David Carr David Duke Carr ( born July 21 , 1979 ) is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Houston Texans first overall in the 2002 NFL Draft . He played college football at Fresno State . Carr has also played for the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers . Early years . Carr attended Stockdale High School in Bakersfield . College career . Carr began as the starting quarterback at Fresno State during the 2000 and 2001 seasons after redshirting in 1999 . While he was quarterback , the Bulldogs went 7 - 5 and 11 - 3 . In his senior season the team beat Colorado , Oregon State , and Wisconsin , all members of BCS conferences . There was speculation about whether the Bulldogs would qualify for a BCS bid , something then unprecedented for a Mid - major team . They climbed to as high as number 8 in the polls , and Carr was on the cover of " Sports Illustrated " . During his collegiate career Carr completed 587 of 934 passes for 7 , 849 yards . He threw 70 touchdowns versus 23 interceptions . Carr collected the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award during his senior year . On September 1 , 2007 , the Fresno State Bulldogs retired Carr ' s # 8 jersey in his honor . Current Fresno State football player Robbie Rouse , a Junior in 2011 , is the last player who will be allowed to wear the number . Professional career . Houston Texans . With the first overall pick of 2002 NFL Draft , the expansion Houston Texans selected Carr . He started all but four games for the team in its first five years . Carr ' s professional career began on a productive note . The Texans played their first regular season game on September 8 , 2002 , defeating the Dallas Cowboys , 19 – 10 , at Houston ' s Reliant Stadium . Houston became just the second expansion team to win their first game . The Texans won four games that season . Due to having a patchwork offensive line in front of him , Carr also became the most sacked quarterback in a single season of the NFL , being sacked 76 times . He also set the NFL record for fumble recoveries in a single season ( recovering 12 of his own ) . With Carr under center , the Texans improved in each of the next two years , finishing 5 – 11 in 2003 and 7 – 9 in 2004 . Carr ' s 2004 season was his best statistically , as he finished with his highest career passer rating and threw for over 3 , 500 yards . In 2005 , the Texans won only one of their first ten games , finishing the season with a 2 – 14 record . Plagued by injuries and an ineffective offensive line that limited both the running and passing games , Carr still threw for over 2 , 500 yards while being sacked 68 times . Despite the drop - off , the Texans exercised an option in Carr ' s contract that extended him for three years . The Texans finished the 2006 season at 6 – 10 . For the season , Carr posted a completion percentage of 68 . 9 % ( a career high ) and tied the single - game NFL record of 22 consecutive pass completions ( against the Buffalo Bills ) . However , new Texans general manager Rick Smith decided to go in a different direction at quarterback . Thus , the Texans acquired Matt Schaub from the Atlanta Falcons and decided to part ways with Carr . Carr is considered to be one of the biggest quarterback busts in NFL history since 1980 , and was ranked 10th on Fox Sports ' list of worst No . 1 overall picks in NFL Draft history . Carolina Panthers . Carr agreed to terms with the Carolina Panthers on April 6 , 2007 . Following an injury to starting quarterback Jake Delhomme , Carr was named the starter . He played in six games ( started four games ) and had three touchdowns and five interceptions , with a 53 . 7 completion percentage and a passer rating of 58 . 3 . Carr suffered a back injury during the fifth game of the season ( a victory vs . the New Orleans Saints ) on a sack by Will Smith , and saw limited action during the remainder of the 2007 season , being replaced by Vinny Testaverde and Matt Moore . He was released on February 27 , 2008 . New York Giants . On March 12 , 2008 , Carr signed a one - year contract with the New York Giants , reuniting with former Houston offensive coordinator Chris Palmer . Subsequently , the Giants released former backup quarterback Jared Lorenzen . Carr backed up Eli Manning for two seasons . In the 2009 offseason , Carr was re - signed to a one - year , $ 2 million contract on February 9 , 2009 . In his two years with the Giants , Carr saw action in seven games and threw three total touchdown passes . San Francisco 49ers . On March 7 , 2010 , Carr agreed to terms with the San Francisco 49ers , he served as a back - up to Alex Smith . Carr was put into the 49ers Week 7 game against the Carolina Panthers after Smith suffered a shoulder injury . Carr struggled completing only 5 of 13 passes for 67 yards and throwing a crucial interception late in the 4th quarter . He was released by the 49ers on July 28 , 2011 . Return to Giants . Carr re - signed with the New York Giants on July 31 , 2011 as the backup QB to starter Eli Manning . Carr received a Super Bowl ring after the 2011 season after the Giants beat the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI . He re - signed with the Giants on March 14 , 2012 to an additional one - year contract . Personal . Carr is the son of Rodger and Sheryl Carr . He has two brothers , one of whom ( Derek ) is a quarterback at Fresno State , as Carr was . Lon Boyett , his uncle , played in the NFL with the Raiders and 49ers in the early 1980s . Carr and his wife Melody have three sons and one daughter .