Carson Palmer

Background

Carson Palmer was born in Fresno, California, on December 27, 1979. When Palmer was 12 years old, he was extremely strong for his age. So, his father enrolled Palmer in private classes taught by Bob Johnson, a quarterback coach. Palmer then studied at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, California, where he played on the high school football team. He was so good that the varsity team members would stop to watch him play. In his junior year, Palmer received offers from the University of South California (U.S.C.), the University of Miami, the University of Colorado Boulder, San Diego State University, the University of Notre Dame, and North Arizona University. In his senior year, he broke 27 school records and helped his team win two C.I.F. Championships.

Palmer decided on the University of Southern California and played for the U.S.C. Trojans. Even as a freshman quarterback, Palmer quickly established himself as a regular first-team player and later as one of the nation’s top college quarterbacks in his junior year. He was voted the winner of the Heisman Award in his final year. In 2003, Palmer was selected in the N.F.L. overall by the Cincinnati Bengals, with whom he signed a six-year contract worth $42.69 million. He played for the team for eight years, leading them to a winning season after 15 years of almost wins in 2005. A year later, Palmer suffered extensive damage to his anterior and medial collateral ligaments, leading to his getting reconstructive surgery. He bounced back in time for the 2006 preseason and passed the 4,000-yard mark for the first time in his career.

In 2011, after experiencing several hiccups in the Cincinnati Bengals, Palmer was traded to the Oakland Raiders for a four-year contract worth $43 million. Two years later, he was traded to the Arizona Cardinals, with whom he signed a two-year contract worth $16 million and a $24.35 million contract extension in 2016. By the time 2017 rolled around, Palmer had been diagnosed with a broken arm and was told to wait out for eight weeks on October 26, 2017. A month later, the Cardinals made the announcement that Palmer wouldn’t be returning for the season, followed by Palmer’s announcement about retiring from the N.F.L. Palmer is married to Shaelyn, a former U.S.C. player. He has four children with her.