Harold Carmichael Philadelphia Eagles & Dallas Cowboys

“I love to catch the ball too much to fall back. For me, there's nothing as great as catching the football. I feel like every time the ball is thrown my way, I’ll do whatever it takes to catch it, even if I have to tear it right out of a defensive back's hands."

Harold Carmichael played 14 seasons in the National Football League. He was a seventh-round pick out of Southern University in the 1971 NFL Draft by the Philadelphia Eagles where he spent 13 seasons. His final season in the NFL was spent with the Dallas Cowboys.

During just his third season, Carmichael recorded a career-high and team record at time with 67 catches for 1,116 yards to lead NFL in receptions and receiving yardage in 1973. This included a personal best 12 catches for 187 yards against the St. Louis Cardinals on Oct. 14, 1973.

Carmichael was a key member of Eagles teams that earned four straight playoff appearances from 1978-1981. He scored a career-best 11 touchdown receptions during the 1979 season. Carmichael registered 40 or more catches in nine straight seasons, eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark three times and had 20 games with 100 or more receiving yards during his career. Carmichael led the Eagles in receptions and receiving yardage seven times and established a then-NFL record of 127 straight games with a reception from 1972-1980.

A true leader, Carmichael helped Philadelphia to a division title and the franchise’s first Super Bowl appearance in 1980. At the time of his retirement, Carmichael was the Eagles’ all-time leader in games played, consecutive games played, touchdowns, receptions, receiving yards and touchdown receptions.

Carmichael’s career stats include 590 receptions for 8,985 yards and 79 TDs. He was named First-Team All-Pro in 1973, Second-Team All-Pro three times, received First-Team All-NFC three times and Second-Team All-NFC four times. Named to NFL’s All-Decade Team of 1970s, Carmichael was showed as the NFL Man of the Year in 1980 and selected to four Pro Bowls.

Harold Carmichael's Stats

Additional Career Statistics:  Passing: 4-1-45, 1 TD; Rushing: 9-64

Harold Carmichael's Championship Games

1980 NFC – Philadelphia Eagles 20, Dallas Cowboys 7

Carmichael started the game at wide receiver. He had one reception for seven yards.

Super Bowl XV – Oakland Raiders 27, Philadelphia Eagles 10

Carmichael started at wide receiver. He had five receptions for 83 yards.

Harold Carmichael's Career Highlights

* NFC regular season finish in strike-shortened season.

 (Division Finish in Parentheses)

Qualified for Postseason in Bold

Harold Carmichael's Career Capsule

Full Name: Lee Harold Carmichael

Birthdate: September 22, 1949

Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida

High School: William M. Raines (Jacksonville, FL)

Pro Career: 14 seasons, 182 games

Drafted: 7th round (161st player overall) in 1971 by Philadelphia

Harold Carmichael Enshrinement Speech

HAROLD CARMICHAEL:  Woo, baby.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Thanks, Jimbo.  Jim and I have been working together for over 50 years now, and I am so honored that he's my presenter today.  Even with his sister, Marie Solano Mascia she's a big supporter of my family for over 25 years.  Marie, you've been a blessing to my family, and thank you very much.  God bless you. 

I'd like to say congratulations to the class, my class, my Centennial Class of 2020. 

(Cheers and applause.)

And it's great to be inducted with the ‑‑ well, they'll be here tomorrow inducted to the Class of 2021. 

I am so, so happy to be here.  I was with the older guys, the older heads yesterday, you guys really ‑‑ I mean, what you said yesterday was awesome.  I am so honored, so honored to be a part of this brotherhood, this fraternity with love.  Thank you very much.  Oh God, thank you. 

(Applause.)

What a journey.  I wasn't on this journey by myself.  God put a lot of people on that highway with me.  Some of the people that's on that journey with me, some of the guys that I grew up with, the Baby Robins softball team.  This is where my competitive drive started. 

Guys like Ant, Drunk, Little Wint, Bubba, Scott, Dave and Kenny, these guys would really push me every day in the neighborhood.  And a few of those guys are right here with me today.  And, hey, thank you very much, guys, for being here.  I've been knowing these guys for over 65 years.  65 years.  And I tell you what, it's been a blessing. 

(Applause.)

There was a time when I couldn't be in Jacksonville, Florida, around my mom and sister.  There were folks that really helped them out.  Arthur, Earnest, my cousin Francine, Shontres, Joanne and Justine, thank you very much. The Magnolia Garden family, thank you very much for being here. 

My William M. Raines coaches, they're the ones that pushed me.  Coach Earl Kitchens.  He always would say "Never say die" and Ichi ban means number one.  And that's what we tried to be.  My coach, Buster Hair, he pushed me every day to be the best football, basketball and baseball player that I could be. 

Thanks Coach Bob Smith and Al Tabor at Southern University for giving me the opportunity to show my skill.  I was a walk‑on at Southern University.  The only person that knew me on that campus at that time was the head coach.  And at the end of my freshman year, I was voted Freshman of the Year.  I was very, very blessed. 

Now, one of the guys that really got me ready for the NFL is Mel Blount.  He's around here somewhere.  There he is, right there.

(Cheers.)

He pushed me every day in practice.  Another person, somebody that's very dear to me, is Coach Dick Vermeil.  Coach, I hope you're in that next class of inductees, the next class that's going to come in.  Thank you, Coach.  You've been awesome. 

(Cheers and applause.)

You deserve it.  And you got a lot of guys here that you coached – that we're all pulling for you right now.  I remember Coach Vermeil saying, "Do your job better than anybody else.  Surround yourself with good people."  And I think I've done that all through my career in the National Football League. 

Thank you for my guys that I played with for 14 years in the NFL.  They helped me not only on the football field, but also in the community.  People like Harold Jackson, Ron Jaworski and Mike Quick. 

A special thanks to Jeffrey Lurie and the Philadelphia Eagles organization for all your support.  After playing there for 13 years, leaving about 12 years, and you gave me an opportunity to come back for 17 more years to be around the Philadelphia Eagles football team. 

To my beautiful wife, Bea. 

(Cheers and applause.)

For over 42 years we've been together.  She loves her family.  She's given me all the support over the years.  One of the things she done every time we come back from a game, she would critique my play:  "You did this, you did that."  I go, "Okay, I'm going to hear that enough from Coach Vermeil tomorrow." 

And my granddaughters, Isabella and Zoey, love you.  Love you girls.  And to Joe and John Selvaggio and all the Kenny family, my son, Lee, his beautiful wife, Jennifer, thank you very much.  You don't know how much this means to me today. 

Thanks to Hall of Fame committee for selecting me.  I'd also like thank Sal Paolantonio for beating the drum for me, for me to be here today.  Thank you, Sal. 

And last but not least, the Eagles Nation.  Thank you. 

(Cheers.)

Thank you for welcoming a 22‑year‑old kid from Jacksonville, Florida, and really accepting me as being one of your own.  Thank you for the support, thank you for your relentless passion, your energy, your pride.  To me, you're the best fans in the world. 

To the ones that are here in Canton, the ones back in Philadelphia, and the ones around the world, thank you for sharing this moment with me.  We all share this together.  Go Birds, go Hamilton Elite Soccer Team, I love you.  Stay safe.  God bless you.  Thank you.

(Cheers and applause.)