PHOENIX – Ran Carthon arrived with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent with an uphill climb to make the roster as a rookie back in 2004.
His father, Maurice, a two-time Super Bowl-winning running back with the Giants, had made a name for himself during his NFL career, and now Carthon was trying to do the same.
His coach back then, former Colts coach Tony Dungy, remembers a guy who refused to give in.
"Obviously he had a very famous dad, so you knew the background," Dungy said of Carthon. "But what always impressed me about Ran is he was an overachiever who was willing to work. He's a guy who worked very hard. He wasn't this super-talented guy who blew everybody away. He's a guy who was like, "Hey, I am going to work hard, I am going to do my job, and do the little things, and do them right.' So even then, I remember being impressed by that work ethic.
"And I think that has obviously continued on with his post-playing career."
Carthon, who played from 2004-06 under Dungy in Indianapolis, was hired as general manager of the Titans last month after working his way up in personnel departments with the Falcons, Rams and 49ers.
Prior to joining the Titans, Carthon worked with the 49ers for six seasons, including the last two as director of player personnel.
Here at the Super Bowl, Dungy said he'd proud of Carthon for climbing the NFL ladder to land a GM job.
"It's been a dream and a vision of his to run a team, and he's worked very hard to get there," Dungy said. "I am so proud of Ran, so happy for him. And I'm looking forward to seeing what he is going to do in Tennessee. He has a great head on his shoulders. He is one of those guys that has a philosophy, but he wants to work with everybody. I think he is going to do just great."
Dungy, now an analyst with NBC Sports, believes Carthon will be a great pairing with Titans coach Mike Vrabel.
So, what does he think the Titans will look like in time?
"He will be very similar to Mike in a lot of ways," Dungy said of Carthon, and the Titans. "He's going to have very hard-working people. He's going to have guys who are highly motivated. He's going to have guys that it means a lot for them to play for the Tennessee Titans. He is going to have team players, and they are going to be disciplined people. I think a lot of the same things Mike looks for in terms of work ethic and the type of people. And I think they are going to get along great."
