The Tallest Wide Receiver In NFL History
The tallest wide receiver in NFL history, Harold Carmichael, played wide receiver at Southern University.
He walked-on at Southern University and became a tri-sport athlete. He used his 6'8" height to play on the basketball team as a center, and threw the javelin and discus for the track and field team. In football, he shifted to playing wide receiver, where he was a four year starter, although he never led the team in receptions. He received All-conference honors as a senior. He was a teammate of Mel Blount.
In 1989, he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. In 2004, he was inducted into the Florida Sports Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was inducted into the Southwest Athletic Conference Hall of Fame. In 2018, he was inducted into the Black College Football Hall of Fame.
Carmichael was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round (161st overall) of the 1971 NFL Draft. As a rookie, he was converted into a tight end, starting in 6 out of the 9 games and leading the team's tight ends with 20 receptions .
The next year he was moved to wide receiver. In 1973, he led the league with 67 receptions for 1,116 yards and was tied for fourth with 9 receiving TDs.
In 1977, Carmichael led the team with 46 receptions for 665 yards and 7 touchdowns.
He was elected to four Pro Bowls in his NFL career. He finished third in receiving yards in 1978 with 1,072 and was second in receiving touchdowns in 1979 with 11.
In 1980, he set an NFL record at the time by catching passes in 127 consecutive NFL games.
He currently ranks 25th all time in TD receptions.
He retired as the Eagles' all-time leader in pass receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and total touchdowns (79). He also holds Eagles post-season records for receiving yards (465), touchdowns (6), yards per reception (16.0), and yards per game (66.4).