Life comes full circle: He left college football for medicine, now he’s in the Hall of Fame

It has been 37 years since Gregg Carr last suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers and 41 years since his final snap for the Auburn Tigers. Despite the decades passed, the Birmingham native recently received a call he never expected: an invitation to join the pantheon of college football greats.

Last December, the National Football Foundation inducted Carr into the College Football Hall of Fame, serving as the ultimate capstone to a life that has come full circle.

From Woodlawn to the Plains

Carr’s trajectory began as a lanky standout in football and baseball at Woodlawn High School. His raw, imposing talent was evident early on; even as a 10th grader, he famously dominated local water volleyball games, leaving former Auburn running back Terry Henley stunned by his sheer power and athleticism.

Recruited by coach Doug Barfield, Carr eventually committed to Auburn for its combination of athletic opportunity and academic rigor in engineering. His tenure on the Plains was defined by the arrival of Pat Dye in 1981, whose intense coaching style transformed the program. Carr recalls the grueling nature of Dye's "Oklahoma drills" and the physical toll of practices, which he noted were so demanding they required moving the training room into the athletic dorms.

A Legacy on the Field

Despite a rocky start during a 5-6 campaign in 1981, the team's relentless work ethic fueled a resurgence. Carr was a cornerstone of that success, recording 289 solo tackles during his collegiate career—a total that keeps him second on Auburn’s all-time list today. By the time he finished in 1984, he had been part of an SEC championship run and witnessed iconic moments, including Bo Jackson’s legendary performances in the Iron Bowl.

Life After Football: The Pursuit of Medicine

Carr's transition from the gridiron to the operating room was a path he began carving while still in the NFL. Driven by a desire for a long-term career that would keep him connected to sports while allowing him to prioritize family, he pursued pre-med studies during his off-seasons. He officially hung up his cleats in 1988, married former Auburn cheerleader Juli Barnes in 1990, and entered medical school at UAB shortly thereafter.

After completing his residency and a fellowship at The Alabama Sports Medicine Institute, Carr opted for private practice rather than a high-travel team doctor role to remain a present father for his five children. Today, he and Juli lead Southern Orthopedic Specialists in Homewood, where the former linebacker applies the same discipline he learned under Coach Dye to his work as an orthopedic surgeon.

A Fairy Tale Life

With his children finding success in fields ranging from engineering to finance—including daughter Sara’s graduation from the Wharton School of Business—and a Hall of Fame induction to his name, Carr reflects on his journey with gratitude. For a man who played for a storied NFL franchise, starred at Auburn, and returned to his hometown to serve his community, the Hall of Fame honor serves as the final, sweet chapter in an extraordinary story.