof that
impact matters as much as performance.
WHAT IT MEANS TO US
As an uncle, watching C.J. and soon Tommy compete has transformed every Saturday into
something deeply emotional. They’ve made college football personal for our family in a way I never expected.
Go Irish. Go Blue. And go Carrs.
