Chicago Bears Countdown to Kickoff: 20 Days with Mark Carrier

Mark Carrier departs from Chicago Bears, retirement, legacy, and coaching career

Carrier spent three productive seasons in Detroit, where he started in all 44 games he was available for to the tune of 11 interceptions and 207 total tackles. Following his stint with the Lions, Carrier signed with the Washington Redskins for the 2000 season. There, he recorded an interception and 69 tackles in 15 games as a starter. Following the year, Carrier retired from the NFL after an 11-year career that saw the first seven seasons spent with the Chicago Bears.

As a Chicago Bear, Carrier made 105 starts in 109 available contests where he recorded 20 interceptions, seven fumble recoveries, and 587 total tackles. In franchise history, his interception total is ranked 16th overall, although his 10 interception rookie season still holds the record for most picks by a Bears player in a single season.

Following the end of his playing career, Carrier remained intimately close to the game of football and began coaching in 2004. The former USC star began his coaching career as conference rival Arizona State's cornerback coach, where he served for two seasons. After his return stint to the Pac-12, Carrier rejoined the professional ranks and became the Baltimore Ravens' defensive backs coach. There, the former Bear coached NFL greats Ed Reed, Chris McAlister, and Samari Rolle.

Carrier spent four seasons with the Ravens before leaving the team in 2010 for a position with the New York Jets, where he served as a defensive line coach. After just two seasons, Carrier elected to return to his position as a defensive backs coach and joined the Cincinnati Bengals, where he coached the secondary from 2012 to 2015. In 10 seasons as an NFL coach, Carrier helped his team reach the playoffs eight times with a 5-8 cumulative postseason record.