Carson Wentz Bio
Carson James Wentz, born December 30, 1992, is an American professional football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighing 237 pounds, he is one of the most physically imposing quarterbacks in the league. Wentz played college football for the North Dakota State Bison, winning two consecutive NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) national championships as the starter. Selected second overall by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2016 NFL Draft, Wentz became the highest-drafted player in FCS history. Despite a career shaped by injuries, he has earned a Pro Bowl selection, a Second-Team All-Pro nod, and a Super Bowl championship.
Early Life and Background
Carson James Wentz was born on December 30, 1992, in Raleigh, North Carolina. When he was three years old, his family relocated to North Dakota, the state he has called home for most of his life. He attended Century High School in Bismarck, where he played quarterback and defensive back for the football team, in addition to competing in basketball and baseball. Inspired by his older brother, Wentz had played ice hockey up until high school before deciding to join the basketball team instead.
As a freshman, Wentz measured 5 feet 8 inches tall, but he grew substantially during his teenage years, reaching 6 feet 5 inches by his senior year. He graduated from Century High School in 2011 as the valedictorian of his class, reflecting the academic discipline that would later define his college career. Wentz came from a family with a strong athletic tradition. His older brother, Zach Wentz, played college baseball for the North Dakota State Bison from 2009 to 2012 and later had a brief stint with the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks before moving into teaching.
Path to Professional Football
Wentz accepted a scholarship to attend North Dakota State, where he joined a powerhouse Bison program. He redshirted his first season with the team, watching from the sidelines as North Dakota State won its first Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) title under ninth-year head coach Craig Bohl. As a redshirt freshman in 2012, Wentz served as the backup quarterback to Brock Jensen, appearing in his first collegiate game on September 22 against the Prairie View A&M Panthers. He finished that year completing 12 of 16 passes for 144 yards and two touchdowns.
In 2013, Wentz again operated as the second-string quarterback, appearing in 11 games and completing 22 of 30 passes for 209 yards and a touchdown. He became the Bison starting quarterback during his junior year in 2014, leading North Dakota State to a 15-1 record and a national championship. In the title game against the Illinois State Redbirds, Wentz passed for 287 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 87 yards and a five-yard touchdown, securing a 29-27 victory. As a fifth-year senior in 2015, Wentz led the Bison to a fifth straight FCS title, earning Most Outstanding Player honors for the second consecutive year. He graduated with a degree in health and physical education, finishing with a 4.0 grade point average and earning Academic All-American recognition twice.
Carson Wentz Career
Early Career (2016)
On April 28, 2016, the Philadelphia Eagles selected Wentz in the first round with the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He became the first quarterback the Eagles selected in the first round since Donovan McNabb in 1999, and the highest-drafted FCS quarterback in league history. The Eagles traded multiple premium draft picks to move up and secure him, signing Wentz to a four-year, fully guaranteed contract worth $26.67 million on May 12, 2016.
After recovering from a preseason rib injury, Wentz was named the starter for the season opener against the Cleveland Browns. He threw for 278 yards and two touchdowns in a 29-10 victory, earning Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week honors. Wentz became the first rookie quarterback since 1970 to win his first two games of the season without throwing an interception. He started all 16 games as a rookie, setting league records with 379 completions and 607 pass attempts, while leading Philadelphia to a 7-9 record.
Eagles Breakthrough (2017)
Wentz’s third NFL season became his most statistically dominant. In 13 starts, he finished with 3,296 passing yards, 33 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, earning a 101.9 quarterback rating. During a Week 14 road win over the Los Angeles Rams, Wentz threw for 291 yards and four touchdowns but tore his ACL, ending his season prematurely. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl on December 19, though he could not participate due to his recovery. He also earned Second-Team All-Pro honors and was ranked third among his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018.
Behind backup quarterback Nick Foles, the Eagles went on to defeat the New England Patriots 41-33 in Super Bowl LII, securing the first Super Bowl title in franchise history. Wentz received a Super Bowl championship ring for his role in the regular-season success that earned Philadelphia the NFC’s top seed. Following surgery on December 13, 2017, Wentz began a lengthy rehabilitation process that kept him out of the lineup at the start of the 2018 season.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2021)
Wentz was traded to the Indianapolis Colts on March 17, 2021, reuniting him with former Philadelphia offensive coordinator Frank Reich, who had become the Colts’ head coach. He completed 25 of 38 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns in his Indianapolis debut against the Seattle Seahawks, despite a 28-16 loss. Wentz passed for a season-high 402 yards and two touchdowns in a Week 5 overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Wentz finished the 2021 season with 3,563 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, leading the Colts to a 9-8 record. However, Indianapolis failed to qualify for the playoffs after a Week 18 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, and Wentz’s tenure with the team ended after just one season.
