CJ Carr: Forging His Own Legacy at Notre Dame
Curtis Jason “CJ” Carr has captured the attention of college football fans as the newly named starting quarterback for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2025. A redshirt freshman born into a storied Michigan football family, CJ is writing a bold new chapter—one that honors his heritage while charting his independent path at one of the most prestigious programs in the sport.
1. Family Roots: Father, Grandfathers, and the Battle with Illness
CJ comes from a lineage steeped in Michigan football tradition:
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Father – Jason Carr: A former quarterback for the Michigan Wolverines in the early 1990s.
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Grandfather – Lloyd Carr: Michigan’s head coach from 1995 to 2007, who led the Wolverines to a perfect season and national championship in 1997.
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Grandfather – Tom Curtis: A standout All-American safety at Michigan and a College Football Hall of Famer who later enjoyed success in the NFL.
Despite this illustrious history, CJ chose a different home. As The Wall Street Journal puts it: “Despite his deep family ties to Michigan—his father and other grandfather also played for the Wolverines—CJ opted to forge his own path,” which sparked strong reactions among Michigan fans.
Parallel to this football heritage is a deeply personal story of loss and resilience: CJ’s youngest brother, Chad, passed away from DIPG (a rare pediatric brain cancer) in November 2015. In honor of his memory, CJ wears a tattoo reading “CHAD” on his wrist—and his family established the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation to fund research and support affected families.
2. Saline High School: Dominance and Recruitment Stardom
At Saline High School in Michigan, CJ emerged as a superstar:
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Sophomore year: 2,696 passing yards, 28 TDs
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Junior: 2,685 yards, 26 TDs
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Senior: 2,754 yards, 24 TDs
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Earned All-American Bowl participation, All-American honors, and consensus four-star recruit status.
He was widely regarded as the top QB recruit in Michigan and one of the nation’s best, drawing offers from powerhouse programs across the nation, including Michigan, Alabama, LSU, Georgia, and more SportskeedaWikipedia.
3. Choosing Notre Dame: Independence Over Legacy
CJ’s commitment to Notre Dame was viewed as a bold deviation from family tradition. He explained his decision: “It was time for me to spread my wings a little bit and get a little further from home,” indicating a strong desire for autonomy.
His family, including legendary grandfather Lloyd Carr, supported him fully. “If he’s happy, I’m happy,” Lloyd said.
Commentators applauded CJ’s initiative:
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OneFootDown highlighted his courage: “I like that he’s making his own path.”
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They also praised his composure and “professional demeanor” during his early days at Notre Dame.
4. College Journey: From Redshirt to Starter
CJ enrolled at Notre Dame in 2023 and redshirted in 2024. He appeared in just one game (Purdue), taking a redshirt.
The 2025 season brought a QB battle between CJ and junior Kenny Minchey. Despite minimal college experience, CJ was named the starter, impressing Coach Marcus Freeman with his maturity, leadership, and decision-making abilities.
Freeman emphasized: “It’s about decision-making… They control… ability to get everybody on the same page.” Those traits largely defined the choice.
5. On-Field Debut and Early Promise
CJ made his official in-game debut against Miami to open the 2025 season. He completed 19 of 30 passes (63.3%) for 221 yards, 2 TDs, and 1 INT, and added 11 rushing yards. It was a strong start for an untested QB stepping into the spotlight.
Observers see CJ as a new type of Notre Dame passer—combining accuracy, footwork, and cerebral instincts. OneFootDown captured his potential well: “Carr has the ability to become an elite passer with quick feet. It’s an extra dimension to the offense.”
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