Carson played his entire career with the Giants from 1976-88. An inside linebacker, he was selected to play in nine Pro Bowls, including seven in a row from 1982-88. Carson led the Giants in tackles six times, was a two-time All-NFL first team selection and was the sole captain of the 1986 Super Bowl champions. Carson joined the Giants as a fourth-round draft choice from South Carolina State, where he never missed a game in four seasons, was a two-year captain and a Little All-America selection by the Associated Press. A defensive end in college, Carson successfully moved to linebacker with the Giants so quickly and so successfully that he was voted to the NFL All-Rookie team. Carson played 173 games in a Giants uniform – tying him with Keith Hamilton for seventh all-time – and he was a punishing run defender who also intercepted 11 passes. Carson had 17 sacks, 14 fumble recoveries and seven forced fumbles. He had 25 tackles (20 solo) in a Monday night game against Green Bay in 1982 and seven tackles in the Giants' 39-20 victory over Denver in Super Bowl XXI. During his prime, Carson was the best run-stopping linebacker in the NFL. In the seven seasons from 1981 to 1987, Giants' opponents averaged only 3.59 yards per rushing attempt, a remarkable achievement for so long a period. During that period, Carson was credited with 856 tackles, including 627 unassisted tackles. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006.

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