Former NFL QB Carson Palmer Becomes Head Coach in Southern California

14-year NFL veteran quarterback Carson Palmer is the new coach of the Santa Margarita Eagles in the ultra-tough Trinity League in Southern California The Eagles are currently ranked No. 57 in the High School Football America 100 national rankings.

This past season, Palmer helped the school’s freshman program as a volunteer coach. His son Fletch is a freshman QB at the school.

Palmer returns to the school where his quarterback skills gathered national attention. He graduated with 27 school records and back-to-back CIF Southern Section titles  in1996 and 1997.

Below are Palmer’s high school stats from the football program’s website:

After heading to USC, Palmer became the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He spent the first eight years of his career with the Bengals, where he ended 15 year playoff drought in 2005.

After a couple of years with the Oakland Raiders, Palmer closed out his professional career with the Arizona Cardinals before retiring after the 2017 season.

Three times during his playing days, Palmer was All-Pro. He threw for 46,247 yards with 294 touchdowns.

Palmer takes over for Anthony Rouzier, who was put on administrative leave at the beginning of October.

Santa Margarita was 5-7 this past season, losing (31-29) in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 quarterfinals to No. 5 St. John Bosco.