Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr has drawn renewed attention after leading the Fighting Irish to a 31-24 victory over No. 1 Miami on November 7, 2026. Carr threw for 319 yards and three touchdowns in the victory, strengthening his reputation as one of college football’s promising quarterbacks. His performance also brought attention to his father, Jason Carr, whose advice before the game reflected the family’s deep football background.
CJ Carr’s parents are Jason Carr and Tammi Carr, both of whom have longstanding connections to the University of Michigan. His father played quarterback for the Wolverines, while his mother grew up in another prominent Michigan football family. Despite those connections, they supported their son’s decision to build his college career at Notre Dame.
Who Are CJ Carr’s Parents?
CJ Carr was born to Jason and Tammi Carr on May 26, 2005. He grew up in Saline, Michigan, a community near Ann Arbor, where football was already an important part of family life.
Both parents attended the University of Michigan, where they met before starting their family. Jason played football for the Wolverines, while Tammi came from a family with its own history of athletic success at the university.
The couple raised three sons, CJ, Tommy and Chad. Their youngest son, Chad, passed away in November 2015 after battling a rare form of pediatric brain cancer.
The experience profoundly affected the family. Jason and Tammi subsequently became involved in fundraising and medical research efforts, establishing a charitable foundation in Chad’s memory.
While CJ followed his family’s interest in football, his parents encouraged him to make independent decisions about his education and athletic future.
CJ Carr’s Father Jason Carr Played Quarterback at Michigan
Jason Carr is a former University of Michigan quarterback who played for the Wolverines from 1992 to 1995. During his college career, he appeared in 20 games, primarily serving as a backup quarterback.
He is also the son of Lloyd Carr, the former Michigan head coach who led the Wolverines to the 1997 national championship.
Lloyd served as Michigan’s head coach from 1995 through 2007, compiling a record of 122 wins and 40 losses. His tenure included five Big Ten championships and a Rose Bowl victory that secured Michigan’s undefeated national championship season.
Growing up around such an established football family gave CJ an early understanding of the sport. Jason shared his experience as a college quarterback while allowing his son to develop his own playing style.
His father’s influence was particularly visible before Notre Dame’s November 2026 meeting with Miami.
After the game, CJ revealed that Jason had called him beforehand and challenged him to show how much he had matured since his earlier performance against the Hurricanes. The conversation reflected the direct feedback Jason continues to provide as his son’s career progresses.
CJ Carr’s Mother Tammi Carr Has a Strong Michigan Connection
Tammi Carr also comes from a prominent Michigan football family. Her father, Tom Curtis, played defensive back for the Wolverines from 1967 to 1969 and became one of the program’s most accomplished players.
Curtis earned consensus All-American honors in 1969 and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.
Tammi attended the University of Michigan, where she met Jason. She later worked for the university before becoming heavily involved in charitable work following the loss of her youngest son.
She helped establish the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, an organization dedicated to supporting research into diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, a devastating pediatric brain tumor.
Tammi has spoken publicly about the family’s experiences and the importance of funding research that could improve treatment options for children diagnosed with the disease.
Her work has made her an important advocate for families affected by childhood brain cancer. Alongside those responsibilities, she has remained closely involved in CJ’s football journey.
CJ Carr’s Brothers and the Family’s ChadTough Foundation
CJ grew up alongside his younger brothers, Tommy and Chad Carr. Tommy also pursued football and became a quarterback at Saline High School, following a similar path to his older brother.
The brothers developed a particularly close relationship after Chad’s illness and passing.
Chad was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma in September 2014. He passed away on November 23, 2015, at the age of five.
CJ was only 10 years old when he lost his youngest brother. The experience influenced his perspective on football, family and personal responsibility.
Jason and Tammi established the ChadTough initiative to support research into the disease. The organization later became the ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation, helping fund research and raise awareness.
CJ has also found personal ways to honor Chad. He has a tattoo featuring his brother’s name in Chad’s handwriting, accompanied by an orange heart representing Chad’s favorite color.
For the Carr family, the foundation remains an important part of their lives beyond football.
Why Did CJ Carr Choose Notre Dame Over Michigan?
Given his family’s extensive Michigan connections, CJ’s decision to attend Notre Dame attracted considerable attention during his recruitment.
His father played at Michigan, his paternal grandfather coached the Wolverines to a national championship, and his maternal grandfather was a celebrated Michigan defensive back.
However, CJ wanted to experience college away from his hometown and establish his own identity as a quarterback.
He committed to Notre Dame on June 9, 2022, becoming a significant addition to the Fighting Irish’s recruiting class.
Tammi later explained that although Michigan would always hold a special place in their family, her son deserved the opportunity to choose his own direction.
CJ arrived at Notre Dame in 2024 after a successful career at Saline High School. During his senior season, he completed 199 of 292 passes for 2,754 yards and 24 touchdowns.
He earned the starting quarterback position ahead of the 2025 season and continued developing under head coach Marcus Freeman.
His progress became particularly clear in 2026. On November 6, Notre Dame announced that Carr had been selected among the top 10 candidates for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
A day later, his three-touchdown performance against Miami provided another major moment in his college career.
For Jason and Tammi Carr, watching their son succeed at Notre Dame represents a continuation of their family’s football history, even though he wears different colors from the generations before him. Their support, personal experiences and commitment to family have remained central to CJ’s development both on and off the field.
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