Oct. 24, 2026, 5:01 a.m. ET
Tommy Carr’s Michigan football credentials don’t stretch very far, but those of his family go back quite a ways.
The Wolverines named Carr their starting quarterback for their Week 8 game against the No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers, giving the true freshman from Saline the opportunity to win the starting job for the rest of the season. Carr won the start after sparking Michigan to a 21-18 comeback win over Penn State on Oct. 17, helping lead Michigan to its first Big Ten win of the season, possibly at the expense of star quarterback Bryce Underwood’s starting job.
And the good news for Michigan fans is that they won’t need to spend a lot of time learning his name – mostly because “Carr” shouldn’t be a difficult name to remember, but also because it’s a very familiar name in Ann Arbor.
Carr is the grandson of former Michigan coach Lloyd Carr, who coached the Wolverines from 1995-2007 and won a national championship in 1997 – Michigan’s last national championship in football until its most recent title in 2023. Carr first joined the Michigan staff as a defensive backs coach in 1980 and became the defensive coordinator in 1987 before assuming head coaching duties eight seasons later.
In total, Carr spent 38 seasons on Michigan’s coaching staff and is one of the most decorated figures in program history.
Tommy isn’t the only quarterback in the Carr household, however.
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Tommy’s brother CJ Carr, who also played at Saline, is a Heisman Trophy favorite as the current starting quarterback for Notre Dame. The elder Carr was one of the most coveted quarterbacks in the class of 2024, with his choice of Notre Dame over Michigan making shockwaves in the college football landscape.
And while the younger Carr initially committed away from the Wolverines, as well, the less-heralded player eventually flipped his commitment from Miami (Ohio) to Michigan ahead of the 2026 season.
Both Carr brothers are the son of Jason Carr, who played backup quarterback at Michigan from 1992-95.
Tommy Carr’s grandpa
Tommy Carr is the grandson of Lloyd Carr, who coached at Michigan from 1995-2007 and won a national title with the Wolverines in 1997.
Tommy Carr’s brother
Tommy Carr’s brother is Notre Dame junior quarterback CJ Carr, who is two years older than Tommy.
Tommy Carr’s dad
Tommy Carr’s dad is former Michigan quarterback Jason Carr, who played at Michigan from 1992-95, his senior year with his dad Lloyd as coach.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
