The Carr family name is deeply embedded in the world of football. CJ Carr, a former star quarterback from Saline, is currently leading the 9-2 Notre Dame Fighting Irish as their starting quarterback, positioning the ninth-ranked team for a potential College Football Playoff spot. His younger brother, Tommy Carr, recently completed his senior season at Saline and on Sunday committed to his dream school, the University of Michigan.
The family’s ties to Michigan are multi-generational. Their parents, Jason and Tammi, are both alumni; Jason was a quarterback for the Wolverines under his father, legendary head coach Lloyd Carr, while Tammi’s father, Tom Curtis, was an All-American safety for the team.
Growing up, Michigan football games were a household event, but not everyone cheered for the home team. The youngest brother, Chad, made a point of rooting for Michigan’s opponents.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of Chad’s passing at age five, following a 14-month battle with pediatric brain cancer. To honor his memory, CJ penned a heartfelt letter in The Player’s Tribune, sharing his favorite memories of his late brother.
“He absolutely loved to troll us and cheer for literally anyone BUT Michigan,” CJ wrote. “He just loved getting under our skin. Mind you, again … he’s 3 at that point. But it was all about getting a rise out of us. He enjoyed that so much. He thought it was the funniest thing in the world.”
CJ recalled that Chad, unlike his older brothers, wasn’t sports-obsessed. “He was a different cat,” he wrote. “He wanted to search for bugs in the woods near our house, or catch fireflies with our grandma, or turn up the music real loud and dance his little dances to ‘Moves Like Jagger.’”
Chad’s playful spirit was a constant source of laughter. “He loved playing little pranks on all of us,” CJ shared. “He’d pick up some big beetle or a worm from under a rock and then chase me around with it just to make me scream.”
After his diagnosis, the family got Chad a mini-labradoodle for companionship. Given his love for potty humor, Chad instantly named the puppy “Tootie” after it had an accident on the carpet.
“Tootie would always be by Chad’s side,” CJ remembered. “And, thinking back now, it was almost like that dog knew that doing his business on our carpets was the one thing that brought his little buddy the most joy in life. Because he did it all … the … time.”
Though Michigan was a top school during his recruitment, CJ surprised many by choosing Notre Dame, a decision he believes his brother would have appreciated.
“I do think that one big thing Chad taught us all was about doing the unexpected, and not being predictable,” CJ wrote. “He always had the courage to not just go along with the plan… he’s a good representation of not being afraid to go against the grain. So maybe he kind of took some of that light and put it into Tommy and me.”
In Chad’s honor, the family established the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation to fund research and support families affected by the disease.
Now in his redshirt freshman season, CJ is having a strong year, ranking 15th nationally with 21 passing touchdowns. He credits his late brother as a constant source of motivation.
“I think about him all the time, and at the end of the day, he is a huge source of inspiration for me,” CJ wrote. “For him to go through that tough time, and all that pain, and still keep a smile on his face… I can’t explain to you how much that drives me. After watching him be so tough, my context of what is truly hard is very different.”
