1976 Profile: Carl Garrett

Running Back
No. 26
New Mexico Highlands
"Garrett was acquired from Chicago on September 9 [of 1975] in exchange for a fourth draft choice, Mike Adamle and the rights to Ron Rydalch. He finished second in [Jets] rushing behind John Riggins with 566 yards on 122 carries, a 4.6 average and five touchdowns. Carl caught 19 passes for 180 yards and a touchdown. He missed one regular season game with a hip injury.
He ran back kickoffs (3 for 77 yards) and played halfback in his first appearance against Buffalo. In his second appearance as a Jet, Carl had the best day of his career, rushing for 135 yards against the Chiefs and scoring a touchdown. He suffered a jaw injury in the third game, yet still gained 27 yards on 13 carries and a touchdown. Carl put together back-to-back versatile days at Minnesota and against Miami, rushing for 65 and 63 yards while catching two passes in each game for 12 and 26 yards respectively.
Carl broke into the AFL in 1969 as Rookie of the Year for Boston over fellow rookie O.J. Simpson. He spent four seasons in Boston (New England) before being traded to Chicago in exchange for a No. 1 pick in 1973. Before leaving the Patriots, he led the club in rushing in 1971, punt returns from 1969-72, kickoff returns in 1969, '71 and '72, and scoring in 1972. Carl was the key man in the negated trade with Dallas for Duane Thomas.
He has always played well against the Jets: in eight games, he's gained 311 yards on 70 carries and two touchdowns while catching 21 passes for 252 yards and a touchdown. Garrett has gained 3,802 career yards and scored 26 touchdowns, and has averaged 11.3 in career punt returns and 25.7 in kickoff returns. He led the NFC in kickoff returns in 1973 with 16 for a 30.4 average.
A three-time All-America pick, Garrett averaged 8.3 yards as a senior and led the nation in scoring as a sophomore with 26 touchdowns. He scored 418 points and rushed for 3,862 in his college career. Carl played in the 1969 College All-Star Game against the Jets.
Carl majored in history and his hobbies are tennis and horseback riding. He's a Cadillac salesman during the off-season. He resides in Chicago and his hometown is Denton, Texas."

-1976 New York Jets Media Guide