Washington Commanders Era (2022)
On March 16, 2022, Wentz was traded to the Washington Commanders along with two 2022 draft picks in exchange for multiple selections. In his Commanders debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he threw for 313 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions in a 28-22 victory. Wentz made his return against his former Philadelphia Eagles team in Week 3, completing 58 percent of his passes for 211 yards in a 24-8 home loss.
Wentz suffered a fractured ring finger on his throwing hand in a win over the Chicago Bears and was placed on injured reserve on October 22. Although re-activated on December 12, he did not regain his starting duties after Taylor Heinicke’s strong play. Wentz was reinstated as the starter in Week 17 but struggled, completing 16 of 28 passes for 143 yards, one rushing touchdown, and three interceptions in a 24-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns that eliminated Washington from playoff contention. The Commanders released Wentz on February 27, 2023.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2023)
Wentz signed with the Los Angeles Rams on November 8, 2023, to serve as the backup to Matthew Stafford. He was announced as the starter for the Rams’ final regular season game against the San Francisco 49ers after the team had secured a playoff berth. In that game, Wentz completed 17 of 24 passes for 176 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. He also rushed for a 12-yard touchdown and completed a two-point conversion to Tutu Atwell, helping the Rams secure a narrow 21-20 road victory over the eventual NFC champion 49ers.
Kansas City Chiefs Era (2024)
Wentz signed with the Kansas City Chiefs on April 2, 2024, to back up Patrick Mahomes. In Week 15 against the Cleveland Browns, he replaced an injured Mahomes midway through the fourth quarter of a 21-7 victory. With the number one seed in the AFC already secured, Wentz was named the starter for the regular season finale against the Denver Broncos, completing 10 of 17 passes for 98 yards in a 38-0 shutout loss. The Chiefs reached Super Bowl LIX but lost 40-22 to Wentz’s former team, the Philadelphia Eagles.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2025)
On August 24, 2025, Wentz signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a backup to J. J. McCarthy. On September 15, the team announced that Wentz would start in their Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, making him the first quarterback in NFL history to start for six different teams in six consecutive seasons. Wentz remained the starter for the next two games but suffered a season-ending shoulder injury during a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished the 2025 season with 1,217 passing yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wentz’s career is defined by dramatic highs and challenging lows. He became the highest-drafted FCS player in NFL history in 2016, set multiple Eagles franchise passing records, and earned Pro Bowl and Second-Team All-Pro honors in 2017. Despite suffering a torn ACL in 2017 and a string of subsequent injuries, Wentz won a Super Bowl championship as part of Philadelphia’s title-winning squad. In 2025, he made league history by starting for a sixth consecutive different team.
Carson Wentz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wentz’s family has been a central part of his athletic journey. His older brother, Zach Wentz, played college baseball at North Dakota State from 2009 to 2012 and later joined the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks before transitioning into teaching. Zach now heads the AO1 Foundation alongside former Bison quarterback Cole Davis. Wentz’s younger half-brother, Luke Domres, played both baseball and football at the high school level and graduated magna cum laude from Arizona State University.
Personal Life
Carson Wentz has been married since 2018 and has three daughters. He is a practicing Christian who founded the AO1 Foundation in 2017. In 2018, Wentz helped build a sports complex in Haiti through his charitable work. An avid hunter, he frequently returns to North Dakota during the offseason to enjoy the outdoors.
2025 Season Performance
Carson Wentz’s 2025 season with the Minnesota Vikings began with a major historical milestone. Signed as a backup to J. J. McCarthy on August 24, 2025, Wentz was elevated to the starting role for the Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals, becoming the first quarterback in NFL history to start for six different teams in six consecutive seasons. He started the next three games for the Vikings, providing experienced leadership while McCarthy continued his development.
Wentz’s season was cut short by a shoulder injury sustained during a Thursday Night Football matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished the year with 1,217 passing yards, six touchdowns, and five interceptions. Despite the abbreviated campaign, Wentz’s veteran presence contributed to the Vikings’ depth at the quarterback position throughout the year.