Kahlil Carter
Kahlil Rafiq Carter, is a gridiron football coach who recently served as the Defensive Coordinator for the Montreal Alouettes. Carter is also a former professional gridiron football player in the Arena Football League, NFL, NFL Europe, and the Canadian Football League. His last season of professional football was spent playing defensive back in the AFL for the Iowa Barnstormers in 2010. Carter has also spent time in the NFL with Buffalo and NFL Europe with the Scottish Claymores. Carter also was a star defensive back in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts and the Montreal Alouettes.
College football
From 1994-97, Carter walked-on to the University of Arkansas' football team. He began his university career as a quarterback before making the transition to wide receiver. In 1998, Carter transferred to Southern Arkansas University where he led the Muleriders in special teams tackles.Professional football career
2000Carter signed with the Arkansas Twisters of af2. He rotated between QB, WR, DB, LB and became the first player in team history to be signed to a professional contract. Completed 16-25 passes for 201 yards and 6 touchdowns while catching 10 passes for 165 yards and 5 touchdowns. Also recorded 25 tackles 2 ints, and 11 pbu's.
2001
Signed by the Milwaukee Mustangs. Played in all 14 regular season games with Milwaukee and recorded 35 catches for 364 yards and 6 touchdowns to go along with 24 tackles, two knockdowns, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and one forced fumble on defense. Saw time at QB and completed four of four passes and two touchdowns. Named teams rookie of the year and a reserve on the AFL all-Rookie team.
2002
Acquired by the Toronto Phantoms in the 2002 dispersal draft and recorded 17 total tackles, 1 fumble recovery, and two knockdowns, catching 10 passes for 119 yards and one touchdown.
2003
Attended training camp with the eventual ArenaBowl champions Tampa Bay Storm. Signed with the Arkansas Twisters and set an af2 league record with 14 interceptions in 14 games and was named af2 Defensive Player of the Year.
2004
Signed with the Orlando Predators of the AFL to complement all-time great Kenny McEntyre. Signed by the Buffalo Bills and allocated to the Scottish Claymores of NFL Europe. Led team in special team tackles. Recorded 28 tackles, 3 pass breakups, 2 force fumbles and 1 blocked field goal while captaining one of the stingiest secondaries in NFL Europe history. Attended training camp with the Buffalo Bills before sustaining season ending sports hernia.
2005
Acquired by Nashville Katz in 2005 dispersement draft and recorded 70 tackles, 7 INT and one forced fumble with Nashville. Named Second-Team All-Arena at corner and safety.
2006
Carter was a pre-season all-arena selection for the Nashville Katz of the AFL. Named AFL Defensive Player of the Week on February 28 after posting 11 tackles, 2 pass break-ups and an interception in Katz victory. Named Defensive Player of the Week in Conference Championship vs Dallas for recording 2 INT, one for a TD. He played in ArenaBowl XX where he recorded the longest touchdown run in ArenaBowl history He joined the Toronto Argonauts in week 2 and eventually played in 12 games, starting seven at DB and CB, also saw time at LB and on ST. Established career highs in defensive tackles, interceptions and interception return yards. Moved into a third place tie with LB Don Wilson on the Argos’ all-time single season interception yards list with 184. Placed tied for 3rd all-time on Argo's consecutive games with an interception list with 3. Week 7, recorded his first-ever CFL interception and returned it 84-yards for a TD.
2007
Dressed for all 18 regular season games rotating in the Toronto Argonauts' secondary, starting 6 at DB and CB. Finished the season with 3 ints and two defensive touchdowns. Named player of the week on Sept 13 for a 7 tackle performance which included an 82-yard interception return for a touchdown against Hamilton. Named to the af2 anniversary team and voted the #2 defensive specialist in af2 history. Had his #9 jersey retired by the Arkansas Twisters of the af2.
2008
Carter attended training camp with the Kansas City Brigade after being traded from the Orlando Predators in exchange for DB Kenny McEntyre. He played in two preseason games and recorded interceptions in both before sustaining a season ending shoulder injury.
Went to training camp with the Toronto Argonauts replacing Jordan Younger at boundary corner recording 3 tkls 1 pbu and 1 ints in preseason game versus Montreal. Signed by Orlando Predators of the AFL. Played in AFL playoff game on three days notice. Recorded 6 tkls 1 pass break up, 1 forced fumble, 1 interception despite loss. Signed by Montreal in July. Played in four regular season games recording 7 tkls, 2 ints 1 def. td and 5 pass break ups. East Final versus Edmonton 5 tkls 4 pass break ups, 2008 Grey Cup game high 8 tkls, good for 3rd all time in Grey Cup history.
2010
Carter served as player/coach and team captain for the Iowa Barnstormers of the new AFL. At age 34, Carter was one of only 3 players with AFL experience on a very young Barnstormer team. Khalil appeared in all 16 games and finished with 85 tackles, 5 interceptions, 3 fumble recoveries, and 17 pass breakups. Coach Carter, as he affectionately became known, captained the Barnstormers 3rd ranked scoring defense also finishing 1st against the run. For the second season under coach Carter's watch, one of his players broke the league tackling record with 146 tackles. Under Carter's watch Jason Simpson also broke the AF2 record in 2007 for the Arkansas Twisters with 145. Both were rookies and recorded at least 8 interceptions as well. After the season, Carter announced his retirement and was hired to coach the secondary at Graceland University in southern Iowa.
Coaching career
Carter began his coaching career as a player/coach in 2007 as Pass Game and Special Teams Coordinator for the Arkansas Twisters of the AF2.In 2010, he also served as a player/coach with the Iowa Barnstormers. As a defensive back and team captain, Carter assisted with their weekly game-plan preparation and their player personnel.
Later in 2010, Carter took his first collegiate coaching position as a volunteer assistant and Secondary and coach at Graceland University.
In the spring of 2011, Carter served as Defensive Coordinator for the Trenton Steel of the Southern Indoor Football League. Later that year, he coached cornerbacks at Valley High School in West Des Moines during its 2011 state 4A championship season.
On July 2012, Carter was named the Cornerbacks coach for the Drake Bulldogs football team. In his first season on the staff, he helped coach a pass defense that ranked second in the Pioneer Football League by allowing just 185 passing yards per game.
In 2012, Carter won a share of the Pioneer Football League Conference Championship
In 2013, Carter helped coach the #1 ranked defense in the Pioneer Football League producing a 2nd team All Conference Corner, Brad Duwe
In 2014, Carter served as a guest coach for the Grey Cup champion, Saskatchewan Roughriders. Later that fall, Carter rejoined West Des Moines Valley High School, upset #1 ranked Dowling Catholic, and finished #1 in the state.
Also in 2014, Carter signed on to coach the Secondary for the FXFL Blacktips of the newly formed FXFL.
From 2015-2017, Carter was named as the Defensive backs coach for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League.
On January 3, 2018, Carter was named the Defensive Coordinator for the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, but on May 18, 2018, Carter resigned from the position for personal reasons, and was reassigned as a team scout.