In 2017, as the seventh round wound down, Carroll wasn’t sure if Carson would end up in Seattle, but he was thrilled when it happened.
“I was hanging on Chris Carson,” Carroll said after that draft. “… I love this guy because he’s as physical and as tough as he ran. You haven’t heard a lot about him, he hasn’t run the ball a lot, but when he did, he made a big statement. about his style and a style that we really covet. I fell in love with how hard it is and how aggressive it is.”
That toughness and aggressiveness carried over to the NFL level, leading to Carson earning the starting job as a rookie, only to suffer a season-ending leg injury four games into the season.
Carson bounced back from that injury in a big way in 2018, rushing for 1,151 yards and nine touchdowns, making him Seattle’s first 1,000-yard rusher since Marshawn Lynch four years earlier. In 2019, Carson became the sixth player in team history to record back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons when he rushed for 1,230 yards and seven touchdowns. A more pass-happy offense in 2020 limited Carson to 681 yards, but he averaged a career-best 4.8 yards per carry and scored a career-high nine total touchdowns.
Former Seahawks linebacker KJ Wright described Carson as “a guy who really sets the tone for this team. Since Marshawn left, it feels good to have someone with that style who can run between the tackles, get the off team ball. in the backfield catch those short 3rd and 1’s keep those drives moving. He’s a good football player.. When the guy is going through the DB it definitely gets you excited. I love it playing with him, he’s a great teammate. he just comes to work, puts his head down and just gets 1,000 yards.”
Carroll said last month, “He’s been one of my favorite Seahawks. I loved what he represented and what he brought. … He’s a very special player and a very special competitor and person.”