Care for one another…

If you’re like me, sometimes you live your life on a day-to-day basis wishing that you could do something to make a difference with various causes. I write this fully knowing that what I am about to say in this entry is not for everyone. I am not looking to play politics in any way, shape or form. The reason why I’m writing this is because I “CARE”.

As an athlete, to be successful especially in a team sport like football you must be able to put your feelings and differences aside to be the best you can be for your teammates. To be a leader or a “Captain” you must genuinely “CARE” about those you lead. One of the traits I have found to be key in being successful as a Captain of the Football Giants is being compassionate and caring about people. The one thing that every player I’ve played with in high school, college and the NFL know and understand is that being compassionate is embedded in my DNA. They know I “CARE” about them as well as those I come in contact with.

Earlier this year, with so many people around the country losing their jobs. I was looking at ways to make a personal statement that when some people don’t care about their fate, I “CARE” and I want to “Make a Difference” in the lives of people especially for the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.

Many of you know that I try to be generous in giving away my personal autograph free to anyone who wants it. All they have to do is send me their own football card or picture with a self-addressed stamped envelope. For those of you who are true New York Giants/Harry Carson fans you should also know by now that under no circumstances do I give away any inscriptions (Hall of Fame 2006, 9 x Pro Bowl, etc.). With that being said, I wanted to share with you that I currently have a collection of personal and favorite football shots that are not on the “memorabilia market”. If you are a fan, I would like to extend an offer to you to purchase a special photo from my personal collection along with an inscription.

Please join me by showing people who might need some assistance from charities this upcoming holiday season that you “CARE” as well with a donation of $25.00 or more by check to any of the following charities listed below. With your donation Harry Carson Inc. will absorb the cost of the postage sending the item back to you. Make sure you include your return mailing address. There will also be a personal “Thank You” note from me as well to express my gratitude. Also, keep in mind that with a donation made out directly to a charity you will be able to write off the donation as a tax deduction.

Thank you very much in advance.

Harry Carson

NY Giants 1976 – 1988
Giants Ring of Honor

HOF 2006 #231
Cancer Survivor

Harry Carson
Harry Carson Inc.
P. O. Box 882
Franklin Lakes, NJ. 07417

A Thank You

I would like to take this time and space to thank my family and friends for their support and well wishes during my recent stint with Prostate Cancer. 

I was diagnosed earlier this year that I had some cells in my prostate that were cancerous. There was no immediate timetable to decide a definitive course of action. There were a couple of (family oriented) things on my calendar that I wanted to complete before going through any form of treatment. My family and I were fortunate to be able to move at our own pace because the cancer was caught early.  There were several routes we could have taken but as a family we thought that undergoing Robotic Surgery was our best option. To remove the prostate and be done was that organ once and for all was our choice. It’s good to know that the threat of cancer in that area has been diminished significantly.

I’ve been a proud advocate for men’s health screenings for over 35 years. I’ve been “blowing the horn” to alert men (especially black men and men of color) to get checked for prostate cancer on a yearly basis. Unfortunately, too many men feel that getting checked is either beneath them or they’re afraid of what might be found.  What I just experienced to become “cancer free” is exactly why I’ve been doing my best to deliver the message. If detected early the cancer is very treatable. I also try to emphasize to men to please get checked if not for themselves, for the people who love them, their wife/significant others, their kids and family members. Take care of themselves to be around for others.

Through the experiences I went through as an athlete or just as an individual I always try my best to learn a lesson. What I learned from this cancer experience is this:

  • I played 21 years of football including high school, college and professionally.
  • As a pro football player with the New York Football Giants, I was a Captain 10 of my 13 seasons.
  • Of the more than 5000 players to ever play for the New York Football Giants, I have been considered the 7th greatest player to have played with that team.
  • Less than 1% of former professional football players are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Of the now 382 members of the Hall of Fame I am the 231st Former Player to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
  • My wife and I have worked closely with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund to raise funds to support families whose kids have battled cancer.

I say all of this to accentuate this point (and please excuse my language).

Cancer does not give Jack “Shit” 

who you are and what you’ve done!!!

Cancer does not care nor discriminate!

Making A Difference

For those who have supported “causes” to make a difference in the lives of others, this is for you…!

I recently visited the Community Foodbank of New Jersey to deliver a donation of over $1,000.00 to Elizabeth McCarty President & CEO of the Community Food Bank of New Jersey. The money was raised as a result of an autograph policy we have for those who request autographs. I have always tried to be “Fan Friendly” to those who are Giants/Harry Carson fans. My policy is, I am very open to signing a football card, photos and many other items. I am open to signing an autograph to anyone for free but I do not give away the Hall of Fame Inscription or any other inscription like 9 X Pro Bowl or any other inscription.

As a former New York Football Giant I have received so many generous requests from fans who have made donations. Those donations for the Hall of Fame Inscription will make a difference in the lives of some many others. Thank You…!

