CJ Carr, a second‑year quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, is projected to be one of the most prominent performers in college football during the 2026 season, building on a 2025 campaign that delivered a strong passing attack and a reliable rushing threat.
A Family Legacy Meets New Horizons
His pedigree runs deep; he is the grandson of Lloyd Carr, who guided the Michigan Wolverines to a 1997 national championship and amassed five Big Ten titles, the son of Jason Carr, a former Michigan quarterback, and the great‑grandson of Tom Curtis, a Super Bowl‑winning safety, giving him a lineage that stretches across multiple eras of the sport.
Choosing Notre Dame over his hometown Michigan Wolverines, Carr explained that he wanted to branch out and forge his own identity, a decision that aligns with his 2024 recruitment ranking of No. 68 overall and No. 6 among quarterbacks, and his strong 2024 performance that included 2,741 yards through the air and three rushing touchdowns.
The 2026 season will test his leadership, as key offensive contributors Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price move on, leaving Carr to shoulder the responsibility of guiding a revamped unit; his first test arrives on September 6 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he will face the Wisconsin Badgers.
With the program’s future prospects hinging on his ability to blend the experience of his family’s football background with fresh strategies, Carr’s journey embodies both the continuity of a storied lineage and the promise of a new era for Notre Dame.