NFL alum Maurice (Mo) Carthon made an unexpected trip last week from his Arkansas home to Nashville.
Mo wanted to be in town when his son Ran accepted a new job. The father never believed Ran, who was named the Titans’ new general manager last Friday, ever would reach this lofty a position in his NFL career.
“I never thought Ran would be an NFL GM,” Mo Carthon said after the press conference in which his son was introduced to the Tennessee media. “He interviewed with a couple of teams for that spot in recent years but did not make it. I am as proud of him right now as I can be. When you’re a father in this business, you want to try to help…but Ran doesn’t need any help.”
Mo Carthon was “in the (pro football) business” for 30 years. He began as a running back in the old USFL in 1983. After Donald Trump’s league folded, Mo played for the Giants (1985-91) and a final season with the Colts. Two years later, his old Giants coach Bill Parcells, who then was Patriots head coach, hired him as an assistant. Six clubs and 19 years later, Mo retired as an accomplished assistant coach with good memories and two Super Bowl rings.
Ran’s NFL playing career was considerably shorter than his dad’s. Ran, a University of Florida running back, signed with the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He was used sparingly as a running back-kick returner before finishing his career with the Lions in 2006.
The success that Ran did not achieve on the field later was realized during his 15-year career in NFL front offices as a scout and player personnel director. All that time on the road evaluating talent culminated this month when he was offered the Titans’ GM position.
Ran Carthon takes over a team that had it first losing season (7-10) in five years under head coach Mike Vrabel. The two men met for the first-time last week.
The Titans, perhaps, have the best running back in the League with Derrick Henry. Carthon was asked at his presser whether the Titans still can win with Henry as their centerpiece.
“It’s fun to be able to throw the ball up and down the field early in the season,” Carthon answered, “but when the weather conditions change, you better be able to run it and you better be able to defend the run. If you look at the teams that made this year’s playoffs, everyone was able to run the ball. I think you win championships like that.”
Ran Carthon’s goal is to win the Titans’ first ever Super Bowl championship on his watch. His dad currently has the only two Super Bowl rings in the family but Ran wants to earn one of his own.
We at NFL Alumni wish both Carthon’s continued success. We are pleased their family is part of our extended Alumni family.