A very special feeling…

As many of you may have noticed, I “kinda” went underground during the 2024 New York Giants football season.

As many of you may have noticed, I “kinda” went underground during the 2024 New York Giants football season. I guess I subscribe to the adage that “if you don’t have anything good to say the best thing to say is nothing”. I got a sense during the first 10 minutes of the Giants opening game against the Vikings that it was going to be a long and tumultuous football season for the Giants organization especially because it was the 100th anniversary of the New York Football Giants. I chose to remain silent saying nothing until now.

On a personal bright note, I was honored to be named as one of the Top 10 Greatest Players to play for the New York Football Giants Organization. Out of the almost 5000 players to ever play for the Giants since 1925 I was ranked #7.

Recently, I hosted a reunion dinner at my home in South Carolina with the kids who lived in the Eastside of Florence, South Carolina. Some of those who attended went to kindergarten or Elementary School and High School with me. Some of the guys in the group are guys I played football with at lunchtime at Holmes Elementary School. We didn’t actually have a football to play with instead we had milk cartons with rocks in the cartons. Some of us went on to play organized football once we went on to high school. Some of the guys and I went on to participate in the Air Force ROTC program. Those who came and attended the reunion know me, they knew me before any fame I might’ve accumulated as a jock. They know me before I became #53 and being named the 7th greatest player to wear the New York Giants uniform. I am one of them!

Since my days as a professional athlete I have often wondered why of all the football players I have played with on every level, why me? I keep coming back to, it was God’s will. I spoke to those in attendance and thanked them for allowing me to be their “Representative”. I am very cognizant that in whatever I do I represent where I come from. The group and I reflected quite a bit on the elementary school teachers who cared for us as if we were their own children. Oftentimes a fan will ask for my autograph. When they see the item autographed, some will compliment me on my penmanship. I, in turn will say my penmanship is the legacy of my first-grade teacher Mrs. Washington. Which is true because, all of my classmates write similarly.

I don’t usually get excited by too many things but being able to reconnect with my classmates and friends from as many as 60 – 65 years ago has been a very special time for me. It has indeed been one of the highlights of my life…!

Top 10

It has been almost 36 years since I walked off the football field for the last time. I was very much content with the body of work I did as a football player for the New York Football Giants. I only had one goal as I started my football career in 1976 out of South Carolina State University. That goal was to be mentioned in the same breath as some of the names I became familiar with when I arrived in the Giants locker room. Huff, Modzelewski, Robustelli, Tittle and Gifford were names that were synonymous with New York Giants football.

It has been almost 36 years since I walked off the football field for the last time. I was very much content with the body of work I did as a football player for the New York Football Giants. I only had one goal as I started my football career in 1976 out of South Carolina State University. That goal was to be mentioned in the same breath as some of the names I became familiar with when I arrived in the Giants locker room. Huff, Modzelewski, Robustelli, Tittle and Gifford were names that were synonymous with New York Giants football.

I left the game when I was ready to move on with my life. I had the opportunity to go to several teams when I left the game but I turned down offer after offer. I was content to leave the game and solely be recognized as a New York Giant. In 2006 I was elected and inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. That in and off itself is a huge honor but here comes another honor that is huge.

This year is the New York Football Giants 100th Anniversary in the National Football League. The Giants commissioned individuals from the sport who knows the history of the organization and have a sense of players who played for the team. Their mission was to select the best 100 players to ever play for the Giants since 1925. Their mission was also to select the top 10 players to ever play for the organization. The results were recently released and announced. I am happy to announce that out of the more than 5000 players to wear the New York Giants uniform I was named as a member of the “Top 10” Players to ever play football for the Giants.

I am honored to be in the company of all New York Giants players whether they were in the “Top 10”, “Top 100” or the remaining “Top 4900”. To be recognized and honored for what I did more than three decades ago is mind blowing! I know better than anyone else that me being recognized as one of the greatest players was not a “solo act”. I am the by-product of players I played with in high school, college and professionally. I am eternally grateful to my coaches like Willie Jeffries at South Carolina State University, Giants Coaches Bill Parcells and Bill Belichick. I especially owe much of my Giants and NFL success to Marty Schottenheimer who was the Giants Defensive Coordinator and Linebacker Coach.

It was Marty who chose me out of any other player in the 1976 NFL Draft as the second pick in the 4th Round. It was his idea and he put his faith in this player from a small school in South Carolina. It was on Marty’s shoulders to teach me that young football player how to play a position he had never played before that was considered (at that time) “a thinking man’s position” and of being the “inside run defender” and a leader of the New York Giants defense the team needed.

With this recognition during the 100th Anniversary of the Football Giants, I am humbled that my name will forever be mentioned in the same breath as so many other New York Giants…!

Harry Carson